My daughter, Alice, loves dogs.
Most of her friends have dogs, Chihuahuas, pointers, labs, mutts. Alice pines over Komondorok, the big white mop dogs, and the regal Dobermans. She tucks away most of her allowance in a dog fund that she plans to use in a decade.
Since COVID, Alice’s caretaking skills have vastly improved. She can’t take her lizard, Puff, for a walk, but she nurtures Puff, who attends Zoom classes with Alice and cuddles on her lap or nearby on a heated rice pillow.
Given her still very real longing for canine time (and that ownership is not viable for our family), we emailed the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society (WVHS), asking about volunteer opportunities. Immediately, volunteer coordinator Jenni Ulrich responded, and our journey began.
I wasn’t sure if this would be about dropping Alice off while I ran errands, but discovered, because Alice is 13 (almost 14), she needs an adult to accompany her.
So now it’s our shared experience, and I’m struck with the joy it brings both of us.
Remembering our nametags, we drive over a half hour from Leavenworth to the WVHS facility, which is impressive in its functionality, cleanliness and comfort for the animals. Checking in includes grabbing two fanny packs so each of us has a supply of treats and plastic bags.
Alice and I always like to say hello to all the pups before we begin our official duty, “green” dog walking. Green refers to the smallest and/or calmest dogs, which are easy for new volunteers to handle.
(We’ve just been trained and will soon walk “blue” dogs. Blue dogs, with their larger size and increased need for training, require us to be even more vigilant about behavior corrections and avoid over-excited encounters with other dogs that are out at the same time.)
Denne historien er fra January 2021-utgaven av The Good Life.
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Denne historien er fra January 2021-utgaven av The Good Life.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Nita Paine
‘I love that we provide an outlet to people to express themselves, to find out who they are’
Looking at life from a different angle now
Bout with cancer, plus pandemic made couple wonder: Why wait to really live?
Keeping family ties strong
Twelve months of COVID makes for a long year away from kids and grandkids
It's a kick to be a zebra — or a canary
When making the call is your calling
Saved family letters tell of war horrors, peacetime hopes and dreams
Loving letters from long ago
Varied Thrush: Making a bold statement
Globally, the thrush family contains 169 viable species; three other thrush species are now extinct.
Clean shots
For real estate photographer, the art is in the uncluttered details
Visiting the glory years of our parents
Obituaries – They’re really NOT for the dead
Going deep with Dan Feil
Warm crystal clear water, incredible fish, spectacular scenery, why not jump off a boat in the tropics?
Bringing a glow to the night
Who says outside lights are just for Christmas time? Drivers on Maple Street in Wenatchee will now see lights year-round.