Life With Lilly

By Lilly, with help from her owner Marcia Erickson

All kinds of new adventures come with Spring: new things to sniff, new grass to roll on, new birds to watch and always new comings and goings in the neighborhood which can be most curious especially for people who have never lived in a gated community before. Mom says it’s not nice to stare, but I happened to be blessed with a strategically placed bush on our golf course patio that perfectly conceals me while giving me excellent visual access to everything that’s going on in the neighborhood. Oh, I wish I could continue on this subject, I have so much juicy stuff to share with you but, let’s face it, I could never get it pass the Censor, Mom.

Meanwhile I do have some exciting news. I’m learning to ride in a golf cart! I have noticed so many of my kind who get taken on rides so my Dad finally broke down and took me for a spin. That’s the good news. The bad news is that I had to ride in the middle between the folks, not on the outside where a dog of my size, maturity and intelligence belongs. That’s not the worst. Even we quadrupeds (not a biological description) have to take a written test before they can drive.

Now, by coincidence, my Mom has been preparing to take a written test to renew her driver’s license and after seeing what she was going, though I decided I wanted to remain a passenger. To make it brief, she had to make three trips to the local DMV office before she was finished. The first time she was turned away because she hadn’t made an advance appointment and the wait time would have been two hours, making it past the office’s closing time. (Sounds like the wait time to get an Alaska flight to Portland or Seattle.) The second time she had made an appointment but was ten minutes late for the appointment so that time was scrubbed. The third time she was well prepared. She arrived almost an hour early and was ready to spend the night, loaded down with food, a pillow and enough electronic devices to find her way to Dubai and back but, most important of all, a copy of the Vehicle Code which she had spent the last two weeks memorizing. Things were not going well at home when it was discovered that on her way out, she had accidentally picked up our remote for the TV, but that’s another story. The third time the glitch came when she went to the DMV window to get her “real ID.” Since the name on her birth certificate did not agree with the name on her current driver’s license, marriage certificate or passport she was turned down. Honest, I am NOT kidding. Check with Boo, a very bright Wheaten Terrier who was sharing space under the dinner table with me and heard the whole conversation. The final blow: SHE DIDN’T HAVE TO TAKE THE WRITTEN TEST!!!! Do you know how many walks, play times and golf cart rides I missed because she had to study the Vehicle Code? And that’s why I’m don’t want to learn to drive.

Enough of life’s foolish problems when there are so many good things happening all around us. Play parks for dogs are becoming very popular. They are places to hang out, sort of like the corner tavern is for people, only the parks are segregated by size ‒ big dogs and little dogs. If by chance you don’t know which park you belong in, don’t worry, you’ll find out the minute you walk in. Several “small” dog friends told me in their play park most of the small dogs sat on the laps of their folks who were seated in folding camp chairs each person brought. This way they could all chat while the dogs played. Soon the folks got very friendly and, since the dogs didn’t play much, they started leaving the dogs at home and all went out to dinner together, probably at the corner tavern!

Cheerio for now and a joyous bowwow.

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Remove Coyote Attractants

• Eliminate accessible water sources.

• Keep compost in secure containers.

• Take out trash the morning pick up is scheduled.

• Keep landscaping trimmed to eliminate hiding places for coyotes or other wildlife.

• Keep fruit off of the ground. Coyotes eat fruit.

If You Encounter a Coyote

Pet Safety

• Feed pets inside.

• Don't leave food or pets outside at night.

• Always keep your dog in sight and on a leash shorter than 6 ft.

• Do not allow pets to roam without a leash (including your backyard), especially at night.

• Refrain from allowing your pet to interact with a coyote in any way.

• Stand your ground, maintain eye contact, and do not run or turn your back.

• Don't attempt to scare away the coyote, if you think the coyote is sick or injured.

• Wave your arms, a stick or jacket over your head; jump up and down, yell, or throw objects in the direction, but not directty at the coyote

• If you try to scare away the coyote, allow room for the coyote(s) to escape.

Submitting Photographs Submitting Photographs to The Link

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When submitting photographs from your phone or camera for inclusion it The Link, you may be asked for the size (resolution). Always select the largest file. See below:

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