COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL MAY 30, 2018
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Pet tips
‘n’ tales
Singing Ducks
By Mary Ellen
“Angel Scribe”
A Desert Dog’s destiny
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY KATHY BENNO
Members of the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church were treated to the voices of the University of Oregon's award-win-
ning Chamber Choir, which provided a special performance at the church on May 13 .
Marine Board urges boaters to 'Plan, Pay Attention and Share'
SALEM — There are dozens
of boat types on the market
and so many opportunities to
explore Oregon’s waterways.
Regardless of what’s calling you
to the water and the type of
boat you’re in, be sure to plan
ahead, pay attention and share
the water so everyone can have
a fun time.
The Oregon State Marine
Board invites boaters to ex-
plore the interactive Boating
Oregon Map, where you can
find a boat ramp near you, plan
for a weekend escape to places
less-frequented or find a wa-
terway in the center of all the
action.
“This season is off to a great
start,” says Ashley Massey, Pub-
lic Information Officer for the
Marine Board. “Take time to
plan ahead. Check the weather
forecast, water levels or tides,
see if there are any reported
obstructions and have the right
gear for the activities you’re do-
ing,” Massey adds.
Boaters can check the Ma-
rine Board’s website to find out
what equipment is required
based on the size of the boat
and rules for operation which
vary by waterbody.
Massey also emphasizes pay-
ing attention to your surround-
ings, continually scanning port
to starboard and keeping a
close eye on what’s ahead.
“Brush up on the rules-of-
the-road, start out slow because
of debris in the water from this
past winter, and whatever you
do — don’t text and drive. In
2017, there were 17 collisions
from distracted driving.
"Social media, taking pic-
tures and texting can be fun,
but the operator needs to main-
tain focus and awareness to
what’s going on around them,”
says Massey, who explains that
high water levels in the spring
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6
-day
weather forecast
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
78° | 48°
76° | 47°
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
67° | 41°
80° | 44°
Partly Cloudy
Mostly Sunny
MONDAY
TUESDAY
74° | 43°
76° | 42°
Mostly Sunny
Mostly sunny
cover many wing dams (also
known as pile dikes) on rivers
and bays and are just below the
surface.
As a result, boaters need to
keep their distance from the
shoreline up to several hun-
dred feet out from shore so
they don’t inadvertently hit one
of the piles.
Boaters are encouraged to
learn where the wing dams
are located based on the wa-
terbody where they’re boating
from NOAA Charts. The navi-
gation charts can be download-
ed for free.
With Oregon’s population
increasing and many people
wanting to boat in their own
backyards, think about taking
a “dispersion excursion” to
lesser-known waterbodies, es-
pecially for people new to pad-
dlesports or seeking more sol-
itude. There are 96 waterways
where motors are prohibited
and 50 designated as electric
motor only. Visit the Marine
Board’s Experience Oregon
Boating Handbook for more
information about these reg-
ulated areas for paddlers and
easy accessibility.
The Marine Board also rec-
ommends boaters play it safe
by:
• Not using marijuana, drugs
or alcohol. Instead, take along
a variety of non-alcoholic bev-
erages and plenty of water. Im-
pairment can lead to a BUII
arrest. Drugs and alcohol im-
pair a boater’s judgement and
coordination which every boat
operator needs. Swift currents,
changing weather and debris
require boat operators to be
focused and skilled to avoid an
accident.
• If you are feeling tired, take
a break on land and return to
the water when you are re-en-
ergized and alert. Wind, glare,
dehydration and wave motion
contribute to fatigue. Contin-
ually monitor the weather be-
cause it changes quickly.
• Operators and passengers
should wear properly fitting
life jackets. Learn more about
life jacket types, styles and legal
requirements. Anyone rafting
on Class III Whitewater Rivers
is required to wear a life jacket,
and all children 12 and under
when a boat is underway. The
water temperature for most
waterways is below 50 degrees
this time of year and wearing a
life jacket is the most import-
ant piece of equipment for sur-
viving the first few seconds of
cold water immersion. What’s
the downside to wearing one?
• Never boat alone — espe-
cially when paddling. Always
let others know where you are
going and when you’ll return.
Print out a downloadable float
plan to leave with friends and
family.
• In Oregon, all boaters must
take a boating safety course
and carry a boater education
card when operating a power-
boat greater than 10 horsepow-
er.
For more information, visit
www.boatoregon.com.
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DUSTIN TULLAR & RUSS OWENS
541-942-8022 • COTTAGE GROVE
Brandon’s beautiful, 2-year-old dog, Hozho, is a “love child”
after a brief encounter between a Blue Heeler and a Navajo coy-
ote. I guess dogs and coyotes are not all-natural enemies; ap-
parently, Hozho’s parents had a little Romeo and Juliet in them!
She was born in an area where sheep are raised and ranchers
have Blue Heelers for herding flocks and protecting them from
predators like coyotes.
Adopting Hozho came as a surprise to them both.
“I was not looking for a dog. I had never had one before and
I did not choose her,” said Brandon. “Her arrival was destiny.”
When he was driving a friend home in rural Arizona, the
friend pointed and announced, “That’s my house. Do you want
a dog?”
Apparently, weeks earlier during the night, someone left new
born puppies on his friend's driveway because of his good and
compassionate reputation in their community.
Brandon, as a new dog daddy, instinctively did the right
thing and gave his dog an honorable name.
“Hozho’s name is an adjective derived from a Navajo Dine
Bizaad prayer that describes reality itself, encompassing beauty,
balance and harmony,” said Brandon. “I heard the prayer just
before meeting Hozho and it was a way to bring Arizona mem-
ories home with us.”
Little Hozho was unbelievably desert-dirty. “When she was
patted, dust billowed off her for 20 seconds,” said Brandon.
The new family spent 30 hours bonding on the drive from
Albuquerque, N.M., to their home.
“Never having had a dog before, and Hozho never having
The arrival of Brandon’s dusty-desert dog, Hozho,
was destiny.
a home before had us making up our lives together along the
way,” said Brandon. “As a youngster, she had some scary look-
ing hooked-canine teeth, perfect for tearing flesh, so I did my
best encouraging her to be gentle.”
As it turns out, Brandon’s gentle nature rubbed off on Hozho
and he had nothing to be worried about. While out walking,
meeting strangers, children and pet columnists, the dog’s hap-
py-grinning face welcomes everyone to approach her and her
dog daddy.
“As a matter of fact, her friendliness makes others happy,
even people who don't like dogs,” proudly states Brandon.
“She’s gentle-hearted and fascinated by anything smaller than
herself (puppies, babies, birds, chipmunks and squirrels).
Hozho verbalizes in unique whines, grunts and sighs. I’ve never
heard another dog duplicate her sounds and assume it is from
her coyote heritage.
“Also, we are so close, we communicate without words,”
Brandon continued. “Instead of telling her to sit, I snap my
fingers. Instead of yelling at her to come, I make a smooching
sound and wave for her when she turns towards me.”
Hozho must also have a hidden Husky DNA, the “I-want-
to-run-run-run” gene, because her favorite sport is running for
hours along hiking trails. Then visualize this! When she runs
through tall grass and weeds, she looks like a dolphin hopping
across waves.
Best of all, her other happy time is being curled up on the
couch snuggled up to Brandon.
Tips:
Tips ‘n’ Tales reader Suzka, in Portland, Ore., suggests:
“When you brush your pets, toss their fur outside near a tree or
a bird feeder. Birds collect and use the fur for their nests. They
pack it around their eggs, insulating them, keeping them warm.
“I once observed two house sparrows as they delighted in
finding fur and each frantically grabbed a mouthful. Howev-
er, in their excitement, one over-filled its beak with too much
fur and as it tried taking flight, it would flutter an inch off the
ground and fall back to earth. The mate, seeing the predica-
ment, went over to the ‘bearded mouthful’ and plucked some
fur from its beak! Once the load was made ‘just right,’ they flew
off to decorate their home together. It was heartwarming wit-
nessing the mate come to the rescue. Their actions of using the
discarded fur is the ultimate in repurr-posing!”
Share your fun, amazing or crazing pet tips and tales at an-
gelscribe@msn.com or Follow Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/PetTipsandTales. Adopt loving pets online
at www.PetFinder.com. For spay or neutering, call the Humane
Society at 541-942-2789.