Category Archives: Dogs

Yesterday I had a date with my pooch. We were scheduled to head downtown and join hundreds of other pups for the PAWS Chicago Run For Their Lives event. Unfortunately, I have been fighting a cold for the past week, and when Sunday morning rolled around, I just did not have the energy to get out of bed. And that’s saying a lot, since I normally roll out of bed for Frasier much earlier than 730am. I was beyond disappointed that we missed our chance to spend time together (and seriously bummed about not being able to collect my prizes), but I feel somewhat content knowing that together we raised $135 for a good cause. Now that’s something to bark about.

Hoping Frasier was just as disappointed as I was on the “inside”

Nothing gets in the way of a sleeping pooch

FOUND!! Chicago (Near 63rd Street and California Avenue); white toy poodle mix, 5-8 pounds; age unknown (possibly 3-5 yo), male; taken to Animal Care and Control in Chicago around 830am on Friday, 9/2/11. No collar, no tags; ACC says no microchip. Shy/timid; Found 9/2/11. Contact me at 630-849-8569 or the ACC at 312-744-5000.

After the drama that unfolded yesterday, I assumed today would be a much quieter day. Unfortunately, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

En route to work this morning, I stumbled across another stray dog on the side of the road, about to run directly in front of my Jeep. Before I knew what I was doing I was pulling over again to see if the pup was okay. This pooch, in comparison to the one yesterday, truly seemed to be a stray: no collar, no tags, unkempt, dirty, dehydrated; not a pretty picture.

He was, however, friendly enough to stick by me, so the leash was on, he was given some water and we were soon on our way to Animal Care and Control. This seemed to be the only viable option this morning, but boy do I hope I never, and I mean NEVER, have to go back to this dump that masquerades as a city facility.

Not only did the shelter supervisor who vaccinated the dog not even bother to hold him down while giving the shot (hello, no one wants to get bitten here), but the attendant who was to bring the dog to his kennel was by far the MEANEST person I’ve encountered in a long time. Instead of attempting to comfort the dog and coax him along, he forced me to drag the dog into the kennel runs and then had the nerve to rant at me for not wanting to take the frightened pup’s leash off. The public should not have to see or endure what I was exposed to today.

But it doesn’t stop there. On my way home from work, I had the misfortune of seeing a dog get hit by a car. At least this time around there were others who stopped with me to check on the pooch, who by the looks of it, was in pretty bad shape. After a quick chase into a resident’s nearby yard and a phone call to the police who in turn put in a call for emergency animal services, I can only hope that this pooch turns out okay.

And be thankful that my own pooch is safe, healthy and happy, if only a little nutty.

FOUND!! Chicago (Near 63rd Street and Kedzie Avenue); tan chihuahua mix, age unknown (possibly 3-5 yo), male; taken to Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge around 6pm on Thursday, 9/1/11. Wearing light green collar with Snoopy imprints; no tags, AWL says no microchip. A little shy, but very friendly. Found 9/1/11. Contact me at 630-849-8569 or AWL at 708-636-8586. Please share. cg

This afternoon I was driving back to work after running an errand, when the car in front of me suddenly stopped. As I swerved to the side of the road to avoid hitting it, I noticed a small dog trotting across the very busy and very fast 63rd Street.

I quickly pulled down the nearest side street and got out to try and coax the dog toward me; the heat wave that descended upon Chicago today was no place for a lone pooch to be wandering the streets. Surprisingly the pup came to me, and with nothing left to do but go back to work, I did. With pooch in tow. Even more surprisingly, however, was the reaction of everyone else in the office.

Not only did no one mind, but they gladly accepted this little peanut’s presence and gave him plenty of water and plenty of affection. Unfortunately, when it was time to leave I was forced to take the pooch to the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge.

Despite my attempts to convince my dad that Frasier needed a friend and this was the perfect match, he would not budge. Even when I tried again at the AWL, complete with pleading and my most established sad face, I was still shot down.

I’m still holding out though that the Snoopy themed collar this dog was wearing, along with the Notre Dame hat worn by the attendant at the AWL who took the pup away, are signs. This pooch is either going home or Frasier and I are making room for a new friend.

Today seemed to drag on and on. It was the kind of day where you can’t believe it’s only been 10 minutes every time you look at the clock. It got me thinking though. Wouldn’t life be ten billion times better if we could bring our dogs to work with us? I think so.

And you know what? There are companies out there where every day is take your dog to work day. Google, one of the biggest companies in the world, allows dogs. This phrase actually appears in the Google Code of Conduct: “Google’s affection for our canine friends is an integral facet of our corporate culture. We like cats, but we’re a dog company, so as a general rule we feel cats visiting our offices would be fairly stressed out.” So what’s a girl gotta do to work at Google?

Who wouldn't love staring at that face all day?

Click here to see what other dog-friendly companies are out there. I’ll give you a hint: Ben & Jerry’s, Build-A-Bear Workshop and Amazon all make the list. Who would have thought?

…this is Frasier.

Frasier endured a traumatic experience this morning when he was given a bath. Once the ordeal was finally over and he rushed outside, what was the first thing he did? Pee on the trash can near the entrance.

For just $34.95, I may have to buy it.

Image via.