Photo by Angela Kirk

Doc tried to distract me from watching TV for the last few days and it didn’t take me long to find out why. She didn’t want me to see that all of the “purebreds” that were competing for the top dog award at Westminster. This has been a long running pain in my gluteus maximus for years now and I find the rules to be the height of dog snobbery. The bottom line, I can’t compete nor can my friends because we are mutts. Now what do you think about that?

“Here we go again.” I heard Doc say quietly under here breath. ” I heard that!” I said back to her with indignation. ” Grover, we go over this and over this every year and you won’t let it go. Ever since you filled out the paper work and received a rejection letter from Westminster, you are insufferable when this comes on TV. It’s just not healthy to do this to yourself every year. Even if you were a purebred I don’t have the hundreds of thousands of dollars it would take to get you ready to win Best in Show. Besides, you’re neutered, they don’t allow neutered dogs. End of story.”

Maybe Doc is right. It’s kind of like a beauty pageant for dogs and the rules are set. According to your breed you must have ideal structure, color, perfect ear and tail placement and good temperament.

Seeing my disappointment, Doc sat down, looked at me and said, “You know Grover, there are rules for everything. You are certified as a therapy dog and you had to pass those standards.  You should be proud of that. Let’s put it this way, many of the dogs that go to Westminster would never be able to pass the therapy dog test. Besides, do you really want a bath and blow out everyday? They also use hair spray on your dog coat to make you look poofy.” ” Oh no!” I said back to her in horror. “You know Doc you’re right. I can just work at being Best in Show as a therapy dog. Every dog and human is good at something. It’s best to focus on your own talents than try to be something you’re not.”  ” Now you understand,” Doc said as she gave me a big hug.

Photo by Angela Kirk

Tomorrow is February 14, a day that is dedicated to love. Now you would think that everyone would be in favor of a day about love but I have already seen some people on Facebook trashing Valentines Day. What the heck humans! As for myself, I am all about love and to prove it, Doc is going to take me around work tomorrow to give out free kisses and hugs to anyone that needs or wants one. Now doesn’t that sound like more fun than being a hater?

Being the inquisitive canine that I am, I got to wondering how Valentines day got started. So I had Doc help me to get on the internet (it’s hard to hit the keys when you don’t have opposable thumbs) so that I could do some research and this is what I found out.

Valentine was a Roman Priest during the rule of the emperor Claudius Gothicus. Claudius persecuted the church and prohibited the marriage of young people. He based this on his hypothesis that soldiers would fight better if they were unmarried. Valentine wasn’t having any of that malarkey, so he married couples in secret because he felt that marriage was sacred and should not be prohibited.  Of course Valentine was eventually caught and imprisoned. In 269 AD Valentine was sentenced to beating, stoning and decapitation all because he laid his life on the line for what he believed. Valentines martyrdom did not go unnoticed by the citizens in Rome and now he is known as the patron saint of lovers. Not a very romantic story, but it does give you a little more perspective. The day is about more than flowers, candy and romance. It also made me think about love on a deeper level.

After I told Doc about the origins of Valentines Day I informed her that in honor of St. Valentine I will not be getting her a card or any candy this year.  “It’s  important that we honor love in its purest organic form” I said.  ” Oh really”, she responded with a note of sarcasm in her voice. ” In that case would you like to come with me to the pet store so that I can return all of your Valentine’s treats? ” I looked back at her with pure sadness until she relented.  ” Grover we can do both, she responded. Lets eat junk while cuddling on the couch and thinking of ways we can spread our love to others.”  ” Good idea, I said, I think St. Valentine would approve.”

Photo by Angela Kirk

As the Polar Vortex was moving out of our area mother nature had to leave one more surprise just to keep us on our toes. The weather report on Thursday night was predicting 1-3 inches of snow.  No big deal we thought, but that was not what we woke up to. When the alarm went off in the morning and Doc and I peered between the blinds there was already about 5 inches of snow and it was still coming down. Yikes! Doc grumbled under her breath when she saw all the snow, ” Why with all the dippity- do doppler radar they brag about do they have so many problems getting the forecast right?”  But with places to go and things to do, Doc would not be deterred by a mere half foot of snow.

Now I won’t lie, I was secretly praying for a snow day because I knew that Doc was dropping me off for a bath and pedicure that morning. The woman is obsessed with me being cleaned and coiffed.  She knows I don’t like to smell like a bunch of flowers. It ruins my street cred with the other dogs in the neighborhood for goodness sakes, yet she persists.

After breakfast we got in the car and Doc yells “Buckle up and hold on Grover!” Like a bat out of hell, she gunned the motor and took off down the snow-covered street. ” My dad taught me on days like this you need to keep up momentum so you don’t get stuck.” she hollered to me while I was holding on for dear life.  I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes. Luckily there was hardly any one on the street because everyone else was smart enough to stay home.  I know you are not surprised that we arrived to my bath appointment on time.

The waiting room at the Vets office where I get my bath was vacant. When they heard us come in the door, all the employees came rushing out to greet us like that hadn’t seen us in years. After checking in Doc left me there so she could get some errands done. I have to admit I had a nice time. I got lots of attention and doggy treats and they told me how handsome I looked. I don’t know why I fuss so much about the whole bath process. I always feel better when I am done and it’s not like they torture me.

While Doc and I were driving back home I told her, ” Thanks for taking me. I know I fuss about it, but the truth is I feel better after being pampered. Isn’t it amazing how we can get inside our own heads and take a simple thing and get ourselves all worked up about nothing?”  ” Yes I know.” she said. Please remember that the next time I tell you it’s time for a bath.