Walk for Fidelco, 2010

It is that time of year again where I march among the German Shepherds and other service dogs, raising money for the Northeastern Training Association for Seeing Eye Dogs.

Many of the dogs I work with in Allen's Angels are German Shepherds that are retired or who have not made the program. This weekend, I worked with Cooper, a Fidelco dog who was unable to complete the program due to some problems with some toes that required amputation. He gets around just fine, but in order to avoid the extra stress on his feet, he was adopted out as a pet. This same woman is fostering a half-sister of his, with the intention of her entering the Fidelco training program. And recently, our dog therapy group lost a retired Fidelco dog but the kind people quickly found themselves with another retiree, ready to enjoy a life of leisure and providing happiness to those who are hospitalized and unable to see their own dogs.

The Woman comes from Alaska. She believes very strongly that every dog should have a job. Her huskies all worked, pulling sleds or carrying packs. Belle had a job as a shining example of agility and leading her kennel into the limelight of notoriety. Me? Outside of my intense desire to protect The Woman from all harm, I am one of the few Shibas who travels around town, visiting folks who can't have their own dogs, but want some time petting and enjoying one.

These Fidelco dogs work and they work hard. Two-three years of training and then they help their person for about six to eight years, being their eyes and support as they travel through life and society. And yet, they are still dogs. They enjoy a good bully stick and chasing a ball when they are not working. But like myself, you put that harness on, and it means business.

This year, The Woman and I would like to break our record of donations. We almost made $500 last year, and as a single walking team, this is impressive. This year, I would like to make that mark. And while The Woman tells me I am delusional in believing that we can do this, every dollar does help. All the money goes to the dogs, the fostering of pups, the training, the vet bills, and the eventual retirement. It is one of the few associations that as humane Animal Treatment is, I can stand proudly as my ancient breed, and say, "this is good."

Our Donation Page

Even if you can only donate a dollar or even if you can only post and spread the word, all your help is appreciated. And I will be there, as I have for the last three years since I became a therapy dog, walking with the rest of the working dogs, proving that Shibas are just as good as every other breed.




I Am Shiba. I Make This Look Good.

Apologies to All

The Woman wishes to extend her apologies to all that she has been not blogging in a manner to my satisfaction. She has had to use her computer for things related to her schooling, obedience training for humans. It's about time someone taught her obedience. After all, Belle-chan had to go wake the two humans up this morning in order to get breakfast delivered one hour late.

There have been a number of fabulous pictures taken of Belle-chan and me but with That Guy's computer down, they have had to be sharing computers and prioritizing the little lap top and what it gets used for. My pictures have been back ordered. The audacity.

This is not saying, however, that we have been being ignored! The weather has been sunny so we have gotten trips to Squirrel Park and the Nature Center (frogs and turtles and ducks, oh my!) and have had car rides all over the place so I can not complain that we are not getting our due. It's just that, of course, nothing is ever enough. You could give me a treat, a greenie, and a pig ear all in the same day and I would still ask for that bone from your steak.

I am, after all, worth it.



I Am Shiba. I Am All That and More!

Shiba Power!

Yesterday, a computer technician came to our house. He had to work on That Guy's computer, which has suffered from a syndrome that if you push the "on" button, nothing happens. So this alleged wizard arrives to fix the problem and We Shibas were ready.

Now, when Workman come to the house and The Woman is here, one of two things will happen. She will either leash us and make introductions, assuring us that this individual is welcome into the house, and if the workman does not mind, we will supervise the quality of his profession and determine if The Woman is getting her money's worth. However, if the door is being opened frequently or something like the rugs are being cleaned, we are crated. This way, we observe from a distance but still are able to supervise.

Yesterday, That Guy did neither. As the computer technician worked downstairs, we had full run of the upstairs and made our presence known to this unseen intruder. The Guy apologized to The Workman but he said he understood. Dogs will be dogs. But The Workman never came upstairs. We put the fear of the Shiba in him.

However, when The Woman came home, she did not know that The Workman had come to the House. So, after our initial greeting, Belle-chan and I immediately started acting crazy around the house, chasing one another, play fighting, and being all bark and macho. She was laughing when That Guy explained that there had been a workman earlier, and that both of us were in red alert mode the entire time.

The Woman realized what we were doing. We were re-enacting our protection of the house and demonstrating our plans of attack as well as how we eventually scared the man away (who is coming back again today I have heard!) We were very proud of ourselves for our ability to notify and protect, and proudly showed her our display. We got plenty of praise and she rolled with us on the floor as we chased and jumped around, showing our ferocity and then returned for more pets.

I don't know what the plan is for today. Today both The Woman and The Man will be here. But what I do know is that after it is all over, I am sure a Greenie or a Pig's Ear will be given to us and we will lie in front of the door in the sunshine, and know that we are loved for what makes us Shibas.



I Am Shiba. Two Sound Louder Than One!

People Do Stupid Things Sometimes

I am a Shiba of routine.

I expect my breakfast between 6-7 am.
I expect my dinner between 6-7 pm.
There will be two to three outgoings per day allowing me to express myself around the 'hood.
I expect my morning belly rub.
I expect to be treated with respect when I walk into a room.

What I don't expect is a whole bunch of plants moved into the living room because a cold freeze is called in.

Last night, I decided to do a Shiba 500. Even Belle-chan was feeling playful, biting my ears, taunting me like she does so I take off to run through the house but omg . . .

next to the windows
behind the chairs
there are these plants in containers
and when I run to do my routine, and I expressly say, this is my routine run,
there are these barriers of foliage
and I run right into them

The sound is unique enough to where That Guy turns to The Woman and says, what was that? And she actually responded, I think that was Cortez running into a potted plant.

Running into a potted plant? You placed it right in my path!! I had no idea it was there until I turned the corner at 150 mph to express what a great dinner you gave me and collided with some kind of foreign palm tree that I know was not there yesterday.

Oh, I am sorry. Did you say that it was cold tonight and tomorrow night so you brought all the plants in? I missed that memo! Next time, post it above my food bowl and I might notice it!



I Am Shiba. Don't Mess With the Shiba 500.

April Fool's on Us

Today the weatherman predicted a sunny day with temperatures in the '70's.

Today, The Woman promised to take us to the Park.

It is 49 degrees.

It is cloudy.

April Fool's on us.



I Am Shiba. Bah Humbug.