----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2002 2:05
PM
Subject: [pyrnet] ice, leash,
wandering
Dear Marie,
I'm sorry not to respond any sooner; I just found
out I've got mono and haven't been up to too much writing
I am sorry you are so ill. Please be careful with
mono. It can cause liver damage. Please make sure they monitor your liver
function. And get plenty of rest.
Anyway, I appreciate your and others' frankness
about the Pyr temperament and your care in speaking forthrightly to me from
your experience. I'm being more consistent with the leash,
I am glad you didn't take offense at my
frankness. I didn't mean to be unkind. I just love animals and this breed in
particular. And I would just hate to see something happen to your dogs. I have
only been involved in rescue for about five years. And before that I was
stupid enough to not neuter my sheltie. And to let him out unsupervised and
off leash. And I paid for that stupidity when my sweet Dougal was hit by a
car. Trying to cross the street to visit a girlfriend. He lived for several
hours after the accident. And I still hate myself to this day because I caused
his death because of my lack of animal education. That will haunt me for the
rest of my life. As you see. I have been on both sides of the fence. So
I know whereof I speak.
However, when we actually go out for a walk or
hike, she is different, off her own territory and in a different mode. I let
her (and other dog, Katie) run along with me up to a neighbor's rugged steep
yard and waterfall, and they chase each other in circles and always come
back when I call. Incidentally, when we walked earlier today, Sugar
went to the frozen pond to drink some water. The OFF ICE command (which
someone wrote to suggest) worked well;
Suzanne
I will urge you again to please keep your dogs on
lead. You can get retractable leads that can give the dogs the illusion of
freedom. While still keeping them safe. All it takes is one accident and your
babies could be gone. If you are irresponsible with their safety you can't
take it back. And they pay for the consiquences.
Marie, Valentino and angel Beau