“Everyone thinks of committing suicide at some time,” my walking partner said as we settled into a steady pace for the 5K Wauk for Suicide Prevention and Awareness this past Saturday. We had both known people who have attempted and some who had succeeded at committing suicide.
Even just five or so years ago, it seemed rare to see a skunk wandering around my residential neighborhood—almost unheard of ten years ago. Usually I’d see them at dusk while camping or walking around the state park, but not in my neighbor’s yard. What happened?
On Monday, I arrived home later than usual after work and found my husband scrubbing the carpet, a roll of paper towels lay on the floor and a scowl across his face. Buffy, my tan cocker spaniel had made a huge mess all over the living room rug. Diarrhea.
You walk into the hotel with your dog by your side, feeling assured as you see other conference attendees with their pets. But your dog barks and lunges toward another dog, stretching his retractable leash to its full fifteen feet. In your scramble to hang onto the leash, your purse and conference materials scatter on the floor. You yank him hard, stopping him in his tracks as he trips. You yell, “Max come here NOW!” He cowers and everyone turns and stares at you.
Do you throw your dog’s waste in the nearest trash can? I actually plan my dog walks to go past several garbage cans so that I don’t have to carry the poop bag very far. Do you do this? 
Do you take your dog to parks where they provide bags so you don’t have to bring your own?
Do you pick up your dog’s poop using a plastic bag and then throw it in the trash?
Do you even pick up your dog’s poop?
When I was a kid, we didn’t pick up our dog’s poop. I’d take Chipper (the brown cocker I had 
back then) for a walk and nervously look around to see if anyone was watching while he pooped in someone’s yard.
On Tuesday, I took Buffy to her eye doctor to get the pressure checked in her eyes. Her right eye had jumped from 15 to 30 in the two weeks since our last visit.
Once the pressure reaches 35, then dogs experience a severe headache, like a migraine.
Do you stay at home on the Fourth of July to calm your quivering dog?
Does your dog pace around your bed keeping you up all night or poke you constantly while you can barely hear the distant rumble of thunder?
Chipper, my 12-year-old cocker spaniel, has thunderstorm anxiety. He also trembles during visits to the vet; pokes me when he hears firecrackers; pants during car rides; and resists me when I trim the fur on his paws.
