A Strange Visitor

Bunny here, writing a little about our nursing home visit last week.

Usually, I don't say much about our visits, or let Mom or Dad take pictures, but it was Morgan's first time visiting there, so we took a few pictures for posterity.  I'm not going to lie.  I wasn't quite sure how my wolfy sister would do there.  Just getting out the door to go was a bit of a circus. 

When Morgan figures out that we're going somewhere, usually she gets so wound up that Dad just ends up taking her out to the van early so that the rest of us can get ready in peace.  Thursday night was no different.  Morgan was out in the van, and then Mom put my fancy collar on me.  Blueberry got all wound up, so Mom and Dad caved and let her go, too.  That meant that Blueberry had to visit with Mom and me.  That's okay, but it cramps my style a little bit. 

Of course, Morgan didn't appreciate Dad wandering around the place and taking her where she couldn't see the rest of us, but she held it together really well.  All the people who saw her really liked her.  We kept our visit short because Dad wanted to end the visit on a good note and because Mom was getting a little frustrated with Blueberry.  She always zigs when everyone else zags, if you know what I mean.

So, we finished up with a little socializing with some of our Paw to Paw friends and then we called it a night.  Of course, the best part came at the end.  We stopped at McDonald's Golden Dinner Palace and Dad got us French fries.  A just reward for a job well done, I say!

School Daze

Hello, Hounds and Humans!  Bunny here, writing about my big trip to school with Mom.  It was a very exciting and tiring day! 
It started as soon as I woke up.  Dad swapped my collars and I wondered what was up, but I figured it had something to do with that Jackson fellow.  Fortunately, it did not!  The morning went on like normal until it was time for Mom to go to work.  Dad put my harness on and then my coat.  Oh, I did a little tap dance of joy in the kitchen!  Mom started getting her stuff and my pink bag and then Dad snuck me out the back door before any of the other hounds caught on to what was happening.  Mom even had a couple of my toys packed in the bag for me since I haven't been able to play with them all week.

We got to school, went inside and got settled.  I walked around the room and did a sniff patrol.  I found the rabbit cage very interesting, but the rest of the room wasn't that exciting. 

Well, it wasn't that exciting until the kids started showing up.  They were all glad to see me!  I wagged my tail a little in greeting and gave a lot of them a good get-to-know-you sniff.  As soon as everyone was there and settled, I got to be off my leash for a little while.  They wanted to know a lot of things about me.  Why are my legs so long?  Why is my chest so deep?  Why do I have sharp teeth?  What did I have for breakfast?  They found out that they could hear and feel my heartbeat and they all spent a lot of time examining that.  One boy laid on the floor under me like a mechanic to examine my tummy.  Some of them drew pictures of me or for me and Mom says I can put them on the refrigerator.  I listened to some of them read some stories about dinosaurs and dogs and I liked the dog stories better!  They saw me do some of my tricks and gave me a few treats.  I put on my coat so they could see what it looks like when I wear it.  They got out my travel bowl and got me a drink of water.  I have to say, those kids sure know how to treat royalty like myself!  Lots of people from the school showed up to see me.

We also took Twinkie's book with us to read to the class.  They really liked the book, although they were trying to understand what she would do without her leg.  They liked that she gets in trouble sometimes, just like they do, and they loved the pictures of Twinkie on her horse.  I have a feeling some of them will be looking at that book a lot next week!

All too soon it was time for music and that meant time for me to go.  I wagged my tail and headed home with Dad.  When we arrived home, that crazy Jackson was jumping around and trying to get me to play!   Hmph!  I think he ought to try going to school for the morning.  I let him know that I needed a nap!

I am excited that I will get to go back next week, too!  I get to be a model so they can draw pictures of me.  I can't wait!  For my fan from class, I apologize that I moved my head when the picture of us was taken.  I will try to hold still so we can pose together when I come back next week!

Howl O Ween Treats

Bunny here, taking over the keyboard this time, since I am a coauthor on this blog. Mom and Dad started talking about our nursing home visit last night and saying that we had to get ready for the nursing home visit tonight. My ears perked up a bit. Going to the nursing home means that people there will want to pet me. Sometimes they even feed me stuff. It's always great fun! Mom said she needed a model for the ghost costumes they were making, so I jumped off the couch and offered my services. I didn't ask what this job entailed, but as it turns out, it involved me standing up a lot while Dad cut up a sheet a lot. When they started gushing about how cute I was, I knew that I'd hit pay dirt. Then it came time for Blueberry's costume. She was supposed to be a ghost like me. Dad called her and she ran in the dog crate. Dad picked up the scraps of sheet he'd cut off and said that Blueberry could be a mummy. It was getting late, so Mom agreed to it, even though she wasn't crazy about the idea.

As it got closer to time to go, Mom started thinking about how long it was going to take to wrap Blueberry up in those strips and get them to stay in place without slipping off, so she decided to get one of the costumes that Treat wore a while ago and let Blueberry wear that. "She's persnickety about what she'll wear on her head," I heard Mom say. They decided to test it out on Blueberry real fast. Blueberry started shaking her head around. Mom asked me if I wanted to try it. Of course I did! Once Mom put the mask on my head, I didn't see what the fuss was all about. I went back to eating dinner and Mom and Dad both laughed and commented on how cute I am. I wagged my tail. They decided that I would get to wear the dragon costume and Blueberry could be the ghost. I just knew nobody was going to be able to resist me in that costume. We got in the van and Mom reminded us that it was Halloween at the nursing home, but not to be begging for treats. She said it wasn't really Halloween yet and I'd have to wait a few weeks for the real thing to get here. I laid down and waited for us to get there.

When we arrived, we got out of the van and went to the grassy spot out front where we take a little powder break, if you know what I mean. Only this time, I realized I'd hit the jackpot! There in front of me was a Halloween treat, just waiting to be plucked. A plump little rabbit was sitting, practically under my nose. Well, I did what any self respecting hound would do -- I went for it. That darned leash really cramped my style. I was left with some tail fuzz between my teeth, but no rabbit meat. We headed into the first building, I put on my dragon mask and went to work. Everybody went crazy over me and I forgot about the cottontail outside.

Soon it was time to leave and go over to the other side. Darned if that rabbit didn't hop right under my nose and nearly knock Mom down. It was an insult and I'd have had him if Mom hadn't pulled us back the other way so fast. That darned leash foiled my plans again. Anyhow, we went into the other building and I went to work, oozing cuteness and working the crowd. When Blueberry saw how much attention I was getting, she finally decided to put her costume on, too. Well, part of it anyhow. I think I looked cuter in it, but she had to have something. People thought she was pretty cute, too, but most of them were admiring me. It was a great time and I can't wait to go back. There was lots of petting and if I play my cards right, that rabbit will lose the next round. I hope everybody has a safe and happy Halloween!

Bunny Works Her Magic

Bunny thought today was going to be just like every other day when my husband and I get up and get ready to go to work, leaving her here at home, wishing she were out on some grand adventure. However, we had other plans for her today. As I have mentioned before, I teach preK, and on occasion we take the dogs in to visit the kids in class. Today was one of those days. Bunny and I had a little chat about it this morning.

Me: Bunny, do you think you'd like to come to school and visit the kids today?

Bunny: Are you kidding?! They're perfect for petting me! They're just the right size!

Me: Well, Dad's going to bring you over in just a little while. He's going to take you by the vet's office to get your toenails trimmed and then you'll come down to school.

Bunny: I'm going to get petted at the vet's office and at school?! This is the best day EVER! Let me grab my collar!

Me: We have some new kids in class this year. I want you to be on your best behavior today. One of the boys is really afraid of our classroom rabbit. I want you to be particularly nice and calm today so he isn't scared.

Bunny: The RABBIT! Somebody pinch me! I must be dreaming!

Me: Now just you listen here! That rabbit is off limits! The kids really like Sassy. She is not a snack!

Bunny: (sigh) Oh alright! As long as you promise there will be petting!

Me: I promise, lots of petting!


And so, a short while later, after a nail trim, Bunny arrived at the school with my husband. She has been there before and she was quite happy to be there again. She came into the room very quietly and it took a few minutes for the kids to realize she'd arrived. Many of them have seen her before and she has a bit of a fan club in my class. They often ask me how she is, what she's been doing and when she'll be visiting again. A few of them were told yesterday that she'd be arriving today, but for most, it was a surprise when she showed up. Bunny is particularly good with young children and despite the fact that she is a very young greyhound, she knows when to turn on the charm and when to be on her best behavior. Even as the kids mobbed around her, she patiently and happily accepted all their attention.

I am often surprised by what effect her presence has on the kids in our room. One little boy who often has trouble getting along with his friends and often hurts others was extremely gentle with her. He couldn't seem to get enough of just being near her. He told me that he wanted to take her home or get a dog just like her. His whole body relaxed while he sat beside her. She turned and touched his nose with hers and he was in rapture.


Not even Sassy could distract her from the kids for very long. She gave everyone a bit of her attention. The little boy who is terribly afraid of our rabbit was very curious about her. I asked him if he wanted to pet her, and to my surprise, he replied with a quiet "yes." We walked over together and I told him I'd stay with him. We moved the other kids away for a minute and I knelt down to pet her, keeping her head on the other side of me. He reached out and touched her and his face lit up. He'd overcome his fear and tried something he desperately wanted to do. The look of accomplishment on his face was really amazing. He bravely stood by her and petted her several more times. Bunny's patience and sweetness totally won him over. I think she has a new friend for life.


I'm sure that Bunny has no idea what a big milestone meeting her was for several of the kids today. She was just happy to get out of the house and have a small adventure that involved lots of petting. However, I do think that she senses who needs just a little bit of TLC from her, and she has a gift for delivering that at the right time.

But of course, the most important part was the petting!