He is getting out there 4 to 5 times a week, and has made steady gains in his fittness, similarly to last year when he was able to run with us often.

The temps have been pretty warm this summer so finding the best time of day to take him running has been a chore and even when we do go, he tends to fade off after half an hour or so not because of a lack of running fittness but just because of the humidity.

Last year when the fall came, Lars was able to handle up to 10 miles at a decent clip with a stick in his mouth the whole way so we’ve definitely got something to look forward too sooner than later.

He is a much better off leash runner than on., and loves to just forge ahead doing his own thing while keeping an eye on us to make sure we do not pass him.

Just recently he actually completed a 10k road race with us, running 45:45 for his debut on the road.

He had to run the entire way on leash of course, but with his empty waterbottle clenched between his jaws, he was the avid little running partner and was actually the only 4-legged entrant.

It is an upper respiratory tract infection that is not usually serious but he was coughing quite a bit and I feel so bad for him when he starts one of his coughing fits.

I was looking after a little fostered dog for a day and he apparently had the cough, passing it onto Bar, gee thanks little punk, lol.

The cough is not serious and Lars appears to be getting better already, and if he is not totally better within a few days I will get antibiotics for him.

I actually just read that humans can now pick up a version of the cough from their pets, but only if their immune systems are very weak. I think I’m good but if I start hacking like a dog in the next few weeks I’ll blame it on Bar for sure.

For a run down on the cough check out Bordetella info.

For about the last week the heat of summer has been in the neighbourhood of 35 degrees, making it unbarably hot for me, nevermind the little man.

Lars is a black dog so when it is hot outside he seems to absorb the heat all the more, and is panting almost immediately upon stepping outside.

I remember back when Lu and Lars would lie on my patio and I’d reach down and pet each of them, Luther would feel cool even when it was hot, but Lars, black coat and all would feel super hot.

I do my best to exercise Bar early in the morning, and again later in the evening when it is a bit cooler but still feel bad when I leave to go somewhere in the heat of the day without him.

Bar’s running has also suffered as of late, another fact that makes me feel kinda guilty but when mother nature decides to be uncooperative, what can ya do?

Bar, pass the chips.

If I had not grabbed him by the collar and booked it outside, he would’ve not even gotten up from his cosy spot on the floor by my feet and I can imagine him slowly yawning and saying to himself, “what the heck did you wake me up for?”

Glad to know my dog has ice running through his little veins.

Some days are hotter than others and on the cooler days I try to get him out as much as possible, and even on the hotter days we have lots of time to get “play time” in as we are early risers.

Friday June 11th marked the 6th month anniversary of Luther’s death, something that quite honestly snuck up on me.

Ironically it was actually 6 months to the day when I took him to the vet for the last time, not often that the anniversary lands on the same day of the week is it?

When I race I have Luther in my heart as my motivation, as well as having his name tattooed on my forearm and I will be drawing on him over the summer to get me through many laps of intense racing in the chase of fast times.

Miss ya big guy!

Here in Ontario it has topped 30 degrees for the past four days or so, weather reserved for the summer which we are experiencing even before the end of May.

LarsBar is particularly susceptible to the cruel heat that we are experiencing, as he is a black dog and one touch of his back after only five minutes outside tells me he is uncomfortable.

He loves to run however, so I hate denying him that opportunity but when it comes to running, and doing it safely I’ve told him that I value his life more than he does, and would be more than happy to introduce him to the treadmill.

We, meaning Lars and I get up relatively early compared to most other people, and this allows us to get some good playing in before it gets overly hot, so he does not go stir crazy.

As far as working him in the heat, I try to take buses where ever we go, thus minimizing his time outside in the sun.

No matter how hot he gets, Lars will continue forging ahead, whether it be mozying after an elusive odor at the park or booting it down sidewalks with myself in tow.

…

“An animal shelter located on Long Island is looking for donations of viagra to save the life of a sick pit bull dog.

Ingrid is a 6-year-old pit bull, diagnosed with a heart condition that is currently being treated with two daily 50-mg. doses of the popular impidence drug, but supply is running out.

Staff at the shelter say that there is only enough medication remaining to treat Ingrid for another 30 days, and are appealing to the public for help.

“She’s the first, and the only, dog that I’ve ever known that needs Viagra,” said Jodi Record, spokeswoman for the Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Adoption Center in Huntington. ” If she didn’t have it, she’d most likely go back into heart failure.”

“She’s such a sweet, loving dog,” Record added. “Some people are afraid of pit bulls, but all she’s going to do is kiss them.”

Without the drug, Ingrid will slip into heart failure and will probably need to be euthanized, thus if you live in the area and have a few blue pills to spare, why not donate them to Ingrid’s cause?”

As with most acquired skills if one goes for a period of time without performing those said skills, they can tend to lose some ability, the same applies to my 4-legged Oregon orio.

He has lost a lot of his “running” fitness, but is getting out once or twice a week and loves every second of it.

I’d like to get him out more for the sheer reason that he loves to go, but circumstances tend to get in the way so he goes as often as possible.

He has gotten into the habit of knowing when he is about to go, and begging to go, now now now, when the run is pending but not right at hand.

He will start this baby, oh-so-cute whimper that is impossible to ignore and will even do this little bleet thing with every exhale of his “pant” which is also heart wrenching.

He sure does know how to manipulate me into getting what he wants, that little devil:)

Erie’s calm disposition and intense training paid off in 2008 when the first swarming occurred. A pair of yappy, aggressive, un-leashed dogs swarmed the guide dog on Seymour Street. Christine and Erie were left shaken, but unhurt. Chris even had a civil conversation with the dogs’ owner who claimed he always allowed his dogs off leash and was unaware of any dog bylaws. A second similar incident occurred soon after, with the owner of the dogs becoming less ‘friendly’. This winter, the same off-leash dogs interfered for a third time as they passed by, approaching an intersection. Chris describes her dog, Erie’s response: “She did her job…didn’t bark, tried to move away from them… focused on crossing the street with one dog jumping by her left hip and one at her front. She veered left, then right as we tried to cross Charkay and Seymour. We got stuck in the middle of the street with those crazy dogs jumping around us. I was lucky that a woman stopped her car to help”. The Good Samaritan also gave Chris the dog owner’s address.

Chris phoned the City of Ottawa, eventually speaking with a bylaw officer. Records showed that since 2003, over twenty complaints have been called in about the same dogs and owner, yet no fines have been levied or any action taken. The obvious question is, ‘Why’? How can so many complaints about a potentially dangerous threat go without action being taken? Chris’ voice shudders as she recollects a fourth attack. “I heard the teeth as they snapped at Erie, not biting… but still… I fussed, in hopes of scaring them off…then the guy came out and screamed at me, called me a pain in the ass. I called the City again.” This time, Chris made a formal, written complaint. She was asked by city officials if she would agree to going to court if challenged by the resident being charged (Bylaw 2003- 77-9 Dogs Running at Large). The maximum fine a ‘dogs at large’ first offense is $120.00. It seems that most complaints don’t stick, if indeed there is follow up.

When Chris spoke to city staff, all expressed their shock over the situation and agreed that “something must be done”. There is no reasonable explanation why this issue persists. Christine’s frustration and disbelief is evident, “In this case… with 20 complaints, going back years….someone should have investigated…there’s lack of diligence on their part”, she said. Jane Thornton, Director of Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind, the local center which trained Erie and Chris, said, “It is unfortunate that irresponsible pet owners enable dog attacks to occur. Most pet owners are responsible, but for those of whom aren’t, we hope that the City of Ottawa will strongly enforce existing bylaws and consider the harshest penalties possible in cases where bylaws are ignored. Strong enforcement, especially of keeping dogs on leash at all times in public places, is imperative to protect all dogs, whether they are pet dogs or Assistance Dogs.” Attempts to get an official statement from the City of Ottawa have been unsuccessful. Officials promised to “get to the bottom of it” and many added sympathetically, “That’s horrible”. Horrible indeed.

London, England takes this kind of thing seriously; a woman’s guide dog was viciously attacked in a North London subway station in February by an unleashed dog. The guide dog received severe injuries, but recovered. Both dog and its blind handler were traumatized. The attack dog’s owner probably wishes he lived in Ottawa, with its unenforced dog at large bylaw and small potato fines: He was banned from owning dogs for 10 years, jailed for three months (suspended two years), ordered to perform 150 hours of community work, to compensate the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association 1200.00 pounds and to pay the guide dog’s owner 500 pounds.

The issue of dogs at large is annoying for many, but has very serious implications for service dogs and their handlers. For Christine Duport, a 48- year old former high school teacher, life changed significantly when she lost her vision in 2005. She rose to the challenge, learning new orientation and mobility skills, Braille and how to use adaptive technology. She got back into life instead of , as Christine says, “sitting back, doing nothing.”

Christine’s busy life now includes volunteer work with various organizations, making presentations and preparing art description guides for the National Gallery of Canada. Erie has become a major piece of Christine’s life. I asked Chris about the close calls with dog attacks; attacks which in which Erie could have been injured and forced to retire. “I would be absolutely devastated if I lost Erie….she is with me all the time… like an extra limb…I share my life with her…I’m as devoted to her as she is to me. I have no desire to go back to the white cane…If I lost Erie, I’d face a long period on a waiting list (for a new guide dog) and then the period to retrain… not to mention the difficult first months adapting to a new guide dog… I’d be forced into changing my life style for up to a year. No, I’ll deal with that when I have to part with Erie for natural causes….not over dogs at large.”

Guide Dog Users of Canada president, Melanie Moore commented, “We will continue to advocate for Ms. Duport, and for more stringent regulations to protect guide dogs and the general public from off leash dog attacks. The type of incident that Christine and Erie experienced should not have occurred. Ottawa must get serious with legislation, enforce it and issue severe punitive consequences for people whose off –leash pets attack a service dog For example,. Manitoba’s Service Animal Protection Act allows for penalties of 5000.00 against people whose animals touch, impede or interfere with a service animal. Second offenses fines rise to 10,000. Other jurisdictions, like Vermont, are passing legislation which would send people whose unrestrained pets attack guide dogs to prison for up to a year. Ottawa residents must be afforded the same level of response and protection by the City of Ottawa.”

Yesterday would’ve been Luther’s 11th birthday, and the day before that marked the 4th month anniversary of his death.

Some days when I think of him it feels like he is a distant memory, while other days it feels like he just left.

In 2 more short months, it will be half a year since his death and in 6 months after that he will have been gone an entire year.

Wow.