I have a guest today. This is my buddy Walker. Walker lives with me and makes a very fine pillow. Walker and I take turns with work days. Yesterday, Tuesday, was Walker’s turn to go to school in West. He doesn’t like to talk much. He mostly says it all with his tail. So I’m ghost writing for him.
About 8 TDI dogs showed up at West Elementary School Tuesday morning. They were all different kinds of dogs. As soon as they walked in the school the oohs and aahs began. The dogs each visited rooms for about 15 or 20 minutes. That makes for lots of petting!!! Walker got to show off some of his tricks and play some hide and go seek. (This is our favorite game where someone hides our toy and then helps us find it by telling us if we’re hot or cold.) (I can play this game all day! Walker gets tired of it pretty quickly.) He also got to read our book, Dog Loves Books. And all the kids sat around and petted and brushed. They asked all kinds of questions about Walker. Kids always want to know how old we are in “dog years”. I don’t ever understand this question. But the Mom Person tells them that they have to do math and that if they multiply our real age by 7 they will have an approximate dog age. So in one of the classes at West, they did more math and figured out that we dogs have a birthday every 52 days! Isn’t that something! If you would like to check into this issue further check this link.
After visiting the classes, all the dogs settled in at the school library. Then more kids came in to visit. This time the dogs got to stay in one place and the kids rotated around. More pets and brushing and reading and questions. Walker said some of the kids had lost their dogs after the explosion and were worried about how they would find them. I think that there are lots of folks working on this problem. I hope those kids and dogs find their way back to each other. That must have been a really scary thing for those dogs. And now they’re somewhere worrying about where their kids are. There sure are a lot of puzzles to be worked out in West.
Here are some links to websites that are helping in this lost pet puzzle.
https://www.facebook.com/westanimals
http://www.spca.org/
But for yesterday, West Elementary School seems to have been a pretty JOYful place!
This is a picture of Walker reading with a little girl at the Distribution Center on Sunday. It was taken by a photographer who has a studio in West. Lindsey was nice enough to share it with us. Her studio is called The Studio on Austin.
There has been a great outpouring of goodwill flooding into this small town. People are coming from far and wide to pitch in and help out in whatever way they can. West has a big heart and lots of courage. The town and its people are standing tall through this crisis. I’m glad that we have been able to help out in our own small way.
And since I don’t have a book to tell you about I’m going to leave you with a little uplifting music from Michael Kiwanuka —
What a perfect way to start my morning…reading about your wonderful, uplifting work! Thank you
Thank you for visiting Ms Muncil! I do love my job!
Great post, Rhythm. And nice work, Walker. Kids that miss their dogs must’ve felt good being able to touch fur and cuddle with your warmth. We love the song. Sometimes all you can do is believe! I believe all those dogs and families will be together and happy again soon. xoxo
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Isn’t that a great song?! We listen to it a lot here. I choose to believe that every one will find who they belong to and all will be well in the end. It’s nice to have smiling kids.
So wonderful, Rhythm. The kids are so fortunate to have you, Walker and all your friends to visit them.
Thanks Ms Livingston! We sure have a fun job!
Loved the post Rhythm. It is sad the so many kids are worried about what has happened to their pets. Being with you, Walker and the other dogs must be healing.
Thanks Ms Tilton! I hope that we have been some help. It’s fun to get kids smiling and laughing. I’m hoping all the pets and kids will be back together real soon.
Awh I do hope the dogs are reunited with the children, so sad. I love how many dogs got involved, so sweet of you all.
It’s a job. And it sure is a good one! Those dogs need their kids! I hope they get it all straightened out real soon.
Nice job Rhythm (and Walker too!)!!! *extra scratches and hugs*
Thanks Erik! That felt really nice!!
Rhythm,d9id a great job as ghost writer for Walker on your visit to West
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Thanks Nanny! Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly what he wants to say. He gets so emotional sometimes. But he sure did a good job with those kids in West!
What a wonderful post, Rhythm and Walker! I am so grateful that you are there helping out people in a great time of need. It’s really wonderful of you all.
Thanks! We LOVE our job!
Rhythm, you Walker, your momperson and all the other dogs and mom/dadpeople are doing such important work. Add my thank you to all the rest.
Thanks accepted! And thank you for the kind words. We just do our dog thing and try to bring some laughter to the world.
You and Walker are doing a great job (and I love that you wrote that Walker makes a great pillow!) 🙂
You all are so wonderful. What a loving way to bring support and calm back to the lives of those little people effected by a horrible event. Thank you for being so gracious. You can read to us anytime!
Thanks for the lovely words! Walker and I love our job. It’s the best a dog could have!
A little off topic… a huge THANK YOU for introducing me to Michael Kiwanuka. He is absolutely amazing!
I’m thrilled that I can spread his Joy! He is quite amazing, I agree.