History Written by Parker A. Poodle ™ Copyright ©2021 Sarah Becker Poetry and the Pandemic by Parker A. Poodle ™ In this parent fatigued pandemic I, Parker A. Poodle, a reading education assistance dog, have been asked to help you “Spin your imagination a little faster.” To assure children “The shallowest breath will generate/ a haiku, limerick or well-pruned lyric.” Hospice nurses now write lyrics to help them cope with the Covid crisis; write poetry to process their ICU experiences. As of January 14 the total number of U.S. Covid-19 cases was 23,214,472. The number continues to climb. Covid-19 has taken a measurable toll. We have fought its spread for months and all are tired. Of social distancing, virtual distancing; stay at home orders and remote learning. School and library facilities are mostly closed and school test scores have declined. Home confinement is hard, I know! “I stare at the page, waiting for my wattage,/ wondering if it’s time to invest in/subsidized solar scripting,” British poet and pal Elisabeth Rowe penned. “Time rolls over/ like a puppy in the sunshine/ things I am paying attention to/ become weightless,” Rowe wrote In the Garden. Not so now. Most humans—it seems—feel weighed down, pandemic plagued, and overloaded. How can I, a canine assist? I encourage you to express your feelings in writing; to use poetry to explain the day’s exploits. To maybe cure what ails. A narrative poem is one that tells a tale, a story. A historical story perhaps, or—in the case of the pandemic—home life. Elise Paschen, editor of Poetry Speaks to Children, describes poetry as a “journey of discovery…filled with range—historically, poetically, and visually. Poetry is like a diving board, a place from which to plunge into [life’s] depths.” Poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) wrote To Flush, My Dog…
Did you know that the first week of March is National Pet Sitters Week? A big thank-you to all of those animal-lovers who help us care for our pets when we aren’t able to. Because animals – especially pets – are a big deal to us in this country. In 2009, Americans spent $45.5 billion on their pets, and this figure is only expected to rise in the coming years, as more and more people come to see their pets as members of the family. Pet-care jobs will keep pace with this trend. Pet-sitting is just one of the many careers you can choose if you’re an animal-lover. In addition to being able to spend time with cute pets, some other benefits of pet-related jobs include being able to create your own schedule and work your own hours; many don’t require formal training or licensing (though Doggywalker.com requires training of its animal-lovers and is licensed). Dog walking is another great career: you spend a lot of time outdoors getting exercise and fresh air, making a dog’s day, your clients are always happy to see you, and you get lots of affection for your efforts! But there are other interesting and lucrative careers featuring animals, such as: Pet grooming: This is a huge industry, and for good reason: just as humans need grooming, dental care, and the like, so do pets. Even pets with short hair need baths, nail trims, teeth-cleaning, and the rest. Long-haired and special breeds need a bit more to make sure mats don’t build up in their fur and to make them look nice. You can either work in a grooming salon, or you can operate your own mobile grooming service; special vans are outfitted with power, running water, and all sorts of cool gadgets, and can…
Whether you are a “cat person” or a “dog person”, this month we are spotlighting a group that every pet-friendly Alexandrian should know about. With June being adopt-a-cat month, we thought it was appropriate to spread the word about the great work being done by the Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART). This organization is near and dear to my heart, as I have been a volunteer, foster parent, and was lucky enough to adopt my dog through HART five years ago. I am honored and grateful to share with you the amazing and selfless work that is accomplished each day by HART and its loyal supporters. HART is a non-profit 501(c)(3) no-kill animal rescue and support group, which was incorporated in 1990, and is based out of Northern Virginia. This group of dedicated volunteers and staff take in and relocate abused and unwanted animals, working with local veterinarians, foster homes, kennels, and trainers to provide temporary housing and medical care until they are placed in a loving, carefully-screened new home. They seek to direct resources where they are most needed in animal welfare, and the volunteers of HART make it their mission to alleviate or prevent suffering wherever they find it. They take in older, sick, and injured animals as well as those who are ready to adopt. In addition to these services, HART also helps people who require assistance caring for their pets due to failing health, financial, or other personal circumstances. They also assist those who can no longer keep their pets by finding a responsible and loving new home for the animal. What sets HART apart from other rescue organizations and animal shelters? Meg Hart, who joined the HART community after adopting her dog in 2006, explains it best; “we love what we do and want to…