6A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL FEBRUARY 21, 2018
Bill's buttons pop for his dog
There is no question about it, Bill loves Buttons -- the dog that
is. Button, so named for her cute heart shaped button-nose, is a
12-year-old white Boxer with one blue eye and one brown eye. Of-
ten white dogs are deaf but not this canine.
She is no ordinary dog! She understands English, verbally woof-
chats, and sings. Yes sings!
Button's, not Bill's, claim to fame is singing along to "Love Me
Tender" and the "Star Spangled Banner". With a treat waiting for
the paw-fessional singer on the arm of a chair, the music is cued;
and once it begins Button listens carefully, tilts her head sideways
and tries to hit the notes. It is amazing to witness her concentration.
She woofs to notes, some high, some low and can make it through
the Star Spangled Banner unlike most All American Dogs! Then
she gently reaches up and takes her treat off the chair's arm.
The family lives at the end of a long private driveway and no
one comes down it without Button on patrol. She barks, alerting
Bill, who is confi ned to a wheelchair, to all humans approaching.
She announces strangers, but once you have been cleared by her
pet parents, you are welcome with a big Boxer smile and her white
cropped tail wagging as fast as a blender.
Bill and Merna splurged and bought their senior dog a large
comfortable bed, but Button's surprised them both by paw-furing to
sleep on the hard fl oor instead!
The couple believes in early education for dogs. "It is a lot of
work training a puppy," said Bill, "but it paid off. Button never once
had an accident in the house because 'I was trained' from the dog
classes to watch for the 'I need to go potty' que the puppy was giv-
ing me. I believe dogs should not be punished or hit. That is cruel.
They don't like receiving it any more than we do. When you take
your pet to obedience classes you learn to speak their language and
can easily teach them not to jump up on people and furniture etc..
Training early is the key."
Button is an intelligent spirit who has given herself important
jobs to do. She guards the property, snooper-vises Merna's gar-
dening, then lays down next to her human so she won't get lonely.
Button is undeniably devoted to Bill. Their bond is enviable.
"Now that I am retired, my dog's companionship means the
world to me," said Bill. "She is a loyal friend who also inspires me.
She takes my mind off my own problems by giving me someone
to care for. I respect when she is hungry and feed her before the
rest of the family. Merna and I know that our dog is an intelligent
being with worries and emotions so we are always kind to her. The
older Button gets the more valuable she becomes to us, and we have
grown so close that I can read into her eyes and her body language.
I understand when she conveys that she has to go outside and when
she is hungry."
Dogs give us a life time of memories. They are amazing, inspira-
tional friends and givers of compassion and love. We are lucky that
canines are here on the planet to love and spoil us.
TIPS
Do animals, shelters and neighborhoods a favor by neutering/
spaying your pets. Shelters are overwhelmed with cats and dogs
from babies to seniors. Only we can help prevent the euthanasia of
so many. Think of the staff at shelters. It is easier for you to alter
your pets than it is for the staff to arrive at work only to euthanize
adorable kittens and puppies.
Keep your pets out of a shelter and in a loving home. Make fu-
ture pet plans in case you are suddenly admitted to a hospital or are
no longer here.
Unbelievable! Pentobarbital found in pet food. Dozens of pet
food recalls! Is your pet ill? Double check the FDA's webpage
(www.FDA.gov) for information.
Merna and Bill are proud of their singing dog Button.
Tell us your fun/amazing/crazing pet tips and tales.
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Humane Society for Neuter/Spay Assistance Program. (541)
942-2789
Armory readies for paint, exterior work
By Caitlyn May
cmay@cgsentinel.com
The city of Cottage Grove
doesn’t quite have the mon-
ey to re-paint the armory but
city manager Richard Mey-
ers wants to make sure that
when it does, they’re ready.
Crews have been working
on the building to determine
what method of removal and
paint product would best
serve the building which has been at
the forefront of the city’s infrastructure
projects.
“The tighter we can make the bid,
the better price we can get,” Meyers
said, noting that if the city can deter-
mine how best to remove the paint and
what product will serve as the best re-
placement, companies can offer an ac-
curate price for the repairs rather than a
ballpark estimate.
The paint is the latest project for the
building that city offi cials hope to use
as a community center when it’s com-
pleted. Since purchasing the building,
the city has opened it for community
rentals and events including the annual
Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Com-
merce banquet honoring local busi-
nesses and residents.
And while crews have been work-
ing to fi x patches on the exterior of the
building and secure a more accurate
bid to remove the two layers of paint
on the exterior, funds for the project are
still lacking.
“We could paint tomorrow if we had
the money,” Meyers said.
Fundraising efforts continue with de-
velopment director for the armory res-
toration effort, Christina Lund visiting
donors last week to hand out Valentine
gifts.
The exterior painting project is ex-
pected to take place this summer and
will follow work already completed on
the building's exterior stairs and lead
removal from the building's main drill
hall as well a window replacements
that were completed in mid-2017.
For more information on fundraising
efforts, visit cottagegrove.org.
Come Celebrate!
R ECYCLE ! R EUSE !
A Fond Farewell
A Warm Welcome
Thursday, February 22, 3–6 pm
E
R
O
T
S
R E
R E S TORE H OURS
T HURSDAY , F RIDAY & S ATURDAY
10 AM -4 PM
at the First Presbyterian Church
216 South Third Street, Cottage Grove
Help us bid a fond farewell to our long-time leader,
Tom Wheeler
Extend a warm welcome to our new executive director,
Damien Sands
Drop off your old paint
for recycling
at our ReStore location
during business hours
Preserve our earth
Keep items out of the landfi lls
Donate to the ReStore
Habitat Offi ce and ReStore
2155 Getty Circle ~ Unit #1
in the Cottage Grove Industrial Park
South on Hwy 99 past the High School
Call 541.767.0358
for more information
Email
info@habitatcg.org