Month: January 2017

ELBEE Despite the fact that this is a feel good post about me and Gus, that title has got to go!

Last Sunday, I took Elbee and Gus hiking. Maybe because it was a spectacular southern California day or maybe because it was a long weekend for Martin Luther King’s birthday, a lot of families were on the trails. The Doods, being all cute and fluffy with their hair blowing in the breeze, were like people magnets. Their tails started wagging the moment that anyone even glanced in their direction.

An older couple hiking with their son asked if it would be alright for him to pet the dogs. I told them “Absolutely.” The young man was bundled up in a warm jacket and was wearing a hat with a wide brim that hid his face. As he started petting Elbee and Gus, he looked up with the sweetest smile and I could see that he had Downs Syndrome. While he continued to interact with the dogs, I chatted with his appreciative parents who shared how much he loved animals.

Of course that was my cue to take out my phone and show him photos of all three of the Doods in costumes for various holidays. He giggled at their multi-colored Halloween wigs, their Christmas sweaters and their red, white and blue outfits for the Fourth of July. After a few minutes, I had Elbee and Gus wave good bye and he waved back with pure delight.

We continued walking, greeting all sorts of hikers, old and young. It was as if everyone realized how lucky we were to be up in the Santa Monica Mountains enjoying the day. A few minutes later we met a family with four young children, one a toddler in the dad’s arms.

The kids who were walking had a mixed reaction. It seemed as if they wanted to visit with the dogs but at the same time they backed away slightly. After I told the mother they were both therapy dogs, she assured the little boy and his two sisters that it was okay to come closer and pet them. Within a minute it was a love fest. The kids were all over Gus and Elbee, petting them, squealing in delight.

Suddenly I noticed an expression of both surprise and relief on the mom’s face. She shared that recently the children had a very negative experience with a dog and had become fearful. Just then, the younger girl, who was actually hugging Gus, said she wished he’d give her a kiss. As if on cue, Gus turned his head and gently licked her on the cheek.

When I watch the Doods perform wonders in the hospital, I never take it for granted but it is what I have come to expect. Last Sunday put it in a different perspective. It was amazing to be experiencing the power of nature while the dogs so naturally and effortlessly worked their magic. I realized again that being a part of what Charley, Elbee and Gus do is one of the greatest gifts in my life.

There are Jewish guilt trips and Catholic guilt trips, but there is nothing quite like a dog guilt trip. Some people say that dogs don’t have a sense of time. They don’t know if you’re gone for ten minutes or ten hours. I’m seriously beginning to doubt that. When I return from an errand or two the Doods are mildy excited. When I have the nerve to leave them for a few hours, I hear about it.

THE DOODS In our defense, not that we need one, does anyone tell us where they’re going or when they’ll be back. We can’t exactly prepare meals and organize entertainment.

If I leave town for a few days, when I get home the dogs act as if I had abandoned them. They alternate between hysteria and pouting. Charley, who is usually the voice of reason in the pack, starts barking so much that I’m afraid to imagine what he’s saying.

CHARLEY Am I being mocked for showing genuine concern?

Recently as I was getting ready to visit two of the grandkids, oh yes a daughter and her husband too, in northern California, I realized something. As soon as my little blue suitcase came out, the Doods started pulling attitude. I was afraid they were  going to stowaway in my luggage.

When I got home a few days later, they carried on like never before. They’re masters of the guilt trip but this was over the top even for them. As crazy as it sounds (no comments from the daughters please) I’d even told them where I was going. They like the grandkids so I figured it wouldn’t be an issue.

THE DOODS Yes, we love the grandkids, even the one who screams every time she sees us, so that wasn’t an issue but we found out something shocking. Pack Leader had cheated on us. We were looking at the husband’s cell phone the night before when she was sending some photos. We were hoping we’d see the kids.

Do you see these? These are definitely not the grandchildren! The sheep and the cow are bad enough but it looks as if she developed some sort of personal relationship with a goat! A goat? Really?

For the record, the goat seemed to have a problem with his vision so I felt sorry for him. And yes, we bonded.

Some of you, oh okay, anyone who’s ever met me knows that I can talk non-stop about the dogs. It’s probably why so many people encouraged me to write about them. They were hoping I’d shut up and stop talking about them.

A daughter, the one who is not a fan of the Doods, commented that I could turn any conversation around to the dogs. I told her it was a gift.

THE DOODS How can anyone not be a fan? Shocking! 

Last week, as part of the People Animal Connection at UCLA Medical Center, Gus and I, along with his wingman Tommy and Tommy’s person Donna, were invited to be on the local news. They wanted us to share the amazing work that the dogs in the program are doing. I couldn’t wait. I had stories to tell.

When we arrived at the studio, we were treated like VIP’s. From the guard at the gate who gave me my photo ID to the receptionist who came out from behind the desk to say hello to Gus, everyone made us feel special. Even the on-air personalities were welcoming.

In the green room, yes the green room, we met up with Tommy and Donna, plus Kunal, the coordinator of PAC. It was there we found out that Kunal would be our spokesperson for the live broadcast. Oh no! Had my reputation preceded me? Did they know I was a yenta who could go on and on?

To his credit, Kunal did a great job. He answered the questions concisely and informatively. Gus and Tommy were also pros. They sat patiently in our laps ready for their close ups. I, on the other hand, practically broke out in hives not being able to add my two cents!

I felt a little better the next day when I ran into a few friends who were so excited to have seen us on TV that they didn’t notice I wasn’t saying a word. One of them even took screenshots.

If I’m being honest, this was probably better than when I gave an interview in Spanish on Telemundo. I’m sure that people are still pausing their recordings and laughing. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, check out my post “You Did What?” (11/7/16). And it sort of extends my fifteen minutes of fame again.

ELBEE If she brings out one more of those cheesy bodybuilding photos, I’m going to boycott her blog.