ornament; they are part of the family, and a lot of fun, besides,” explains Dog Scouts presi- dent Chris Puls, of Brookville, Indi- ana. “As trainers, we have to figure out how to com- municate with another species.” Most members
engage in scout activities with more than one dog. Requirements for operating a troop are flexible, but holding four meetings a year is recommended. Meetings don’t have to be formal—a group hike in the woods counts. Other activities may include backpacking, biking, camping and trea- sure hunts like letterboxing and geocaching. If Sparky would like to try flyball, (timed relay races with balls) or treibball (urban herding of Pilates balls), but has no opportunity for these pursuits on his home turf, summer camp is a good forum to investigate lots of options. Weekend camps are held in Maryland in July and Texas in November. Weeklong camps are held in Michigan in June and July. “Many people bring more than one dog to camp,” says
Allison Holloway, who works in financial account services for the U.S. Department of Defense, in Columbus, Ohio. “I take six dogs with me and each has his or her favorite activi- ty, which I like, because it’s too much for one dog to go from early morning until late at night. New members often say they come to camp just for the fun and camaraderie, but they usually end up collecting badges like the rest of us. It’s a great reminder of what you and your dog did at camp together.” One of Holloway’s dog scouts has special needs. Lottie Moon is a double merle, all-white, Australian shepherd that doesn’t let being deaf or blind slow her down. Last year she
Healthy Happy Pets!
• Lower Vet Bills • Fewer Behavior Problems • Less Stress from Change • Better Performance in Shows • Faster Healing from Veterinary Procedures
Find us at the Cat Care Clinic Jan 2014
Ann Romberg, Reiki Master, Equine Guided Coaching
Ann.Romberg@
gmail.com | 651-766-8920
www.EnergyHealingForYourPet.com
surprised her owner by earning an agility badge at camp. “I think she sees shadows and movements. I place a dowel rod in front of the jump and she knows that when she touches it, it’s time to go airborne,” says Holloway. “Lottie inspires and motivates me.” Holloway received the Dog Scout’s 2013 Excellence in Writing Award for her blog at
Lottie-SeeingIntoDarkness.blogspot.com. Many Dog Scout troops serve their communities to show
how dogs can and should be integrated into daily life. In Wyoming Valley, near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Phyllis Sinavage, office manager for a wholesale distributor, reports on recent activities conducted by Troop 221. “We’ve do- nated oxygen masks for pets to local fire departments and emergency services. We raise funds to buy them and also have oxygen mask angels that donate the price of a mask in memory of a pet. One third grade class raised enough money to purchase two masks after we visited and did a bite preven- tion class.” The Dog Scouts of America Hike-a-Thon, in May, is the nonprofit organization’s annual fundraiser, open to every- one willing to ask friends and family members to pledge funds for distances walked. It’s a good way to partner with the dog for quality outdoor time, spread the word about Dog Scouts and enjoy the spring weather.
Learn more and join with others for a troop experience at
DogScouts.org.
Connect with Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@
mindspring.com.
Career Change | Work/Life Balance | Encore Career | College Major Selection
Work Right. Live Well.™ Helping people choose careers they love.
Choose or change your career for a lifetime of satisfaction and success. Your extraordinary life is waiting for you.
Request a
Complimentary Career Strategy Session
952.456.8467
www.kellymarielewis.com
Kelly M. Lewis Coaching & Associates Career Choice Coaching
natural awakenings March 2014 23
photo by Martha Thierry
photo by Dog Scouts of America
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32