KELDA RETURNS!

So it's been HOW long since I added to this blog?  Over a year??  Um... hello there.  I hope you've been well.  If you were raising a puppy for CCI when you read my last update, that pup has grown up now.  I hope he or she is very happy.

Grandma and I keep quite busy, both working and enjoying ourselves.  We're also great sports fans, so we can now brag about the WORLD SERIES CHAMPION San Francisco Giants, as well as the ALMOST SUPER BOWL CHAMPION San Francisco 49ers.

Just in case you don't remember, here is the logo for our winning team.


I spent Christmas in Carmel with Grandma and our good friend, Aunt Lori.  Here I am in the beautiful park across from Carmel Plaza.  Carmel is very dog-friendly.  I find water bowls and treats greeting me at most of the stores.  There are even restaurants that welcome dogs to their outdoor dining spaces.

Now, here I am, getting packed and ready to go to the Super Bowl - in hopes of bringing back the Lombardi Trophy.  How exciting it would have been to have two major champion sports teams in the SF Bay area.  It would have been the sixth Super Bowl win for the 49ers!  Oh, well, we tried.





March 2 was the birthday of Dr. Seuss.  It was also Read Across America Day!  So there I was in Ms. Dodd's first grade classroom.  The children were all very polite (I know all about good manners!); they waited patiently to meet and pet me after Grandma read them some books that the teacher had selected.  This program takes place all over the U.S. on Dr. Seuss' birthday.  It's aimed at getting children involved and enthusiastic about reading.  I did my part.




And here I am with the Easter Bunny.  Only by the merest coincidence was I dressed like the Easter Bunny, too.  We took part in the brunch for the children in Orinda, California.  Grandma taught everybody how to approach a dog they don't know (and who doesn't know them), and she shared with them what therapy dogs do.  No, I didn't get to hunt eggs with the kids.  They ran around like crazy, and I had to watch politely.  Sigh.





A fashion note:  This (below) is a new one.

No, I didn't design it.  Really over the top, huh?  The tutu is so big I can hardly walk.  Grandma didn't make me wear it for very long, bless her.  For costumes like this I should get extra cookies!

Along the way, I managed to find time to celebrate my fifth birthday on May 13.  Can you believe it?  I got gifts, of course, and I wore the silly dunce hat that Grandma made my PR Dad wear when he came out for a visit back on my second birthday!  (That's the picture up on the top.)

My buddy La Russa (a CCI puppy in training) came over to help me celebrate.  He got one special cookie from the doggy store, but I didn't share my new toys with him (all right, call me selfish.  I prefer to think of myself as, um, forthright).  We did run about the yard chasing tennis balls and one another.  And I shared one of my dunce hats with him.  I thought that was nice of me.




On my actual birth date, I went to the Livermore Library for a Paws to Read session.  Grandma dressed me up - of course - and all the children made a fuss over me, which was certainly appropriate.

Here I am making my appearance for the children who stay at George Mark Children's House.  You may remember that this is a place where terminally ill or very sick children go for respite care, and their families can stay right there with them.  Once a year they have a huge picnic.  Miniature horses come to visit them; they can have their faces painted (the children, not the horses); there are clowns making balloon hats, and of course there are water balloons, and there is ME.  Everyone laughed and smiled and enjoyed themselves.  All the kids love it when I visit them.

Another of my favorite places is Camp Arroyo.  I'm with one of my special friends who comes to camp every year and always wants our picture taken together.  This is a special camp where special needs children can come and stay and just be themselves with whatever disability they may have.  Everybody is a special guest.  Grandma organizes visiting therapy teams twice a year - usually in August and November.  Everybody says how much fun it is.  They just love having us dogs come and visit - and we love visiting with them.

Finally, here's one of my favorite places to be - and, incidentally, Miss Kelda's new part-time job.  Grandma's good friend Kathleen has a big boat, and she invites me over to visit.  I enjoy dinner, watch the sunset, and - if I'm really good - get to help her navigate the boat.  I wonder if I need a special boat-driving license?

That brings everything up to date - but I don't want you to worry about my future.  I will post again - at least by Christmas!  Promise!

THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER ... Um, FALL ... Um, IS IT WINTER YET? Yep.

Yes, I know I haven't blogged for quite a while.  But I'm still alive and well.  Grandma is, too, and so are the MEE-yows.


I had my birthday!  "Mr. Big Ugly" (my PR dad) wasn't there this year, but I thought of him.  He would have liked seeing me in this getup (see above).  At least he would have made some sort of smart-aleck remark about it.


I still have my job at the George Mark Children's House.  If you recall, it's a place for children who have life-limiting illnesses.  

Here I am with Baby George and his family.  He was precious.  This picture was taken at the summer picnic; Baby George is in heaven now.


On Independence Day, I celebrated very quietly - unusual for me.  But my vet had taken a lump off my foot, and he decided that, while I needed to enjoy the Fourth of July temperately, I also needed decoration no matter what.  (I'm fine!)



Here I am at one of my other jobs - Paws to Read.  Honestly, I don't know which of my jobs I like best - they're all fun.  You're seeing me at Walnut Creek, reading to - well, actually, letting kids read to me.  Sometimes children will read to dogs when they won't read to anyone else.



And here I am with a really special friend at Camp Arroyo.  That's a camp disabled kids get to go to for two weeks every year.  I love camp life!  It's nice to have so many friends.

I don't just work; I go to school, too!  Here I am with my friend Thelma, and our teacher Laura.  We're in the (ahem) advanced obedience class.



I also help puppy-sit, just the way other people used to puppy-sit me when I was a pup and my PRs had to leave home.  Here we are with Stanford.  He's quite a handful - er, I mean, quite an interesting character!




I'm back at Paws to Read in this one.  It was Halloween dress-up evening at the library.  

This is another favorite job:  Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation.  This was their Halloween party.  Man, that hay was tickly.  (And speaking of Tony LaRussa, hooray for the World Series-winning St. Louis Cardinals!)


That brings me up to November.  One day Grandma took me out front, on leash.  She had me sit, and we watched a car pull in the driveway.  Then the people got out, and they were... my puppy raisers!  My dad said (this should be no surprise to you), "Hello, Big Ugly!"  I was so excited I could hardly stand it.  


Did I forget my good CCI manners?  Well, let's just say that what happens at home stays at home....


We had a great time!  I showed off games like "Which Hand Has the Treat?"  

My dad got really good with that one.

Here I am with my PR mom and dad...

...and my lovely Grandma who takes care of me and buys me such silly costumes.  Ahhh!


I introduced my puppy raisers to my MEE-yows.





This is Mocha.  She is 13 years old and has lived in this house since she was just a tiny kitten.  She sleeps with Grandma and me.  Mocha likes to "play the harp" on my torso - but her claws are sharp!  So I exert my authority... by getting up and moving to the other side of the bed.

Grandma rescued Muffin II when she (Muffin) was about a year old.  I grab her neck, and she licks my face.  Sometimes she even nips me, but it doesn't hurt.  Muffin is a foodie, so I have to eat my dinner all up before she has a chance to get in it.


Both MEE-yows have very weird eyes, as cats do (let's not say anything about dogs).  If Grandma ran short of cash for dog treats, she could rent Mocha and Muffin out as reflective markers for the neighbors' driveways.

...Be afraid... be very afraid.  This is what nightmares (and empty food bowls) are made of.

We had Thanksgiving at home, and I always have a lot to be thankful for.  Um, do I get my treat?











I wanted to dress up as a New England Thanksgiving Indian - but it turned out I dressed up as a Thanksgiving Mexican instead.  This dog looks good in any costume of any country!


Now it's close to Christmas time.  Christmas is great.  There will be more parties to attend - in costume, of course, I'm sure - and people to visit.  I think of my Creator at Christmas and how much He has done for this world and the dogs in it - and the cats, and the people.  And I have some special presents for Grandma.  I hope she has some for me, too.


Here's my Christmas photo.  May your days be merry and bright!

Kelda the Therapy Dog

Remember my saying that I passed the test for my Canine Good Citizen certificate?  Well, I've done more.  Attention, please:  Kelda the Wonder Dog is officially Kelda the Therapy Dog!

The proof is in the picture above.  (I have certificates, too.)

When you are any kind of service dog, you wear a cape.  That's so people know they can let you into their building.  (All dogs are too cute to keep out of any building, but there are rules.)  I'll wear the red cape for the Paws to Read program at the Orinda Library; I may have an adult day care job, too.  The Purple vest is for the Valley Humane Society Pet Therapy Program; I'll be in Paws to Read (yes, I like books) and hopefully some other activities.  The summer-yellow one is for Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation Pet Hug Pack.  I'll be part of birthday and learning-center parties that promote animal awareness, and other events, too - like Stars to the Rescue, where I may meet some celebrities!  Rrrrrowlf!  Is Rin Tin Tin still around?  Marley?


I'm going to love these jobs!  I can hardly wait to get to work!


Speaking of being official, three of my sisters have graduated from CCI puppy college and become Canine Companions:  Keilus, Kerris, and Kiwi.  Way to go, Special Ks!

Here's what else has been happening.  I have a friend at the fire department now.  We met at the Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival in April.  I don't know if that will make any difference if my MEE-YOWs should set Grandma's house on fire.  (But why should they do that?  It would burn up their dinners as well as mine.)



In May I went with Grandma to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, to meet my Aunt Lori.  We had dinner at the Cypress Inn, which Grandma says is owned by an animal-lover named Doris Day.  I'd never heard of her, but maybe you have. 

Carmel is a town that loves dogs.  Here I am on the famous Carmel Beach Walk (yes, that's really the ocean back there)... 

...and on the dog-friendly beach!









There was another special day in May.  It was my birthday!  I am now two years old.  My age count is half my paw count.  Once you read down to the bottom of the page, you'll see my official birthday portrait - complete with pearls.

I had a party with Grandma and my buddy Alexis, whose PR is named Deb.  We had permission to do Ups on her!  I received a "cool" collar (Grandma can soak it in water and it will keep me cool)...






... and the inevitable, um, hat.



Then I had a big surprise.

My PR Dad walked in the front door and said, "Hello, Big Ugly!"  I hadn't seen him since last August when I started puppy college.  (Don't worry about the "Big Ugly" business - he says that to any dog who is a Lab instead of a Golden Retriever.  We must forgive him for not being too bright.)

I got to sniff my car again, and even get in it (actually, it's my mom's car).  It had fragrances not just from Colorado but also from other dogs.  My dad had brought five CCI dogs out to California so they could start their advanced training.  Too bad I didn't meet them.

Then we had another party, and there was a cake just for me which Grandma had bought from Dog Bone Alley!  It was made with things that are yummy and safe for dogs to eat.  It was as hard as a hockey puck, but Dad pretended he was going to share it with me.

Then he helped give me more birthday presents that Grandma had picked out.  I love how she spoils me.

This is the best one.  It plays, "Happy Woofday to You."  Oh, wait... that's "Happy Birthday."  Sorry.

After my party, we went to my class.  Dad got to take me through my paces.  I don't think he expected to do that, but he remembered everything.  I taught him how to go around the cones.  That was new for him.  He did well, don't you think?


The summer should be fun - stay tuned!

California Living

Everybody says living in California is easy and laid back.  They talk about lots of sunshine (when it isn't raining); healthy outdoor living (when there's not a fire); and friends to - say - look out the window with to see if it's snowing (oh, wait... snow in April happens in Colorado, not California).

I'm sure enjoying it.  I have quite a big social calendar and I've made some new friends.  Here's my friend Marvin with his person, Auntie Ada Beth.  We're showing her what good listeners we are.  When she's done talking, maybe she'll give us treats.

Here is my Auntie Denise.  We're at the park to show you Grandpa Weldin's tree.  Where?  Oh, well, I had to crop the picture so the tree's, um, out of sight.  You'll have to tear your eyes away from (ahem) us and look at the little plaque to the left of us (your left).

Here I am with my friend Sophia.  The decoration is really a toy.  Aren't we gorgeous?


This is Betsy, who came to visit us.  She lives in Ohio, and she raised my Mama, Jenni!  She also raised my sister Kiwi.  She's very nice.  This (on your left) is called "cradle."  This (on your right) is called "play with your guest's hair."  

Since she raised Mama, and since I already have a grandma, is she my great-grandma??

I went with Grandma to a wine-tasting party.  I prefer white myself, but....  (This is a joke, folks!  Grandma knows, just as you do, that even a little alcohol is toxic for dogs!)

My friend Alexa is a CCI pup.  She has so much to learn to be a service dog that I knew she would need a little recreation.  So I very kindly gave her some.

Then there are times I just like to be goofy.




It's not all play, though.  I just passed obedience school!  


This is another step toward becoming a therapy dog.


And thinking about that, I'm wondering if all the crazy costumes Grandma puts on me might not be a good thing.  After all, I'll be visiting people who need some good cheer.  My Creator forgot to provide humans with tails to wag when they're happy, so they have to smile instead.  Maybe my costumes will help people smile.

That being said... 

...we, um, celebrated Easter.

I took the ears off for dinner.  C'mon, Papa Jack, hurry up with the food!






The Easter bunny never looked this good.

After the festivities, of course, came another California tradition:  chilling out in style!  Zzzzz....