By Rickie Rubenstein (Daphne’s Mom)

WOOOOOOOOF!!  WAG!  WAG!!  WAG!!

Fellow 4-leggers, we need to talk.  Every creature on this earth has one thing in common — POOP!  I poop … you poop … we all poop!!  So… let’s do it right!  I’m talking about cleanup.  We now have 7 (yes, 7!!)  “Doggie Doo” Stations throughout our community.  Check out the map below for locations. 

It’s OUR 4-legged responsibility (as well as our owners/walkers) to ensure our poop is disposed of properly.  Of course, easiest way is to poop near one of the convenient Stations.  But, since that’s not always possible, let’s give our humans “THE LOOK”, reminding them to pick up our poop and carry it to the closest Station.  And once there, they can get another FREE bag for next time!  (Or you pawrents can always take the smelly bag home to put in the trash!)  Thanks!!

Next up … Safety! 

Have you noticed? It’s getting dark earlier and earlier… and it’s also dark early in the morning.  It can be scary out there on our roads. I, however, feel quite safe as I am lit up!  Check out my LED collar and leash!  Mom also carries a flashlight (and occasionally remembers to wear her reflective vest) and so, together, we’re all set.  Cars can see me and mom and make sure not to get too close.  Another trick:  I taught Mom (really!) to stop whenever I see or hear a car, and then move close to the curb or onto the grass. What would she do without me???

Moving on…..

Check out this nutty pooch on the left!  Tsuku (Jane and Ti Sanders) is obsessed with palm fronds!  He certainly was in “Seventh Heaven” in those weeks when yard waste wasn’t getting picked up!  Looks like he got a good one this time!  Tsuku and Django are a delightful duo, whom I enjoy seeing on our walks. Here is another one, on the right, where these two kids play tug-o-war:

Now, a letter from a Cat (of all Things!)

As you know, I’m not much of a cat canine.  But, I must give cats their due since I’m supposedly representing all 4-legged pets in our ‘hood.  So, here’s a letter from Teak (Peggy Steinberg).  It’s a tad long, but chock full of interesting stuff.

Dear Daphne, I am a 16-year old Burmese cat with beautiful whiskers. We’ve never met because I’m a house cat and not very social.  I hide when visitors come to my home unless I feel really safe.  So, I have to share a recent experience with everyone. 

I had been behaving strangely recently, so my mom made an appointment with Del Mar Veterinary Hospital, a “Fear Free Certified” facility.  I was scared. I hadn’t seen a vet in a long while.  During my last experience with an in-home vet, I put up such a fight, I never got my nails trimmed! THEN…. a “miracle”.  Mom met a “cat whisperer”, who actually lives in St. Augustine, and has helped animals all over the world!  Although she will meet in person, she prefers to work with pictures.  So, ater our “communication meeting” via photos, she told Mom that I was very handsome (of course!) and proud of my beautiful whiskers (didn’t I tell you that!). 

She also said I had some kind of inflammation, was very confused, and needed to see a vet. 

So off to Del Mar we went.  What a quiet and serene place.  In the treatment room, I was let out of my carrier and free to explore.  So peaceful… designed especially for cats, with a big cat tree in one corner and the familiar scent of cat pheromones.  Dr. Nieves was very gentle and quickly determined that I’m blind. 

What a relief to learn why I’ve been so confused!  So that’s why I’ve been sticking close to the wall and bumping into things, and afraid to jump onto furniture.  I also have a heart problem, which probably caused the blindness, as well as stage 1 renal failure and…. (yikes!) fleas.  Could they have come into the back porch through the screen?  Whatever, they’re gone now.

Overall, it was a not-so-bad vet experience for both Mom and me.  And why not, with all that loving attention and spa-like atmosphere!  Del Mar also offers “low-stress” boarding, as well as all the usual vet services.  Meow and purr to them!

Thanks for letting me share,Teak

Dear Teak, Well, I’m actually glad you wrote!  I hope that sharing your experience will help other cat—and dog and other pet owners whose fur babies fear the vet.  You have provided a valuable service!  And, I’m so happy to hear from someone who lives on Marsh Point Circle!  I hope your neighbors’ pets will spread the word and write me too!!

Til next time, have great walks, enjoy new sniffs, and wag often!  (And make sure your parents and walkers pick up and PROPERLY dispose of your poop!)

Woof!

Daphne

daphne4legs@gmail.com