In my experience, a dog can be a natural bridge between two people. I cannot count the times my big adopted dog did her part, making sure I knew my neighbors and local shopkeepers. Sometimes it was her extra-large size that prompted a conversation with a stranger. Sometimes her unexpected presence in a room allowed me to escape a knot of people. She didn't know I needed saving or how she was helping me, but my lowered anxiety was tangible.

Mind if I join you for a bit?

A dog's natural ability to diffuse a room is powerful and effective because I have also experienced it in the doggy loft at Muttville Senior Dog Rescue. I have watched an agitated person walk into a room, spy an old dog doing anything from being cute while they nap to being cute as they trot across the floor, and see their limbs and expression visible relax. I imagine their blood pressure is lowering as their face transforms into soft eyes and maybe a smile.

This week at the doggy loft, I got the chance to spend some quality time with Dusty, a large, warm, heavy, comforting blanket of a dog. He is the type of dog who will gladly get as tight against you as possible. And he will stay there despite more distractions than most dogs could resist.

I love dogs whose presence is undeniable but quiet. The sound of their breathing is meditative.

Do you ever have a dream where you can feel a dog is next to you, your hands are clasping their body or head. I have. When I wake up, I will usually have a small pillow or wad of blankets tucked against me in a way that my dreams interpreted into a dog. Rather than being sad that it wasn't a live dog in my arms, I'm encouraged that my dreams can feel this real.

Guess who returned to the doggy loft for the first time in sixteen months? She has opposable thumbs and is the biggest dog lover you will find.

From March 11, 2020, until July 14, 2021, I could not volunteer at the Muttville Senior Dog Rescue on Rescue Row here in San Francisco. Thanks to a pandemic, my city and state shut down for weeks and shuttered schools and businesses for months. I missed 64 Wednesday mornings waking up sleepy old dogs. Sixteen months of being denied a steady diet of soft doggy snuggles. How many laundry loads of dirty dog beds, aprons, and towels did I skip? I can't believe I missed mopping up after these sugar faces so much.

Who else can say they honestly like the familiar smell of old dogs?

When entering the open loft first thing in the morning, with its closed windows to keep the more than a dozen old dogs safe overnight, imagine the wall of smell that hits you first. A combination of warm soiled bedding mixed with various late-night pee offers your nose a scent only faithful dog people appreciate. I didn't realize until after being denied my morning shift for months that I missed that familiar stink. That I took comfort in the potent smell because it meant there were warm sleepy dogs behind those doors.

What is old is new again

Do you find yourself looking with envy at the people in your neighborhood playing with their dogs? Have you spent way too much time obsessing over dog accounts on Instagram and Twitter? Before you give in to the impulse to get a puppy, let's talk about why you might want to stop and reconsider.

Why do you want a dog?

Be honest. Look around your home, look at your daily schedule, and look at your finances. Do you have space for a dog? Do you have the time to give a dog? Are you able to provide them with the attention they need to be a happy and well-adjusted member of your family? Have you been to a pet store or looked online at the cost of food, toys, bedding, and all the basic stuff a dog needs? How about the cost of veterinary care? Are you prepared for regular check-ups as well as possible emergencies? Do you live in a place where the noise and activity of a dog will fit in, even welcomed?

It's essential to look around and ask yourself these questions before you bring a dog into your home and life. Being honest with yourself will save you both the heartache of unrealistic expectations. The potential stress, upset, and even trauma, of making this leap without being honest with yourself happens.

Don't feel bad if you realize it's not a good idea to have a dog.

Over the past few years, I have discovered is that it's not so bad enjoying the company of dogs that don't belong to me.

I love dogs very much and will always want to have them around, but I am realistic about the difference between enjoying them and being responsible for one. I started engaging more with the dogs I meet in my neighborhood. Now I am willing to wait longer before I adopt another dog. I feel good each time a dog shares some time and playfulness with me. I take home a little fluff, often some slobber, always a dose of oxytocin. How can I complain?

With the pandemic causing many people to get a dog, I have had more conversations with puppy parents. We can all use words of encouragement! Whenever possible, I offer support to both puppy and parent when we cross paths. They are always grateful, and I enjoy seeing their expressions of pride.

As we enter spring, enjoy the sun and outdoors. Wave to your neighbors and say hello to ALL the dogs! Remember that it is okay that you didn't adopt a dog. 

Tell me, have you had this conversation with yourself, or your family? How do you find ways to enjoy dogs?

One of the joys of living in San Francisco has been discovering Muttville Senior Dog Rescue and its many volunteers and staff members. They are not only dog lovers but all are deeply dedicated towards the wellbeing of older dogs. The moments I have witnessed in the doggy loft are inspiring, always heartwarming.

Recently I read about the successful fostering and adoption of a Muttville mutt, Quigley. The story shared by MW Moses is told below, in his own words. It’s a wonderful example of the Grouchy Puppy motto, Give Fearlessly * Influence Positively. I hope you enjoy it and share your takeaways, or your own experiences dog fostering in the comments below...

Dogs enrich our lives. The Grouchy Puppy blog celebrates the unique bond between humans and dogs.

Having a dog in your home and family is itself a gift, but living in a community that welcomes dogs is equally comforting. It has been many years since our dog passed away. I have been unable to volunteer weekly with the sugar faces at Muttville Senior Dog Rescue for a year since the pandemic forced them to shift to remote adoptions. To keep everyone safe, the new oldsters do not stay in the doggy loft but immediately transition them into a foster home.

A saving grace for me has been the many dogs in my San Francisco neighborhood. Since the need to work from home, and the quarantine, I see so many more dogs playing outside or just walking down the street. The occasional encounters with these pups of all ages and sizes have been a tonic.

Growing up with a dog trainer for a mom, I recognize when I see puppy socialization training when I am out for a walk. Taking my cue from both ends of the leash, I either stop for a visit or take a hard pivot away. I appreciate both experiences. It is nice to see someone recognizing the lifelong value of early socializing their puppy. If I get to be a part of that for a minute, great!!

When you need a reason to look up:

• Adoptable dogs demonstrate resilience and eternal optimism
• Dogs have an incredible ability to show forgiveness time and again for our errors in caring for them
• Older dogs remind us how to let go of the past and embrace the present
• All dogs show how to savor every expression of love and compassion, no matter how small

That dogs can mirror our expressions, body language, vocals and even share our personality traits, according to many dog owners, is something extraordinary. Who hasn't shared a yawn with their dog? I have had dogs match my stretch with their own. I remember the many mornings I heard my dog making the same morning groans as my husband and me as we woke up.

I don't know what the new year holds, but I know that I will appreciate each time a dog gives me a reason to look up.

One of the places nearby is a dog park that is big enough for folks to safely social distance while letting their dogs play off leash. Since the pandemic and number of coronavirus cases still prevent me from getting my dog fix with the sugar faces at Muttville Senior Dog Rescue as a volunteer, I have started stopping by the dog area. I have changed my route when I am going to the store and have added it to my outdoor walks when I need extra steep hills. It is a little hit or miss on how many dogs will be there but I am not picky. I enjoy just watching the scenery and dog play, and if a dog decides they want to come over and say hello, who am I to be rude?

Thank goodness for dogs who are social butterflies

If there is a smart reader of this out there good at math, I bet you could tell me what the odds are that there is a social butterfly in a group of dogs. There always seems to be one. Sure, it usually is a puppy but sometimes it is just a dog who is just not that into other dogs. Often they like other dogs, but they get tired of them pretty quickly compared to others. On this day, I was lucky to meet one of those, in the form of a big Anatolian Shepherd - St. Bernard type name Riley.

Being a dog, and the type he was, Riley saw me, but first walked over to check out the other dogs coming through the gate. Then he moved down the line to say hello to me and get some love while his mom laughed and introduced him. After me, he continued over to an area that looked like a piece of tasty trash had traveled over the fence, just in case there was something to eat. That entire session gave me the happiest feeling of continuity and life, and how there is joy still around.

I am so grateful for the social butterfly because I am not. And, if that social butterfly flies over to me in the form of a dog, then all the better. Dogs have delivery methods for their type of affection and interest which never cease to make me laugh, smile or feel my heart lift up a little. They blow through resistance like the wind. 

It has been so many months since I have been able to volunteer with the oldsters at Muttville Senior Dog Rescue that I feel slightly desperate in my reactions when I see dogs on the street. The slightest look from a dog gets an immediate waggle of my fingers! Not gonna lie, there have been more than one person on the other end of the leash who looked embarrassed for me. But you know what? It doesn’t matter. What is important here is that dogs are dogs are dogs, and given how uncertain everyday life is right now, I am grateful for this fact.

So much has changed, but still there is the delightful consistency of dogs

Dogs can be so delightfully consistent! I mean, since this pandemic has us social distancing whenever we’re out and wherever we are, I find myself sitting alone on a bench, either at a park or neighborhood street. It doesn’t happen every time but often, a person out walking their dog will slow near me, either because the dog is interested in the tree nearby or the dog wants to say hi to me! It is usually the typical labradorable type dog, a puppy who would also say hi to the tree, the bench and the mailbox, or the sweet little old dog who can pick out a dog lover in a minute.

The chocolate lab social club of Dolores Park in San Francisco

I confess that I have taken to placing myself purposefully in the spots where a dog is likely to walk by during an afternoon break. I can’t help it. It’s a gamble to see what each day brings me but such is life, and if it is simply the chance to have a moments engagement with a happy or tired little pup on their way home, it’s worth it. We all need to find our own forms of self-care. Besides gardening, and walking the city hills, a dose of d-o-g helps my peace of mind. Dogs remind me of all the good that is around us. These loving sentient beings remind me to find joy each day. How something as simple as a soft pet or quick stinky kiss can send a jolt of happiness into your immune system.

So for all of you folks out there who aren’t able to volunteer with dogs, or have a dog, don’t be afraid to search out the ones living around you right now. Walk over to your dog park and see what happens. Try a bench. Give yourself permission to sit and rest, and be open to the opportunity of an offer of a fluffy head or maybe just a slow walk by with a knowing wink (yes, I’ve gotten those too!). We’re all in this together.

Pilots N Paws is a wonderful nonprofit. Their volunteer pilots and plane owners assist specific rescues and shelters, sometimes flying animals directly to adopters waiting to be united with their new pup. They take to the skies to give adorable adoptable dogs a second chance at a forever home.

"I may not be able to hear because I'm deaf - but I can sure see and it looks like only blues skies ahead for me in my new life." #weareflyingtails pic.twitter.com/6EPsgKRDqx

— Pilots N Paws (@PilotsNPaws) May 29, 2020

Giving a dog another chance at a happy life is one of the reasons I support Muttville Senior Dog Rescue and volunteer with them. I believe that dogs offer us humans another chance to show kindness, do good, be humane, and demonstrate the best of humankind towards animals. This is how both sides demonstrate the animal-human bond. Whenever I have offered the sweet older dogs compassion at Muttville, they have generously offered me affection and gratitude in return.

The world needs our positive influence, our empathy can heal. When we have a compassionate response to those in need, the world notices.

Learn more:

Pilots N Paws:

Pilots N Paws® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our site is intended to be a meeting place for volunteers engaged in the valuable services of rescuing, sheltering and adopting animals, and volunteer pilots and plane owners willing to assist with animal transportation. The intent of Pilots N Paws is to provide an environment in which volunteers can come together and arrange or schedule rescue flights, overnight foster care or shelter, and all other related activities.

Through the Pilots N Paws discussion board, volunteers can exchange information regarding animal transports, coordinate and schedule transports, share rescue stories and recruit volunteers.

Read about more Muttville Senior Dog Rescue 

A Virginia Tech staffer (And senior dog!) who has spent a career serving and supporting the university community was recently recognized in a special commencement ceremony during Mental Health Awareness Week.

Moose, an 8-year-old therapy dog at Virginia Tech’s Cook Counseling Center, received an honorary doctorate in veterinary medicine Friday evening, May 15 as part of virtual commencement exercises. It’s the latest recognition for the pawsome member of Hokie Nation.

Like the Hokies he helps, Moose has had a challenging few months. Just a week after his birthday in February (his 64th, in human years), the Labrador Retriever was diagnosed with prostate cancer and began a treatment regimen of radiation, chemotherapy, and other therapies.

His treatment has been managed by providers at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, a joint venture of Virginia Tech and the University of Maryland at College Park. Moose was cared for and housed by a Virginia Tech veterinary student earlier this year while receiving radiation treatments at a private veterinary specialist in Richmond.

Moose, who came to Virginia Tech in 2014, is now one of four dogs at the counseling center who serve as working therapy animals and ambassadors for mental health awareness.

Trent Davis, the coordinator of animal-assisted therapy and a counselor at the center, credited Veterinary Teaching Hospital staff for providing Moose with excellent care. Moose continues to receive chemotherapy and has been given a pawsitive prognosis.

“ They’re wonderful, amazing people,” Davis said of the veterinary staff.

Moose has returned to work with canine colleague Derek, who is also owned and cared for by Davis. Virginia Tech’s team of therapy dogs is rounded out by Carson and Wagner, whose humans are also staff members at the counseling center.

Moose has aided in more than 7,500 counseling sessions and over 500 outreach events in his six years at Virginia Tech. He was honored in 2019 with the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association’s Animal Hero Award. When not working, he enjoys swimming, playing tug of war, and perhaps most of all, eating.

The Virginia Tech therapy dogs can be found on Instagram at @vttherapydogs. 

When I am out on a walk one of the nicest moments can be an encounter with a dog. Everything from a dog catching my eye from a window, to a passing butt scratch in the crosswalk, to several minutes standing at a corner discussing the joys of dogs with their person on the other end of a leash. It takes very little for me to get a warm rush of oxytocin from the fluffy encounter. But since the pandemic, and social distancing requirements, I have started to wonder, “Can dogs still smell me at six feet away?”

I know dogs use their eyes to get their cues from humans, and their hearing helps them distinguish between friend and foe. After reading the book, Inside of a Dog, by Alexandra Horowitz, I also know dogs have a very sophisticated sense of smell. So for all the dogs that are now inside, and only viewing me from a faraway window sill, I wonder what they are thinking?

In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis and the necessitated quarantines, the Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Humane Education department is spreading some light via on-line programming.

Dogs and Social Distancing

Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Humane Education Provides Adorable At-Home Programming for Those Who Need a Pick-Me-Up…

Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.  (Mar. 16, 2020) – In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis and the necessitated quarantines, Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Humane Education department is spreading some light via on-line programming.  The animal welfare organization dedicated to the loving and healing power of our furry friends has begun live-streaming adorable critters (sure to warm the hearts of kids and adults alike), and will soon provide humane education classes for kids stuck at home, seeking enjoyable and educational content. 

Since its founding, Helen Woodward Animal Center has offered humane education programs dedicated to showing the incredible ways in which animals give back to the world.  The Center’s Pet Encounter Therapy program flourishes thanks to the amazing way in which animals provide healing and comfort.  The enormous growth of adoptions is based on the undeniable way pets create a happier, more loving home.   With this in mind, Helen Woodward Animal Center is dedicating this time to bringing the gifts of animals into the homes of friends, supporters, and animal-lovers struggling with social distancing.   Anyone needing a pick-me-up is encouraged to access the Center live stream at: https://animalcenter.org/programs-services/education/critter-cam.  All programming is free to the public to enjoy. 

The following “animal hours” are already up and running!

Monday – Friday

Animal schedule:

*Schedule subject to change due to animal health and availability

In order to take precautions against the COVID-19 pandemic, all on-site humane education programs at Helen Woodward Animal Center are closed until April 6th, 2020.  In the meantime, check back on Helen Woodward Animal Center’s main website for more details about when to tune in to participate in virtual field trips, fun animal-focused lessons, and cool make-at-home crafts!

For more information about the education programs at Helen Woodward Animal Center, log onto www.animalcenter.org.

***

About Helen Woodward Animal Center

Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 90,000 people and more than 10,000 animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout the community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the International Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive, the International Remember Me Thursday® campaign and The Business of Saving Lives Workshops, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world.  For more information, go to: www.animalcenter.org.

In the dog world, we humans are often the beneficiaries of a dog’s pure love and undiluted support in all that we do. A wagging tail is one of the nicest compliments! Experiencing how the human dog bond is demonstrated is extraordinary, it can feel like a cosmic boost.

What is also incredible to witness is the pure love, support and affection between dogs. Meet Star and her brother Denver, an adorable pair showing us what it means to be a personal cheerleader for your puppy sibling.

Adorable Bonded Puppy Siblings Star and Denver

Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.  (Feb. 24, 2020) – It has often been said that “love is blind” but at Helen Woodward Animal Center two pups are displaying that colloquialism in its truest form.  In fact, the two 3-month old terrier-blends who arrived at the Center only two weeks ago have demonstrated a bond unlike any seen at the Center before.  The female pup named Star is deaf and nearly blind, and her brother Denver has taken on the loving role of being her guide.

On February 11^th, Star and Denver arrived at Helen Woodward Animal Center via transport from a new rescue partner – Heart of Louisiana. The pups were part of a litter of 8 whose mother had been dumped in a rural location.  A couple who found the mother kept her with her babies and, once weaned, asked the southern rescue facility to help find good homes for her pups.  The litter, along with 31 other rescue puppies, traveled 1,900 miles to reach sunny San Diego and nearly all of the transfers were ready for adoption in little more than a week. 

However, Helen Woodward Animal Center staffers soon realized that Star had special needs.  Deaf and nearly completely blind, Star was learning how to make her way in the world by use of her other senses.  While the rest of her littermates frolicked without her, her brother Denver kept a protective eye on her.  Choosing Star as his main playmate, the two were rarely apart and when separated, Denver would come running back to love on Star and let her know he was there.

“It’s really extraordinary,” stated Helen Woodward Adoption Services Manager Dora Dahlke.  “We never stop learning from animals.  These two really can teach us all a thing or two about sibling love and how much we can achieve with the love of a good friend.”

Star and Denver will be adopted out as a bonded pair.  They will be available for adoption on Wednesday, February 26. As a part of their adoption, San Diego Pet Training’s Rob Kuty will be on hand to provide the new family with techniques on how to raise a special needs puppy.  One thing is certain, Denver will be right there to help show his new family how wonderful his sister really is.

Interested in Adoptions at Helen Woodward Animal Center?

To adopt Star and Denver or for more information on Helen Woodward Animal Center, please go to www.animalcenter.org, call 858-756-4117 or stop by at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe.

****

About Helen Woodward Animal Center

Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 90,000 people and more than 10,000 animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout the community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the International Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive, the International Remember Me Thursday® campaign and The Business of Saving Lives Workshops, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world.  For more information, go to:  www.animalcenter.org.

When year end and holiday gatherings start to add stress more than joy, consider this message from (wo)man’s best friend. 

A Timeless Gift from Dogs

Timeless Gifts From Dogs: Peace, Love, Snuggles 

Slow down, and embrace your inner stillness. Let the love flow from your favorite furry friends, in exchange for your quietude. There have many times during my volunteer shift at Muttville Senior Dog Rescue where a dog has been my guide to having a meaningful day.

It’s okay, even encouraged, to turn down the volume of the day. Let yourself savor a simple snuggle, whether it is long and luxurious or sweetly brief.

The gift of peace

Open your eyes and heart to a pup’s perspective. Your time together doesn’t have to only be about play, and rushing about. 

Take each moment as it presents itself. Appreciate the gift of time together. These are the important memories you will carry throughout the new year.

Celebrating our Grouchy Puppy ten year anniversary has gotten us to stop and take a look at how dogs have positively influenced us over the past decade. When I look around at the dog books I have read, and the different dogs I have met, what came to me were the many words that have entered my vocabulary because of them. Between the dog books and the actual dogs, there are words that I find myself using every single day.

Have you ever stopped and thought about how a dog (or dogs) can influence you? It was only when I was considering how dogs have influenced me over the last ten years did I pick up on this vocabulary theme. I looked over old blog posts and other pieces, and saw certain words used over and over.

When I look at the thousands of photos from the oldsters at Muttville Senior Dog Rescue that are still on my phone, these same words come to mind. Our encounters in the doggy loft inspire a word cloud in my head that I hadn’t recognized until now.

What stands out to me, that was a pleasant surprise, was how uplifting the words were. It is pretty wonderful to see how ten years focused on writing about dogs and volunteering with old dogs, had caused this set of uplifting words to become a part of my vocabulary.

Since we are closing out the year, and the decade, I thought it would be fun to share a top ten list. In no particular order, below are ten words regularly found in my vocabulary thanks to dogs. Do they look familiar to you? How have dogs influenced you over the years? Are there words you find yourself using more frequently that may have been introduced because of a dog?

10 words that you will surely find in your vocabulary (I hope!) thanks to a dog (in no particular order)

Inspiration

Love

Gratitude

Hope

Warmth

Optimism

Motivation

Smile

Goodness

Joy

What do you think? How many of these words do you use daily? What other words come to mind that we missed?