It has been a long time since we have written to you. It has been a rough year for my Mommy but we
are helping her by keep her busy and being very good (most of the time).
Mommy has introduced me to so many new activities and I am pretty
good at most of them. I am sending you
pictures of some of the fun we have had.
I became a Dog Scout and have earned seven badges so far. I am working on my Community Service Badge
(which takes a long time and a lot of work).
One of the things we have to do is raise money for a shelter for
homeless dogs. Mom and I decided to best
way for us to do this on our own was through my agility trails, so we asked for
donations for all my good runs at several of the trails we went to. Mom took a picture of me with a lot of my ribbons
and title certificates. I raised $242.00
by the end of the year and another $75.00 for this year.
I have also helped raise money to buy oxygen masks for pets
for all the fire stations in Columbus.
I just got a really special badge for that. I have been going to the library so kids can
read to me and to the Central Ohio Youth Center to visit “troubled” teens (that
is my favorite place to visit and the funny picture of me and my friend Hank
standing against the wall is where the boys were teaching us “spread em” like
when they get searched. We did not mind
because we get lots of treats while they are teaching us).
Mommy and I went to see a Girl Scout Troop and a Cub Scout
Troop (boy they were wild) to tell them about taking care of pets
properly. We also went to a Middle
School and visited some kids there. Kerry had to go to a first aid lecture and
she fell asleep.
I am working on an art badge, doing both painting and
playing in a doggie band. I got 5
agility badges so far and I am trying to learn about “earth dog”, which is
where we go through a tunnel underground to find critters (we can’t really get
to them). This was not my favorite thing
to do. I am waiting for the test for
Rally Obedience badge – Mom says I am pretty good at that. Kerry and I also met Brutus the Buckeye when
we did a demonstration for OSU Vet Students.
I am not sure who Brutus is but he was really nice.
Kerry, Spirit and I got to go for an Easter Egg Hunt. The eggs were really plastic, but they had
good doggie treats inside. Than a lady
took our pictures. Kerry was supposed to
sit beside me but she went over to see if there were any more treats in the
bucket and the lady took her picture. We
also got to go to our friend Hank’s Birthday Party. There were lot of games and special treats
for all the dogs.
When it got so hot outside, Mommy set a pool for us up and I
am learning getting wet does not have to be so bad. Also we all went to Doggie Day Camp and got
to play a lot of games. We went to Alum
Creek to go on a hike. Since Spirit cannot
do agility anymore (because he is 12 and it is too hard for him now) Mommy let
him try some scent work. The lady hides
smelly food in lots of places and the dogs have to sniff around and find the
food. Spirit thought this was the best
game ever. He cried when it was not his
turn (I would make fun of him crying but I used to do the same thing in agility
class when it was not my turn).
I passed the Therapy Dog test and I like to go visit at the
retirement homes (especially my “Grandma Virginia”) and I went to the Heath
Care Center to see a very sick lady.
Last May, Mommy took us to the Capital Area Humane Society and the next thing we knew we had a new tiny sister. Her name is Kerry and she is now eight years old. She only weighs 7 pounds but she can be very ornery. Mommy said Kerry has trouble seeing, especially out of her left eye but she still gets around pretty well. Spirit (my big brother) fell in love with her right away. I think she is okay but I don’t know why we needed another pup in the family! Kerry passed the CSC test and Dog Scout test. She loves to go to school with me and visit with everyone.
I am sending you some of the toys I have gotten for doing
agility and rally and hope you can find some pups who will enjoy them.
Mommy said she will always be grateful to you for taking such good care of me when they found me on the street. My hair has grown in so beautiful where it used to be yellow from infection on my back. Everyone comments how pretty (and long) my beard is now.
I hope you are all well and you have not had too much
trouble because of the heat and the storms.
We were lucky but I know a lot of people have been having a hard time.
Lots of Love,
Madison
