RESPECT

You go, Aretha. My favorite scene in Animal House included you in a starring role.

Of late many professionals have lamented not the dumbing-down of their work per se, but how they are treated at work, which is not with respect, not as professionals. I’m not talking 20-somethings wet behind the ears from college but seasoned people. Perhaps it is the litigiousness of our society that demands that employees be looked down upon. It is not a good sign.

Yesterday my dog and I were walking north on the sidewalk of a southbound street, where a young lady was killed a few weeks ago in traffic. Yes, I got my crosswalk next door but now cars speed up through it with this old lady and old dog halfway across.

There were 20 six year-olds with four chaperones coming toward us and I knew it was death to cross the street without a crosswalk or light so I improvised. First I must say that Zoe is nearly ten, has no hips, is clean (needs to be combed again) and has a very sweet disposition. A two year-old could reach into her bowl and take her food and she’d just look up and say “Mommy, can I have more?”

I had her sit and do a “high five” which makes her look like Lassie. She is a long-haired golden Australian Shepherd mix. The last thing we both wanted to do was to scare even one child.

They all laughed. Then I told her to sit and four times as we moved down the line a child said “High Five!” and she placed her right paw gently in their hand. They were delighted and we got them back on their way.

I thought Zoe had done so well, and always try to get her to do new things because she needs education, training and enjoying strangers and their dogs. I’ve also been a volunteer manager for over 20 years and have worked with thousands of animals.

So I tried to get us into a hospice therapy dog program and it was looking good, until I learned that the only diet she will eat and has thrived on since a pup is a raw food diet which is prohibited. Solely due to that, she is precluded from participating in the program.

At her advanced age I will not do what the dog food manufacturers want me to do: feed her dry food with corn and meat by-products as the main food groups. I was a professional, looked at the rules, filled out the application and all of a sudden this raw food ban tells me I’m an idiot.

My time is too valuable to not have it respected by someone with a volunteer opportunity. This is our gift. If you don’t want it, go elsewhere. Dee