Dog Days

I'm not sure why they call hot July days dog days. They are not fit for dogs at all. I've worn through one or two of my shoes, and Bracha puts them on me all the time. There's just no going out without them. And I'm always at my water bowl.

But I've gotten used to lying on the patio at home and trying to keep cool. I've even stopped barking when Bracha leaves me there for a short time. I know she'll come back. Bracha praised me for this and I know why: she never liked it when I barked when I was alone in the house.

Now, there has been a lot of talk about discrimination against us in the past week. People's patience grows thin particularly when it's hot and difficult to be out. Within a short time in the drug store we were accosted by one woman who told Bracha to make me sit down because she was afraid of me, one who gave the old snide remark of "I didn't know they allowed dogs in here," to which a child, who was evidently more in the know than she was, said, "It's a guide dog." By the time we had gotten out of there, Bracha had heard enough. So when we got to the little restaurant where we always have humus and I sit quietly under the table, Bracha's fuse was, well, a bit short. This time we had no intention of sitting outside because it was very hot and there was no shade outside. So we went in. It was a bit crowded and the waitress told Bracha, "You can't sit inside, there are people here and food. You'll have to sit outside."
"It's too hot to sit outside, and I can sit inside with my guide dog. It's the law," explained Bracha. If you like I'll show you the law." The owner, who knows us, looked out from behind the counter. He gave one firm order: "Anyone who doesn't like the dog in here can sit outside." And that was the end of that. Apologies were given and we had a very nice meal.

Now, I know that Bracha is hot too, and she and Rotem went to the pool in Ben Ami to swim and cool off. She left me at home. She explained to me that there was no place that was cool and comfortable where I could stay like there is at the pool in Evron where we go often,, and I would only be hot and unhappy. So in the evening she filled my little pool up, and I got a swim, too! I guess that's fair.

The Invisible Dog

Sometimes people are strange. They realize that they've made a mistake and tell Bracha that I'm not allowed somewhere, or that I need a muzzle, or that I have to wait outside. But this was by far the strangest way to weasel out of a blunder I've ever seen.
We were just coming into the bus station in Haifa where the busses let everyone off. This is always a tricky place because the busses don't always stop next to the curb, and then we have to find our way through the people to the security guard. This time there was a woman there.
"Giveret, you have to put a muzzle on your dog."
"No," Bracha says, "She's a guide dog. She doesn't need a muzzle."
The guard looked confused. She stammered and stuttered for a while and then said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see the dog."
So am I invisible?

That aside, it's hot! A day in Tel Aviv is hard for both of us, and walking in the streets is difficult, even with my brightly colored shoes. Bracha stops to give me water all the time. And I'm still thirsty. I inch to one side of the pavement looking for a way to get out of the sun, and when we get on a bus I lay down and luxuriate in the cool air. And we still have all of August and September to go! Even the river is all dried up. All that's left is a pathetic little muddy pool. Thank goodness I have my pool and Bracha's ice cubes to help me cool off!

Working in the Summer

Suddenly summer is here! Walking outside when you are a dog with bare footpads and fur is no simple matter. It's hot! Bracha offers me water constantly and we've even taken out my shoesv because I've started to find that I just can't stand still at stoplights. I shuffle and trot back and forth, forward and backward, trying to get my paws off the ground! It looks like I'm dancing, but I'm really very uncomfortable. Shoes are the only answer.

Now we have a new fence. I can sit on the patio all day and lie wherever I like. It's a good solution for me because I know that if I'm given the opportunity, I'll be off into the orchard looking for a snack. Even after a discipline lesson of sitting quietly in the yard, coming when Bracha calls me, and sitting in place, I still end up trotting off. For me food is just too tempting.

Tomorrow beach? Please?????

Being Very Good and Very Naughty

I did it! We found the entrance to the train station in the dark! It was already late when we got out of Rotem's dance recital and I was feeling very relieved to get outside. I lay very quietly in the aisle next to Bracha's seat in the auditorium and it was the first time I have ever sat through a show like that where there are so many people. It was already late and when we got on the bus Bracha asked the driver to fix the public address system which was calling out all the wrong stops. Everyone helped us get off at the right place and I headed right for the place where you go into the train station through the tunnel. We got confused only once, and then we were inside and on the platform on time. I even got a chance to have my customary drink of water at the cooler before we got on the train and I settled down to sleep.
But I must admit that I did one naughty thing. Yaniv put a tray of shnitzel on the coffee table and before I could say "pure bred golden retriever I had snatched one! Even more irresistable than avocados! Bracha took it away from me and scolded me and I knew I was wrong. Why do people put things like that in places where I will be tempted?

So now we have two new items: one is a plastic muzzle that Bracha puts on me just when I run in the avocados. She figures that it's preferable for me to wear a muzzle and be able to run in the avocado orchard without eating fruit, than to be tied up on a leash all the time and not be able to run free. I don't like it, but it solves the problem. The other is the fence. No more breaking out!
Here I am getting my beauty treatment. My fur still looks great and I feel much better with all that hear off.

My Beauty Treatment

Just look at me! Here I am after my trim at the pet store! Bracha does not want anyone cutting my fur, and I really don't want it cut either, but this bype of brushing really felt good. I had to go up a little narrow flight of stairs and one of the men at the pet store lifted me onto a table. I was a bit frightened at first, but Bracha was there all the time and soon the woman named Ivgenya began brushing me all over. Soon great tufts of my undercoat started coming out and filled an entire bucket! I began to relax, lay down, and stretched out and let her brush me all over. And suddenly I had less fur! Than she picked me up and put me in the bathtub and I had a shower and shampoo with special shampoo for white dogs! Finally I was wrapped in a big fluffy towel and my fur was blow-dried and it was all over!
So look at me! How long will it take for me to find a nice, muddy puddle?

"Where did you see a law like that?"

I love new routes! This time Bracha took me out of the train station instead of going up the moving stairs into the mall at Azrieli - mostly so that I could get out and do busy in the bushes outside. But we crossed the biggest street I've ever been on, and there were several places to cross. It was a busy place and we did just fine! They even have stoplights that make a loud clicking noise so that Bracha knows when to tell me to go forward and cross the street.

Anyway, I did see my other friends on the board - Alice, Turner, Lady, and Tango, and Petel was there too. We also met a new dog named Rega. And when we got on the train to go home Tango and I crawled under the table and were sleeping peacefully when along came the conductor and starts his wise crack business.

"You have to put muzzles on your dogs."
LIttle did he know he was dealing with two members of the board. Adi pipes up.
"These are guide dogs."
"I don't care," the guy insists. They have to have muzzles."
"No," Bracha explained. According to law guide dogs don't need to have muzzles. If you like I'll show you the law." She started to rummage for her wallet and the little card.
"Where did you see such a law?" demanded the conductor.
Bracha could not resist. I felt her stifle a laugh.
"Actually, we didn't see it. We're blind."
Snickers and chuckles filled the car. The conductor, not wishing to admit that he was wrong and having inserted his foot deep in his mouth, scuttled down the aisle with his tail between his legs. And Tango and I looked at each other, smiled, and went back to sleep.

A Typical Day in the Big City

Just in case you think I sometimes get bored, or that maybe I have it hard and ought to be a pet dog who sits home all day, here is a typical trip to the city of Tel Aviv and Back and everything I have to do:

Out of the house to catch a ride to the train station - or almost all the way. Walk to the main stoplights and get across the busy intersection at the entrance to Nahariya. (three crossings, one without a stoplight)
Get through the train station, stop at the drinking fountain for a drink (even if I'm not really thirsty it's just a habit!)
Get on the train and find a seat. Settle down.
Make appealing dog faces and wag my tail ad the lady who sits down and starts petting me. Back to sleep until Bracha wakes me up with a treat and clips on my harness. Up the steps of the train car and out the door.
Out of the train station and up the escalator (Hooray! Two of 'em!) and over to the bus station.
Get on the bus, walk to the sabim and up to the door, into the elevator, and nudge saba awake with my cold nose! Nap on the Persian rug.
Back on the bus, get off, and find Petel!
Walk down the sidewalk, avoiding parked motorcycles and people, moving bicycles, and trees, and settle down in the restaurant under the table. Petel and I played for a bit and then went to sleep.
Liron and Petel showed Bracha how to operate the revolving door while onlookers all shouted at us to go through the regular door. Don't they know I can handle this??? Get into the cell of the revolving door and out the other side.
Walk down Shaul HaMelech, up the big moving stairs that I love, dodging people and more cyclists on the sidewalk, and over the big pedestrian bridge, find the elevator for Bracha, and walk straight to the 68 bus stop. (I don't know the number, I just know where it is).
Ride the bus until we get to the place where Rotem goes to school. New route: down the steps and around the fence until I find the gate and zip into the school. Find Rotem in the long hallway, go out, and walk to Rotem's house. I know that gate from all the others.
Sit quietly under Bracha's chair while visiting with people.
Cross the street and get back on the bus. Then the other new route - from Jabotinsky, across two busy streets, around the stairs, and wind through the path between the bitg buildings and into the train station tunnel. Bracha praises me and gives me a treat. Down the tunnel and through the turnstile. Onto the platform and onto the train.
Grab a nice cozy spot between the seats just made for guide dogs! Sleep until we get to Nahariya. Get off the train, through the station and out to the cab stand. Into a taxi, sit nicely and make eyes at the driver till we get home.
Dinner, busy, and bed! What was that they said about my having to work too hard? Do they think I'd like to sit home all day? No way!