I recently heard Juneau yelp off in the woods. When she reemerged, a fairly deep gouge was between her eyes. She probably ran into a low-hanging branch in pursuit of a squirrel. She's healing fine. Next week it will be one year since a terrified Juneau was dragged from a corner of her cage at the Northeast Animal Shelter so we could take her home. She remains pathetically attached to me. She really hasn't warmed up to anyone else in the family. What's truly pathetic is how attached I am to her. My entire life is scheduled around my daily walk in the woods with Juneau. I just wish she would stop growling at my sons.

Merry Christmas to all.

This was in the Wignall Animal Hospital's newsletter, and I thought it was great. Some of you have perhaps seen these before, but here are THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM A DOG:

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Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
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Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
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When loved ones come home, always run to great them.
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When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
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Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
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Take naps and stretch before rising.
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If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
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Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
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On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.
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When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
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No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout...run right back and make friends.
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Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
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Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
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Run, romp, and play daily.
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Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
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Be loyal.
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Never pretend to be something you're not.

As for Juneau, she is into fervently chasing squirrels to the point where I no longer let her off the leash in the backyard. Last week she ran up an embankment on one one side of my yard, ACROSS A MODERATELY BUSY STREET, and behind a school. So I now keep her on the leash when I take her out back in the morning. One day I was half asleep when I took Juneau out back, I had my running shoes only half on, and I badly twisted my right ankle on the back stairs. Juneau still later insisted I take her over to Middlesex Fells for a long hike. I hobbled along for a few miles. Juneau chased squirrels. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. (I will post a new picture of Juneau within the next day or so.)

Juneau surveys her kingdom - the Skyline Trail in Middlesex Fells. She is a great hiking companion. Sometimes all I hear are her tags jangling somewhere off the trail. But she returns as soon as I call. And she made me a proud master yesterday. Another hiker with a camera insisted on taking Juneau's picture. "Cutest dog I've ever seen," she said. I tend to agree.

With my transition back to sports (and mostly nights) after 15 months in news, Juneau is a happy dog. I am now be with her most days. Her clock is messed up, though. I usually get home around 2 a.m. Juneau greets me at the door wired for a sprint. I try to calm her so the rest of the house doesn't wake up. I take her out in the yard for a few minutes, then sit with her for an hour in the living room until she settles down. I get to bed around 3 a.m. She licks my face around 7 a.m. wanting to go out. (Master Dave is getting tired.) I take her to a playground near my house for 15 minutes, then go back to bed until 10 a.m. I then take Juneau for a hike in Middlesex Fells. The dog is doing fine. At this rate, though, I will collapse in a month.
(I will post updated pictures of Juneau within the next day or two. I'm trying to get my son Matt to take a picture of me holding Juneau, so everyone can see how much she has grown. She is about 14-months old, and yes, still terrified of Matt.)

Juneau and Me attended the ninth annual "Sato Rescue Reunion" at Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem on Saturday. Perhaps Juneau had shared a flight from Puerto Rico with some of the rescued dogs in attendance. Many of the rescuers were there (perhaps even Juneau's rescuer). Rev. Annika of the Heartlight Peace Ministries gave the Sato Blessing. Naturally, Juneau was terrified of any stranger, regardless of her kind intentions, placing water on her forehead. So I picked up Juneau and held her so she could be blessed. Believe me, we need all the help we can get.
Several in attendance commented on how well-trained Juneau seemed. In fact, I merely dropped her leash to eat a watermelon slush (as you can tell by Juneau's panting in the picture, it was a hot day) but Juneau remained bolted to my side, like she always is in a crowd.
I bought a "Sato Rescue" T-shirt, which I wore later that day while walking around Boston. Thinking I rescued these dogs, a woman walked up to me in Faneuil Hall and commended me for my fine work. She works for an airline on which these dogs fly up from Puerto Rico.
Finally, we are seriously considering adopting another dog; one that will not growl at my son Matt and also keep Juneau company. So far, I'm the only holdout in the family on this idea.

Sorry for so few updates. Juneau and Me have been busy vacationing for two weeks. She is snoring beside me while I write this, exhausted from another hike through Middlesex Fells. She otherwise has had much pent-up energy since being stuck in a car for 12 hours last Friday during an attempt to cross the George Washington Bridge. Juneau was riding with my wife Maura and youngest son Matt. They were to meet me and daughter Annie in Philadelphia. Traffic didn't budge for three hours. The habitually nervous Juneau paced in the back seat. They finally turned back. (Annie was visiting colleges in New York and Philly.)
The previous weekend, my son Danny's pitbull Kaia stayed at our house. I'm leery of pitbulls, but Kaia has exhibited only sweetness and obedience in the two years I've known her. I frequently walk her. She is well-trained (unlike Juneau, whom I've spoiled). Kaia weighs 70 pounds, but insists on sitting on my lap. Being so big, Kaia is a little rough on 30-pound Juneau when they play. (It looks like Vince Wilfork wrestling Wes Welker.) But they do play. Juneau isn't so keen on another dog sitting on my lap, though.
Next Saturday, Aug. 15, is the Save a Sato reunion at the Northeast Animal Shelter. Juneau and Me plan to attend. I'll post pictures.
Well, Juneau is waking up. Time for another hike. Need to make the most of these precious final few days of vacation.

We've been dogsitting a 1-year-old Bichon Frise named "Charlie," who belongs to a friend. Juneau doesn't seem to mind. She does seem to actively seek the affection of family in Charlie's presence. Jealousy?
A few times when Charlie jumped on my lap, Juneau came right over to rest her head on my shoulder.
Walks in the woods are difficult. Juneau likes to ZOOM! Charlie's steps are tiny. Charlie also has one of those retractable leashes I have difficulty mastering. And he must stay on the leash. On walks in the woods his leash keeps getting stuck in the undergrowth. Usually I lose sight of Juneau while I untangle the mess. But Juneau is always waiting a ways up the path. At least so far.
On July 4th I took Juneau to the fireworks in Wakefield. The fireworks didn't scare her, just all the people. I had to carry her a half-mile back to the car. She is getting heavy. I am getting old.
We have Aug. 15 circled on our schedule. Juneau and me will be attending a "Save a Sato" reunion at the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem. The rescuers from Puerto Rico who save these dogs will be there. I want to thank them for saving Juneau. She has her issues, but she also has a gentle heart.

Here is Juneau this morning after yet another walk in the rain. We've had a lot of those lately. A week ago, while the rest of the family was in Colorado visiting my oldest son, Juneau and me were caught out on the Battle Road in Concord in a steady downpour. We were two miles from the car. But unlike my old dog, Juneau loves the rain. Earlier, as we were setting out from the Minuteman Visitor Center parking lot, a tour bus pulled in. The woman leading the tour was dressed in 18th-century garb. She stared at Juneau. "Is that a rescue from Pureto Rico?" she asked. Seems she had a sato, too. Despite each being comprised of a smorgasbord of breeds, these rescues are a distinctive breed.
Juneau loved having no human besides me around the house for seven days. But eventually everyone came home. In the above picture, she has her eyes fixed on my youngest son Matt. She needs to know where Matt is at all times. She remains terrified of him.

Juneau now has a scar near her left eye (see photo), courtesy of a dog unwilling to share a toy during playtime. It makes her look like a Red Wing or Penguin in quest of the Cup.
Now that my younger daughter is out of school for the summer, Annie takes care of Juneau during the day. That is saving me $104 a week in doggie day care costs.
But I can't get ahead.
Juneau picked up two parasites somewhere (probably from that Saugus River water she drank one hot day). I have to give here 1 1/2 tablets the size of aspirins monthly for three months. The cost of 4 1/2 pills total: $100.
This came one day after I paid $130 for heartworm medicine, flea-and-tick medicine and to have her stool sample analyzed. And yet I'm now 2,500 miles past my car's scheduled oil change.
Juneau remains terrified of my youngest son, Matt, which is getting annoying. I've tried having Matt offer her treats. She stops her barking, growling and retreating to take them from him. But as soon as the last treat is eaten, she resumes her terrified barking.
Juneau is capable of warm-hearted deeds. Her keen nose and eyes enabled a 7-year-old Winchester boy to be reunited with his catcher's mitt. Juneau found the mitt in tall grass at Middlesex Fells. I assumed it was a dead animal, but closer inspection revealed the word "Mizuno" and a telephone number.

My youngest child is my largest. Matt, 15, is 6-foot-3 with size-15 feet. Sweet kid, youngest of five, loves photography and dreams of being an ornithologist. But Juneau is terrified of him. As soon as she hears his size-15 Frankensteins clomping downstairs each morning, Juneau starts barking, growling and cowering.
Well, Matt stayed home sick from school yesterday. I shamelessly seized my son's illness as an opportunity to save a day's cost on doggie care.
First, I had to somehow get out of the house without Juneau. She quickly kept following me out the door, too scared stay home alone with Matt.
Finally, I made it.
Late morning, I telephoned Matt to ask how he felt and if he could take Juneau out to the yard to do her business. He told me he wasn't sure where Juneau was. She was hiding somewhere in the house.
He found her on the floor in my room. When he picked her up, she was so scared, she pooped a bit on his arm.
But, I saved $26 and Matt is all better and eager to get back to school.