A Pool For Lucy, And Giggles For Her Human

As of Sunday afternoon, the scum pond is officially closed! After locking my keys in the car and getting soaked in pouring down rain while loading 4 pieces of cut plywood into the trunk of my car- we have a permanant solution. (My car is just not meant for these kinds of projects!) I even covered the plywood with some of the decorative rocks floating around our garden to make it look a little appealing. But, the main point here is- there is no pond for Lucy to play in- no more dirty kitchen floor. No more ruined clothes, no more daily baths for the boxer baby!

I have been feeling extremely guilty over the erasure of the scum pond from Lucy's life. I'm not sure in all honesty that she really misses it, I just know that when she used to play in the back yard, she would submerse herself in that scummy, smelly, disgusting water to cool herself down and before yesterday, there was no where else for her to do that. I've been hosing her off when she's outside playing, but I don't think it's the same thing. (And as I mentioned, there is the issue of my guilt...)

So yesterday afternoon, I called around trying to find a kiddie pool for Lucy! It took 3 phone calls (and my getting very agitated over long hold times, and criminally long pre-recorded messages) but I finally found one.

As I have said before, I hate Petsmart- but that's where we found the pool, so that's where we had to go. I needed to return the Gentle Leader anyway, so I killed two birds with one stone.

Let me just say for the 2nd time- I am unimpressed with the staff at Petsmart. Clearly the people working there just needed a job, and aren't really that enamored by pets. How can you meet my little boxer and remain completely emotionless? It just doesn't make sense- unless you don't like pets!

We got the pool- and I was very happy that it even fit in my trunk without any pushing down of seats or squishing of the pool, which was a concern, and headed home to fill it up. Lucy kept looking at me like I had lost my mind.

"Are you sure yous know whats your doin, Ma?"

Of course, Lucy was a big help filling the pool, even though I don't think she had a lot of faith that I had the situation all under control. I couldn't wait to get it full and see what she would do. There was some initial hesitation, and the pool was filled for about an hour before Lucy put all 4 of her delicate little paws into the pool! I was starting to get concerned when I noticed that she only seemed interested in putting 2 paws in, and she was hesitant about that!

"Come on, Lucy! Entertain me!"

Once I tossed a ball into the pool, I had Lucy's undivided attention. For 10 minutes Lucy ran circles around the perimeter of the pool trying to get the ball out.

Finally, Lucy figured out that the only way she was going to get the ball was to get in the pool and pull it out. I had fun watching her get all wet!

" I gots da ball, Ma! Now what? Don'ts you tell me yous is gonna throw it back in der."

"My hooman is nutty! Looks at all dis stuff she threw in da pool! I's guess I better get it all out of here! You makes so much work for me, Ma!"

"I's guess da only option, is to sticks my entire head in here!"

"Okay, Ma! All da toys are out of da pool, I'm ready to be dried off!"