My mom, Wendi, recently celebrated her birthday week. My dad, Bobby, thought that even though she had gotten to do some really fun things (which you can read about a couple here and here) he really wanted to end the week with just the two of them. Well, you know how cute I can be, especially when I look at them with my “puppy dog” eyes. Add that to the fact that they had spent very little time at home during the week, which meant very little time with me, I convinced Dad that whatever “they” did, had to include me.
Due to the fact that I am a dog, I don’t get to go into any business establishments except for Pets Supplies Plus, Petco and RKO. I know Mom has thought it would be nice to take me into other places, but honestly, I’m too high strung to ever be considered a service dog. So they had to get creative. Fortunately for me, they both love Guerne Heights Ice Cream, so that definitely played into the plans. What was decided is that they would order chicken from Gionino’s and eat it outside at the house. Then we would take a ride to Guerne’s for ice cream. But in between, they would take me for a walk at Secrest Arboretum.
For those of you who don’t know, Secrest Arboretum is part of the OARDC. I heard Dad tell Mom that means the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. I don’t know what that means, other than the fact that they have all kinds of fun things to sniff around! I have been there two other times during my life. Once in the winter with just Dad. It was so very cold and snowy that day, so we only stayed long enough for me to pose for a few pictures.
The other time was last year in early May. I got to walk for a long time, sniffing around the roses, bushes and trees.
This time, the evening was beautiful. It wasn’t too hot, which is always a good thing for Mom. (Honestly good for all of us, cause when Mom is hot, she is not happy. When she isn’t happy, nobody really is!) We walked in the rose garden. That place has row after row of roses. Many were in full bloom. Which I guess makes them pretty, to me, they just smell sweet. I would go from row to row to check them all out. A couple of times I went under the fence, but Mom always made me come back through. It is a little frustrating be tethered to her all the time, but for the most part she lets me go where I want.
The worst part about going was having to sit on the bench so Dad, the official photographer/videographer of Mom’s blog, could take pictures of me and sometimes Mom together. I really don’t think these people understand what my mission is when I go to places like Secrest. I have to smell everything and see who was there before me. Then I leave a little message of my own. It’s how we dogs work. However, my people get tired of walking long before I do.
We only walked around the roses and then we were back in the car before I knew it. I really think they should take me there a lot more often. It is a great place to roam and explore. I think Mom was really glad to end her birthday week with me, Dad and the Secrest Arboretum. (Oh, I don’t think the ice cream was a bad idea either!)
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