COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL March 16, 2016
7A
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Pipeline walk
Christmas at my house is quite the “family”
reunion with my four children, their spouses,
four grandchildren, and nine dogs! The dogs
are all big; a Malamute, three Border Col-
lies, an Australian Shepherd, an Aussie-Bor-
der Collie cross, a Miniature Pincer, a Dogo
Argentino, and a Staffordshire-Boxer cross. I
currently have more grand dogs than grand-
children and I don’t expect that to change soon
- unless a few more dogs show up!
The well-trained canine-cousins are as hap-
py to see each other, and the turkey dinner, as
my family.”
After dinner, the humans have to maneuver
around a furry-agility course of nine turkey fed
sleeping dogs!
Dogs run in
the family
I
have two published miracle books: “Ex-
pect Miracles” and “A Christmas Filled
With Miracles.” Every morning, I ask “...to be
a vehicle for miracles to happen through me
to others”. And, I am always surprised when
they happen — to me!
My recently deceased cat, Nymbus, loved
being half of our teaching team. He swam for
Animal Planet’s “Must Love Cats” and fl ew to
New York with a great cat-it-tude teaching pet-
water safety on Anderson Cooper’s show. He
displayed chara-cat-eristics on what happens
when you dearly love your pet. He enjoyed
making seniors at Memory Care smile, and
his favorite “sport” was riding in “his” bicycle
basket. He took pride in his life mission, bring-
ing joy to others, and apparently he is still my
partner, guiding me to pet miracles from the
other side.
You can’t plan a miracle, but in Vancouver,
BC, population 3,000,000, what are the odds
of walking right to one?
During my Canadian holiday, I read a news-
paper article on Wendy Alexander, and her
dog, Chili, who had qualifi ed to represent
Canada in the World Agility Championships
in Europe - for the third time! Chili must be
quite the dog! I kept the article to help with the
ardent task of locating them for a future Pet
Tips ‘n’ Tales article.
Five days later, while walking at West Van-
couver’s “Bark Park”, I boldly introduced my-
self to Anne and asked her “Why?” she had
three dogs.
“Dogs keep you young,” responded Anne.
“My daughter is in Italy with her dog compet-
ing, so I am baby sitting her other two dogs.”
I gasped! I realized the im-paws-ible odds of
stumbling onto Wendy’s mother! A miracle?
YES!
Here is Anne’s story and next week, the Ca-
nadian Champion ‘Chili in Italy’ article.
“Growing up, I had dogs and cats,” said
Anne. “So, when my four children were little,
we had a “family” dog and each child had
“their” own cat, who they slept with. Everyone
left their windows open at night for the cats to
come and go.
One night, my son heard the cats making
a racket. Upon investigation, he was startled
to see a raccoon and cat “sharing” the kibble.
The raccoon came for years; he never harmed
a cat and always joined them for dinner. I had
to warn my visiting mother not to be alarmed if
Tips
Meeting Anne and her dog, Farley, was
miraculous, like fi nding a needle in a
haystack!
she woke up with a raccoon in her bedroom!
Our daughter, Wendy, spent most of her
playtime on her knees being a dog! She lived
and breathed dogs and not much has changed
over the last few decades. When Wendy mar-
ried she had two dogs that became “agility”
dogs.
Wendy and her champion dogs have com-
peted extensively in British Columbia and Ca-
nadian competitions. Last year they competed
on two Canadian teams in Italy and the Neth-
erlands.
This was the third year that Wendy and Chili
qualifi ed for the Canadian team. But shortly
after, Wendy tore a knee ligament. She was
concerned about being able to travel and par-
ticipate in the intensive competitions. With
physical therapy and a metal knee brace, she
hopes it is the winning combination to carry
her through the riggers of travel and competi-
tion.
After the tournament, Wendy fl ies onto
Svent Istvan, Budapest to visit her daughter,
Krystin. Krystin is attending the second oldest
veterinarian school in the world. Yes, love and
devotion to animals is genetic in our family! I
imagine that my great-grandchildren won’t be
playing with dolls and trucks, but instead they
will be outside agility training their pups! And
- carrying on the family tradition of bringing
home strays!
A NEW 5k RACE UP & DOWN HISTORIC MT. DAVID
in COTTAGE GROVE, OREGON
“Have you noticed how spooky-smart dogs
are?” asked Anne. “Once Farley, my Austra-
lian/Border cross, and I were headed out when
I remembered it was trash day. I muttered
that I had to get the trash. Farley immediately
turned from the front door and walked over to
the trash.
First Presbyterian Church in Cottage Grove announced
that it will host a group of walkers protesting the proposed
building of an LNG (liquid natural gas) pipeline through
southern Oregon on Wednesday, March 23.
Twenty people are reportedly scheduled to spend the week
between Palm Sunday and Easter on a “Walk for the Cli-
mate.” The group is scheduled to walk 235 miles between
Medford and the state capitol and will be led by the Rev.
Paula Sohl, a United Church of Christ minister from Ash-
land. They will depart Medford on March 20 and conclude
at the Capitol steps on Monday, March 28.
The group is expected to arrive at Cottage Grove Lake
by 2 p.m. on March 23, where they will be joined by other
participants for a six-mile journey along London Road to
the Presbyterian Church at Adams and Third Street. Local
residents are invited to join the walkers that afternoon and/or
Thursday morning for the walk to Eugene, which begins 10
a.m. Thursday at the Healing Matrix downtown.
Soul Collage
Soul Collage, billed as a “a dynamic, intuitive explora-
tion into self-discovery using images and collage,” will take
place Saturday, March 19 from 1-4 p.m. at the Cottage Grove
Community Center. The event aims to allow participants to
“deepen your understanding of yourself and your inner wis-
dom that can guide you on important life decisions.” Those
seeking more information can contact Bonnie Anderson at
541-672-6333 or revbonnieanderson@gmail.com.
All materials are provided. A $15-30 sliding scale dona-
tion requested.
Farley has a grasp on the English language
and understands more than we give pets credit Bond committee at 912 meeting
for. Don’t worry about the CIA’s listening de-
vices, our dogs are tuning into our conversa-
Members of the Harrison School Bond Committee will
tions! I wish I understood dog-bark-talk half discuss the proposed bond to replace Harrison Elementary
as well!
School and fund other items at the next meeting of the Cot-
tage Grove 912 Project on Monday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m.
I recently read of a 65-year-old lady, who at Stacy’s Covered Bridge Restaurant, 401 E. Main Street.
gave birth to quadruplets! Purrs-onally I would The school bond will be on the ballot in May. This meeting
rather have a dog to walk with to keep me is open to the public.
healthy, cuddle with, and sleep with all night
long!”
‘Annie Get Your Gun’
Removing pet from FUR-niture and opens April 8
clothes:
- Rub a wet rubber glove over it. The static
Cottage Theatre continues its 2016 season in April with
electricity also helps remove the fur.
a family-friendly musical comedy classic. ‘Annie Get Your
- Fold packing tape upside down on your Gun’ features the music and lyrics of Irving Berlin, with
hand to work its magic.
original book by Herbert & Dorothy Fields, as revised by
Peter Stone. Cottage Theatre’s production opens April 8 and
Share your pet holiday stories.
runs for four weekends through May 1.
angelscribe@msn.com
Cottage Theatre’s production of “Annie Get Your Gun” is
directed and designed by Tony Rust, with music direction by
“Follow” Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on Facebook.
Keri Davis and choreography by Janet Rust. This production
https://www.facebook.com/PetTipsandTales features Stephanie Newman in her Cottage Theatre debut as
ever-spunky Annie Oakley, and Ward Fairbairn as the char-
Adopt Loving Pets
ismatic Frank Butler. They are joined on stage by Madison
www.PetFinder.com
Baker, Sophie Blades, Bradyn Debysingh, Bob Ewing, Kate
Fairbairn, Dale Flynn, Bil Morrill, Isaiah Tichenor, and Maia
Humane Society for Neuter/Spay Assistance Wilhour in featured roles.
Program. (541) 942-2789
Tickets are available online at www.cottagetheatre.org, by
phone at 541-942-8001, or in person at the Cottage Theatre.
Birch Avenue Dental
Park W. McClung, DDS • Tammy L. McClung, DDS
Where dentistry is our profession but people are our focus
WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS!
Check out our exclusive Birch Avenue Dental Program that provides
all the rewards of dental insurance without the headaches.
For more information please call
541-942-2471
or visit us at
www.birchavenuedental.com
W/ T-SHIRT
Registration after 3/28 is $25/$37
FOR INFO & REGISTRATION / INCLUDES DRINK TICKET
FOR BREWSTATION AND GLOW STICK FUN!
Start & Finish 7th & East Whiteaker AVE.
541-915-9759
541-915-6015
541-228-7090
541-915-1350