Maine Pets

Awwhhh! What a GREAT feel good pick-me-up! It's wonderful to see their delight and sheer enjoyment of a beautiful Maine day in the woods from your pictures. And for capturing Brewster soaking it all in! Such a wonderful opportunity to do exactly what you said - "let dogs be dogs"!

Great piece Nancy and so true. Although we've been assembling a fair amount of the offleash parks in boston on our website (dogboston.com) most of the times people are not following the letter of the law when they decide to unhook their dogs from their leashes. Certain communities like Cambridge and Somerville are better than others - they have formed DOGs (dog owners groups) to be able to influence the town authorities and get several offleash parks off the ground.

I lived in East Boston and people there still go to Brophy Park and let their dogs (illegally) off leash and I used to wake up @ 6am to be out of Belle Isle Marsh before the Dog Officer came on duty. To his credit, he busted us a few times before 7 am though! And you know what, I was never alone. There were always other dog owners in crime.

Hi Nancy,
Nice article, couldn't agree with you more. I too look forward to my walks off leash, enjoying the solitude with my 4 legged buddy. Just as a reminder, at this time of year be aware if you are in a hunting area. There's no hunting in Portland but there is in our neighboring towns. Make sure both you and the dogs have hunter orange vests, collars. And remember while being off leash is ideal, a dog can legally be shot by a game warden for running down deer. It's a strong drive for many dogs especially hunting breeds. Have fun, be safe. By the way, Brewster is looking great in the photos.

I second and third this! I was just telling someone this weekend on a hike in the Prezzies with Dalydog how much better he is off-leash on hikes and walks; less territorial with other dogs and people, less prone to bark. Dogs just need to be dogs when encountering other canines, they work it out. I am a consistent leash law breaker I admit, he's a high energy dog that needs to run and chase balls and swim to be happy and sociable.

Hi,

In honor of my fuzzy kid who is turning 12 this January 5th I attached a small article that you might like to post.

Morgan
PS: If you want a picture of him just let me know.

Life, Divorce and Soul Mates in Fuzzy Suits

Life can change in a instant turning on the smallest things, as Dr. Phil would say "a defining moment". I never expected my moment would come from such a small request as wanting a puppy with the repercussions of which have echoed through the years since. I had been wanting a dog for years but my husband had complained about how much work they were, they would tie us down, etc. Still wanting a dog in my life I continued to do research, narrowed down the breeds to one that would fit my lifestyle, checked with breeders and finally put a deposit down on what I thought would be red female Tibetan Mastiff with a breeder. Husband still complaining, the day finally came when I could pick her up from the kennel (a five hour trip to Ohio). All the way there thoughts wandered through my mind of walks we would take, play times, etc. However, life was about to serve me up a rude awakening in the form of small black and tan male with an independent and arrogant attitude that would inspire me in ways I never expected.

While I sat on the concrete floor of the kennel trying to get the attention of the female pup the breeder had picked out for me the hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I felt this stare. Settled firmly in front of me was this silent round ball of the soft fur with large gold eyes, a whole nine pounds of intensity. After a minute of eye contact that looked into my heart, he climbed into my lap, put his little fat rump against my stomach as he faced out at the other puppies and told them to "Back off, she's mine!" in a high pitch little bark.

So it was that Khan came into my life, companion and protector, my "soul mate" if it's possible in a cross species connection. Good Grief, my knight in shinning armour had four legs and a fuzzy tail! They say you become like your dog or your dog is a reflection of you - well either way we are reflection of each other. Both independent with a limited number of people we let into our hearts. Strong willed, stubborn and intelligent, easy going for the most part but make us mad and we will happily chew off your leg, spit out the bone and smile at you while we do it!

Needless to say the ex was not pleased when I brought Khan home. In the interest of honesty, the marriage was on the rocks way before this - never marry a person who doesn't like animals was the lesson there. Suffice to say that day the sound barrier was broken as I headed out the door and into my life that had been patiently waiting for me. Since then life has been one adventure after another, some great and wonderful, some not so good. I've explored new places with Khan playing sherpa and guide, met people that I would never have known otherwise and grown in more ways then one. I've been blessed to share my life with this fuzzy soul that challenges me every day to get out there and do my best. Over the years he's made me laugh and wonder how in the world some people could consider pets to be anything other then another soul sharing this journey we call life. They are not property and surely not our inferiors, just different. Heaven willing he'll be with me for many more years, but I never stop thanking the powers that be that he decided on that long ago day that I belonged to him and "That was that".