Yes folks, dogs do have feelings and emotions. I am Buddy the dog, and right now I am feeling sad. Keep reading and you will hear what makes a dog like me feel this human emotion.
It was hard for mom to find places on the island of Oahu where a big dog like me could run and play off leash. I am 100 pounds of pure Golden Retriever and I need to get out and run fast and hard. I get anxious if I cannot get that pent up dog energy out of my system.
I left Hawaii with my mom less than a year ago. It was hard for a big dog like me to live in a condo in Kailua so we thought the mainland might be better place for me. Mom moved so I would be more comfortable.
When we lived in Hawaii my mom worked hard to take care of my doggie needs. I also have a great Tutu, who took care of me when my mom went to work at the car dealership. The folks, who ran the condo, where we lived in Kailua, did not like big dogs. Mom had to put me on a leash which is ok, but the condo guards made me get leashed up before I jumped out of the car. Once my leash got caught on the car arm rest and I almost got hurt. After that mom said she did not care what the guards thought. My safety was more important. Mom did not listen to those security guards and let me out of the car without a leash for safety, and then she would hook on my leash and walk me in the house.
I know how it feels to be discriminated against for being a dog. The lady at the post office told us to get out and put up a big sign…NO DOGS ALLOWED. I also have been discriminated for being a BIG dog. There are a lot of people who feel their dogs should be able to go out with them in public. Some dogs get to go in restaurants and public buildings if they are companion dogs. I think any clean, well behaved dog should be welcome in banks, post offices, and outdoor sitting areas in restaurants. We dogs need more dog advocates.
I also think dogs should be allowed on the grass at Waikiki Beach Park. They allow us dogs to walk on the promenade walkway along the ocean in Waikiki and in the water, but not on the grass. We dogs love grass; we love to feel our paws walk on the soft, cool grass. We love to rub on our backs in the grass. I get my best back scratching done on the grass. Ok, we might do our business on the grass, but so do the birds and some people do it too. It is a natural thing.
Mom always picks up my poops if I have to go. We even pick up after the folks who have forgotten their doggie pick-up bags.
The Humane Society has an off leash dog park but it is all muddy and NO GRASS. We dogs love grass. I do love the waterfall at the Humane Society. The folks that work there like us dogs and I like them too.
I took this trip to California with mom, last spring, but now we are ready to return to Hawaii. There is one problem; the quarantine. I am current with all my shots, but my rabies Titer test expired so mom had to pay $170 for me to be retested. We have to wait 120 days before we can return to Hawaii. The Titer test lasts for three years. Then I needed a new rabies vaccine, which makes us have to wait another 90 days before we are able to return home to Hawaii.
My dad went ahead of us to Honolulu, but we are waiting on the mainland and longing for the beaches of Hawaii. When I return to Hawaii on May 20th, I will be able to do 'direct release' from the airport. Thank you again, Governor Linda Lingle for passing the law to change the quarantine.
I miss my daddy and my Tutu. They are both in Hawaii missing me also. I miss playing ball with my dad and waking him early in the morning. I breathe dog breath in my daddy’s face to wake him. He always says, “Buddy eat a Tic Tac”.
I will wag my tail real hard when my dad and Tutu pick me up from the airport. My mom seems a bit sad so I try to keep my happy dog face on to cheer her. She misses daddy and Tutu. She calls them every day. The days will pass quickly and before I can bury another bone, I will be chasing crabs on Kailua beach again.
Kailua is the most dog friendly place we have found so far. The beach is great for dogs and I love the water. I used to chase the pigeons and jump over the waves on Kailua Beach. I love to swim in circles in the ocean. I miss my beautiful beach and Hawaii. I will be back in Hawaii in May. Then I will be the happiest dog in the world again.
