COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019 | 5A
Pet Tips
‘n’ Tales
Art Walk season begins
By Mary Ellen
“Angel Scribe”
A ‘Bonnie’ Life
Ruth and Brian’s spontaneous adoption of Bonnie was a
surprise to them all, especially for Babee the cat.
R
DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL
Musicians at last Friday’s Art Walk kicked off the season with some downtown streetside ambi-
ence as passers-by weaved in and out of shops and examined local artist’ work. Several Main
Street businesses provided finger food and beverages while putting their wares on display.
LORANE NEWS
Contributed by
Lil Thompson
for The Sentinel
• There was a small turn-
out at the “meet and greet”
for school board candidate
Crystal Nevins on Friday, but
the meeting was informative
and interesting for those who
attended. Current school
board member Troy Jentzsch
was also in attendance. Ev-
eryone visited and shared
information over snacks. Re-
member to vote.
• There is a meeting for
senior parents to help plan
the senior graduation cere-
mony decorations tonight,
Pet Cremation
Dignifi ed Options for Our Faithful Friends
At Smith Lund Mills we believe that pets
are an important member of any family.
When a pet dies it can be very diffi cult
time for everybody involved. We
understand the feelings of losing a pet and
our professional, caring staff will be ready
to assist you during this time of loss.
(541) 942-0185
123 S. 7th St., Cottage Grove
Visit smithlundmills.com for more information.
6-day
weather forecast
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
65° | 41°
71° | 44°
Sunny
Sunny
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
73° | 46°
75° | 44°
Sunny
Sunny
MONDAY
TUESDAY
70° | 43°
Sunny
72° | 45°
Partly Sunny
When you need
insurance, you
need people too.
Call today (541) 942-0555.
PayneWest.com/Cottage-Grove
Wednesday, May 1, begin-
ning at 6:30 p.m. in the high
school library.
• Lorane Grange meets
tomorrow, May 2, at 7 p.m.
The men will serve the wom-
en in honor of Mother’s Day.
Plans for the fair booth and
cemetery clean-up are on the
agenda.
• The Homerun Reading
Challenge has begun with
the help of “Sluggo” and the
Eugene Emeralds. Goals have
been set by each class, and
each student who is com-
peting in the challenge will
receive free Emerald Baseball
tickets.
• The Lorane Church la-
dies will be selling goodies
and gifts for Mother’s Day
at the Lorane Family Store.
Come out on Saturday, May
4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
and purchase dome amazing
items.
• All parents with children
turning age 5 prior to Sept.
1 should plan to attend the
Kindergarten Roundup set
for Tuesday, May 7, begin-
ning at 3:15 p.m. at Applegate
Elementary School. Meet the
teacher, see the classroom
and interact with other in-
coming students. For more
information, call 541-935-
2100.
• The end of the school
year is fast approaching.
Here are some dates for par-
ents’ calendars:
—Wednesday, May 29:
Senior Recognition at Crow
High School at 7 p.m.
—Sunday, June 2: Bacca-
laureate at 6 p.m. at the Crow
Nazarene Church
—Friday, June 7: Gradu-
ation night begins 7 p.m. in
the Crow High School gym
—Tuesday,
June
18:
Eighth-Grade Recognition
Night at 7 p.m.
CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE
TREE LIMB PICK-UP
MAY 6, 2019 & MAY 20, 2019
The City of Cottage Grove Public Works Department
will be conducting the annual Tree Limb Pick-Up the
weeks of May 6, 2019 and May 20, 2019. Property owners
will be responsible for removing any branches or limbs
placed in the street after May 20, 2019.
All limbs must be put out BEFORE May 6, 2019 for the
first pick-up and BEFORE May 20, 2019 for the second
pick-up.
Residents can NOT place branches in the street where
curbside parking does not exist or in bike lanes.
This is strictly a tree limb pick up, nothing other than
loose tree limbs or branches will be picked up.
If you have questions regarding the Tree Limb Pick-Up
Program, please call the Public Works Department,
at (541) 942-2024 or see our Limb Pick-Up Brochure,
located at City Hall, at 400 East Main Street, or on our
website, at https://www.cottagegrove.org/publicworks/
page/tree-branch-pickup-program-0
for additional information.
uth’s first language is American Sign Language
(ASL) because her parents are deaf. So, of course,
when the family adopted a deaf kitten they named
it “Snowy,” reflecting on her white fur and taught it kitty
ASL.
When they called Snowy, they used the ASL sign for
“snow.” They’d hold one hand up like a “this is a stick-
up” and then wiggle their fingertips downwards. When
Snowy saw her name sign, she would run to them. When
Ruth grew up, she began working for a deaf and hard-of-
hearing organization.
In late autumn two years ago, her fiercely-independent
89-year-old grandmother’s health and mind deteriorated
so fast that she forgot she had Bonnie, an eight-year-old
dog. The grandmother was placed in a hospital and the
family was oddly not alerted. Nine days later, Ruth ar-
rived at her grandmother’s home to find it in total disar-
ray. The starving dog was using the home as a litter box
and the heat was off.
Ruth gathered up Bonnie and her belongings and took
her home. She and her husband rented a one-pet home
with Ruth’s 19-year-old cat, Babee. Desperate, Ruth
phoned her landlord who thankfully said she could keep
Bonnie — but now she had to tell Babee.
“When Bonnie walked in, she sniffed Babee once and
then walked away,” recalled Ruth. “Since that brief intro-
duction there has never being a hiss or a bark. She is the
sweetest dog I’ve ever had. I take her to work and every-
one loves her sweet, gentle soul.”
Bonnie had always been with Ruth’s grandmother and
was not accustomed to being left alone. Ruth’s co-work-
ers bring dogs to work, so Bonnie tagged along too. To
keep the furry social butterfly in her office there is a gate
at the door. It wasn’t just the staff, who fell in love Bon-
nie. Clients in the waiting room respond to gentle-souled
Bonnie by putting out their hands to pet and love on her.
They often ask, “Is your dog deaf?” or “Are you bringing
her in for a hearing test?” and “Is she your guide dog?”
“Having a dog at work relaxes the staff and our clients,”
said Ruth. “Dogs put smiles on faces.” It may not be the
norm to have pets at work, but Ruth hopes that changes
because it is so paws-itive.
Bonnie fits toddler size 5-6 t-shirts. So, on Halloween,
she wore one with monsters on the back. The following
Halloween she was Yoda because she is such a chill dog.
Her Christmas shirt read: “Naughty? Nice? I tried!”
Ruth confesses to actually being a cat purr-son before
Bonnie’s sudden arrival.
“We are so blessed with her,” said Ruth. “People and
pets can learn ASL. It can be helpful at any stage of our
lives. Bonnie knows the signs for ‘walk’ and ‘want to go
potty outside?’ Of course, she gets more excited for the
“walk” sign.
The day that Ruth suddenly adopted Bonnie, her hus-
band was out of town. “I sent him a photo of her in our
house. Brian did not bark or hiss at all,” said Ruth. “In-
stead. he typed back, ‘What’s my dog’s name?’”
TIPS:
“Have things in place for your pets no matter your age,”
advises Ruth. “Pets are our loved ones, more so in our
later years when they are all we have and we are alone.
No one can predict how fast our health can change. We
had no medical history for Bonnie. If you have pets talk
to your family, just like you do when you have children
that may suddenly need ‘new parents.’ Bonnie did not
need to suffer for a whole week; no walks, water or food.
I would have been there in a heartbeat if I had known.
Teach hearing and deaf dogs sign language! Signing
works wonders when a dog is out of voice range. ASL
instructions are on the internet.” www.youtube.com/
watch?v=VLXxmrbrvxs
Share your fur-avorite pet memory or adventure at
angelscribe@msn.com. Visit Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on Facebook
at/www.facebook.com/PetTipsandTales
Humane Society for Neuter/Spay Assistance Program.
541-942-2789