In honor of Thanksgiving, we asked some Bay Area dog folks why they’re grateful to their dogs. We suspect you could come up with your own long list of reasons. Remember to spend lots of quality time with your canine friends, this month and every month, letting them know how much you appreciate all they contribute to your life.
Donna Reynolds & Simon
I am grateful to Simon because nothing’s better than waking up to his sweet, dorky smile. He keeps a good sense of humor despite having to share his home with untold numbers of wayward foster dogs, and he always reminds me when it’s time to let go of the day and get silly. I am so grateful for his remarkable tolerance and steady friendship; he is my sanity and my solace!
Donna is Co-founder and Director of Bay Area Dog Lovers Responsible about Pit Bulls (www.badrap.org).
Beverly Ulbrich & Kompis
I am grateful to Kompis because she is the kindest, gentlest soul I’ve ever met. She is calm yet confident, quiet yet playful, cuddly but not needy. She has been a dream to train and can be completely trusted off-leash. She has been there for me through good times and bad, and she makes me feel loved, happy, and centered. Our quiet times together have been some of the best moments in my life.
Beverly owns The Pooch Coach, LLC (www.poochcoach.com). She is a prominent Bay Area dog trainer and behaviorist who has appeared on Animal Planet, MythBusters, and numerous other programs. She and Kompis do a monthly dog segment for KRON4 TV weekend news.
Sally Stephens & Skates
I am grateful to Skates for teaching me to live every day to the fullest. She was diagnosed with liver cancer over a year ago but so far has no real symptoms. Until then, we’ll play fetch every day and do lots of fun things together. I’m so lucky she’s my dog. I look at her and my heart smiles.
Sally is chair of the San Francisco Dog Owners Group (www.sfdog.org).
Maria Goodavage & Jake
I am grateful to Jake because he is poetry in motion.
Jake Haiku
Your wobbling dewlap!
Big seal eyes, and fishy breath
From your gentle smile
Jake Quatrain
A yellow dog has dug some holes
In hot pursuit of two fat moles.
The moles are gone, thanks to our guard
But then again, so is our yard.
Maria is author of The Dog Lover’s Companion to California and a producer of dog biographies and music videos with Smiling Dog Films (www.smilingdogfilms.com).
Darlene deManincor, Punkie, and Peru
I am grateful to my Punkie and Peru for so many things. They take me walking on wonderful trails and have gotten me out to see some of the most spectacular sights… They have shown me the strength of the bond between canine and humans… They are silly and make me laugh… They know when I am down and comfort me. In short, they are the two best dogs in the world (after all of yours, of course).
Darlene works as a patient advocate for Women’s Cancer Resource Center in Oakland. She and her partner, Emily Rosenberg, are active in the Oakland Dog Owner’s Group (www.odogparks.org).
Susan Furukawa, Rosa, & Bo
I am grateful to Rosa and Bo because they are constant reminders of the limitless potential that rescue dogs possess. Since my husband has been traveling a lot this year, my dogs have become my side-kicks. From our morning hikes to Rosa’s work as a therapy dog to Bo’s clowning around, they educate me on life’s lessons and demonstrate that everyday should be filled with love and laughter.
Susan is Animal Welfare Director for Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (www.ARF.net).
Jean Donaldson and Buffy
I am grateful to Buffy because she is SO Buffy. Buffy is irrepressible. She copes stupendously well with the inevitable pressure of being Center of The Universe. Buffy is merry, jolly, and incredibly naughty. It is apparently quite fabulous being Buffy. She has many pleasures, most simple, some Machiavellian. I love Buffy because she teaches me how to live: cheekily and RIGHT NOW!
Jean is author of The Culture Clash and Oh Behave! Dogs From Pavlov to Premack to Pinker. She is also the Director of The San Francisco SPCA’s renowned Academy for Dog Trainers.
Paul Klein and Roxie
I am grateful to Roxie because she made it. Like countless other impounded dogs, she once awaited a loving home or the prick of a needle. Our choice. Roxie now dreams of days in the park, soft embraces, and a share of the Thanksgiving table. What dreams are conjured by unwanted dogs in the lonely night, I do not know.
Paul (not pictured) trains canines in the East Bay. Patrick O’Donnell, Barbara Gates, and Roxie (pictured) are recent, stellar graduates of his classes
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