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COLUMNIST
Around The Campfire
Neil B. Stratton Columnist
The Vermilion Voice | May 7, 2018
Wow, it seems Spring decided to show up almost overnight, it got beautiful and dare I say this... almost too hot out there, all snow and ice disappeared in front of our eyes and flooding wasn’t even that bad. The Battle River broke literally overnight, huge chunks of thick ice cleared willows from the shoreline as the river rose quite high, but then lowered quicker than I thought and is flowing normal high. The most welcome sound was the frogs started their song almost on cue, and the warm sunset was vocal with frog and robins singing, music to these ears, the only sound I can do without is the early mosquitoes. Things dried up quickly, almost too quick; huge smoke clouds surround us as wildfires broke out all around us, be extremely careful out there with any fire hazards, a spark and recent winds can turn dangerous in just minutes. There are already many fire bans across Alberta, to check your local area one can go to the website - https:// albertafirebans.ca/ we all want Alberta to be wildfire free this year and not see a repeat of recent years disasters. It got so hot that I brought out the swimming pools for all the pup kennels, even the new little ones have a pool. I made steps in and out for them and only put enough water in the pools for them to get their feet and legs cooled down, they are a little leery of the pool, but they slowly understand that it is the best way to cool down. With our duck pond full the big dogs, are making many trips to the pond for a cool swim, they all love swimming, and after a dip, their energy seems to explode, like the way some of us get with too much Tim Horton’s coffee. The little new puppies don’t know what to think about this new world without snow
or cold; they dig holes down into the fresh straw to cool ground that still has ice under the straw. But they are also still full of energy in sprints during the day, they all seem to grow before my eyes, and I can’t believe they are seven weeks old today, only a week left until some of them go to their new forever homes, that will be a little hard on me. I spend many hours a day playing with the whole crew during the day, trying to spend as much time as I can with them, the other night when it was a beautiful warm night I put Miss Teek to bed and give all the dogs their “night night” treats. It was just before midnight, I got playing with the pups and before I knew it was 1 in the AM by the time they got played out. I cuddled with some of them in one of the big dog houses; I am not sure what time it was when I woke up with seven furbabies sleeping all over me, I had to tiptoe out of the kennel and get to bed. Thursday is going to be an adventure when I have to take all seven of the pups to the V-E-T, my professional fur baby socializer and eldest daughter Shawna volunteered to help me out, we will use her SUV for the haul. Each pup will get all their first shots, de-worming, and head to toe medical check-up, and also just as important nowadays the microchip installed, which will have all important contact and ownership information with a simple scan. It will also be quite an adventure for the pups on their first road trip, than some stranger poking and prying them, I’m sure a little stressful for some of them, while others I know it will be just an adventure. After the shots and medical, and eight weeks of age the pups will be ready for their new forever homes, it will be extremely hard for me to see them go, unlike Momma Miss Oohohh whom mother nature gives them a quick disconnect on pups. Mother Nature gives all animals the ability to adapt quickly as little ones “leave the nest” so to
speak, and she will have her paws full with the over-energetic four that we are keeping as part of the team and family. The pups are at a stage where they want to explore everything and the big new world, several times they made a break for it when I opened the kennel doors, they love being out and playing with the big dogs, which for the most part the big dogs also enjoy. I don’t worry about any of the big dogs hurting the little ones except them getting run over by the big dogs as they want to play and run with the pups, now I need to take two little pups at a time for a whole crew walk in the “North 40”. I will likely walk the four we are keeping first in pairs as they will be walking a lot with the team in the months to come, Thunder and Lightning, the two black and white ones as one team, and Sir Snownose and Princess Pututi the two red pups, as another team. I plan to run those pairs as pairs in the dog team, so they will need to get used to being with each other a lot, they will complete my dream team for sure, I can’t wait until they get pulling, which
will be this coming winter. I have been trying to get out to antler shed hunt with several of the older pups, but the sudden disappearance of snow and ice has left me with an overwhelming amount of yard work that has to be done before things get green. That green I’m sure is going to be a green explosion this year and also happen overnight, while all the adult pups get to run the entire day on our rural property, they love to get out for new adventures. I am sure after that long winter we all are itching to get outdoors for an adventure of our own...make the time to do so, and I should also take my own advise and head out for a couple of hours tomorrow morning...see you out there! When The Smoke Clears Spring is the time for rebirth; outdoor adventures are included... be a part of it!
Photo submitted
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