Sleep Away Camp

Mari is going to spend two nights at Fort Hyde Kennels while we are away after Christmas. This will be the first trip when she will have to stay behind, and it makes me sad. Traveling by car is stressful for Mari because she is such an uptight girl ... she never lays down for more than a couple of minutes at a time. The trip to my mom's takes a minimum of six hours on dry roads, and that is simply too long for her to stand in the back of my car. As Mom lives north of Lake Placid in the Adirondacks, getting there involves not only driving through hills and mountains but also driving through Lake Ontario's snow belt region. A winter commute can take eight hours or more depending on the weather.

Fort Hyde comes highly recommended from friends who use the facility regularly, and the lady I spoke to on the phone was incredibly friendly and professional. Mari is the type of social dog that even loves going to the vet's office. "People who like me! They might pet me! They might give me a biscuit! How hard can I wag my whole body??" I can pay an extra $5 to have someone play with Mar which somehow seems wrong yet is totally understandable. I guess. One look into her big brown eyes and there is no resistance to her request to play. She used to be indefatigable - literally - but now her spirit is more willing than her body. She still loves her tennis balls and sticks, and her squeaky balls and squeakers. Mostly, though, she now loves her soft bed. And I love her. I hope she has fun at camp!

I found the following oldies in an obscure file on my computer ... Mari is now 13.5 years old and Chandler is now 15.5 years old : )

Mari & Chandler, 2003

Mari & Chandler, 2005