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My current dog :5 Sophie Clueless. As you might expect, she cum to me from my dau ter, Lisa, the veterinuian, who ecided, after we had to put Meggie down, (my much lovedsp pnnge: spanielwhowasold blind and had had I woke), that! needed a dog in m life. Wouldn't you know it, she d 'ust such a rescued beagle in he: 0 cc. Sophie is very sweet, very lov- ing and at first, looking into those liquid brown eyes. it is bud to tell that there is a big open space behind themJustlikesomepeo le,aheis 535 (Sweet But Stupid). have had dogs all my life, but Sophie is far and away the dumbest. However, there are some com- pensating factors, the first being that when I leave the house it doesn' t matter whether it is for an hour or for 10 minutes, she wel- comes me back like I am the mes- siah. Leaping, running howling, she bolts from room to room in her joy. sliding across floors and banging into furniture. Unlike my wife who might look up from whatever she IS doing and mumble, in a sort of dis- interested way, ‘Oh, you're back". I can hear her before I even come into the house (So hie not my wife). She has heal? the car door slam and the bowling starts. I call it howling but it is really bay- mg, a loud bloodcurdling sound that would wake the neighbours and probably the folks on the next block. Maybe I should mention that beagles like to talk. Unfortunately their version of talkingjs the sound By Ralph Pohlrmn BIRKETTâ€"HASSARD gtzsurance wingers 61'12217eo/ .Or on walks. Or whenth up an interesting scent (:3th always pick up an interesting scent). )Or when they’ ve been left at horne alone. Or for no discernible reason at all. like being appg0 with s nail clipper. hiealsolikesourbed, des ite 33:3 a perfectly comfortsbleog on the nearby by.floor She likes to 81¢take up that space between my wife and me but, unfortunately. she doesn’t sleep lengthwise, like we do. She sleeps crosswise using up most of the centre, crowding us to the sides and anchoring down the covers. She becomes what my Wife calls "a transverse beagle'. 1 Mt dewdbed- Ifiey manic this Bugle: II'C ton to train, even the smart ones. respond to edible treats, praise. and absolutely nothing else. (Actually. I'm a little like that myself.) Spealung' of treats. I! is best to keep edible items out of snatch- ing distance and put a lid on the kitchen trash can. Beagles love to eat and will supplement theu dtets (translation: steal food) at any op rtunitg'. e ten to take Sophie with us whenever we go out. That is because. if we leave her at home alone, she can't stand it. The place will be a disaster when we return. And, yes, we have tried putting her in a cage, but she poops in the cage and then gets it all over herself and the cage tray. 50 it is easier to take her with us. Hmm! I'm wondering who has trained whom? Sophie is not very brave. Nor have I ever seen her get angry or even growl. She is best at wagging her tail, which goes constantly, varying in speed according to whether she hears her name or there is the possi- bili of something to eat. She may be eeping up in our bedroom and I try to uietly open a cu board door to me a coolue‘ and s is bolting down the stairs, tail wagging, an looking at me with that pleading, 'Puleeeze' look. I don’t want to get too about her bathroom habits. but she hasherregular'lace'outtnthe d where she her business. ' becomes a problem when we travel. She will have been in the car most of the day, so, when we stop at a motel, we look for a grassy spot for her. The process takes for- ever. She mspects every green area, nearby and across the road. maybe around the corner. or over there Shelooluatmemdlcanseelt m her eyes, “Nope that‘s not my 3K2!” . not seem to undcmand t her's po't is a ut a thousand miles backpo In Canada. Speakmg of Canada, hi, it's mce to be homc‘ 59' ‘Ofi‘ev based on am vim entollmem. mlnlmum 1: mo. ul. mm. New munben only. Ndl wild with my o‘her ofiu. Vuud only It parfldpuflngjocuflam .1001 mm mum-Haul cums.com Over 10,000 locations worldwide 6306 Main Street, Stduffville Across from the clock tower 905'642'4392 Pucker up for world whistling record WhiStle Radio recentl announced that it would be hosting a uinness Book of World Records attempt to bring together from far and wide the largest ever gather- ‘ of whistlers. he Whistle-off will be held June 30 at the Strawberry Festival and will be led by Stouffville's own in terious super- hero, the ,Whisstler. The ' stler, break- ing years of seclusion. has announced that he will be hosting a series of preparatory pucker parties for anyone who would like to purse their lips for the big day. These one hour sessions will allow participants to practise their ensemble whistling and' become familiar with some of the tunes that will be used to set the record. ‘The Guinness people have given us a challe e,calling on a collective five min- utes o ewhistling to qualify," explained the Whisstlet, 'but I know the citizens of Whitchurch-Stouffville will not be daunted. We have the lungs, we have the tongues. we have the lips and we have the spirxt.’ The first pucker party, co-sponsored by the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library, Will be held at the libraiy on May 31 at 7:30 pm. Anyone who can whistle a simple tune is invited to attend and prac- tise their skills. Other packer parties will follow in June at times and places to be announced â€" stay tuned! The Whisstler‘will be there. Will you? Join Curves now and bring your dau ter for three months free. Work out ogether on our siren h-training and cardio circuit all wi the total support of our trainers. You'ii get a A-L_\ L- AL. _, _ 'tbtal body workbiif iri illâ€"s? 35’6 ‘ â€" minutes. And real results fast. Now that's quality Mother-Daughter time Thepowertoamzeyouxself.‘ for your daughter OR YOU and summer is JOIN NOW May 2007 0 11