Published: November 15, 2007 05:39 pm      

MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY: Righting wrongs

Henrietta, the amazing wonder poodle has been feeling left out as she hasn’t made too many appearances in this column lately, so to placate her and protect my valuables from being chewed, here are her latest antics.

Now that winter is setting in, I am able to pull out her extensive wardrobe of sweaters, jackets, windbreakers and T-shirts. She has outgrown a couple of items since last year (I guess that means a trip to the doggy shopping center!). Anyway, last week I pulled out her bag of clothes, tried them on her and then put them away because they really weren’t necessary yet.

The other day we were eating dinner and she was sitting behind my chair whining at the corner. Now her whining could mean any number of things but it typically involves me crawling around on all fours searching out a lost toy. This time, there was no toy — I pulled out all of the stuff in the corner, dug through my purse and couldn’t find anything that looked toy-like. Then I grabbed her bag of clothes and she went crazy, hopping around like a jumping bean. Apparently she wanted to don some of her clothes.

I chose the mint green cable knit sweater that I had bought her the last time she went in for a bath and haircut. She sat so patiently waiting while I figured out where the headhole was compared to the legholes. I plopped her over onto her back and stuffed her various body parts into the proper openings and once she was done, she raced around the house. I am assuming she was showing off to the other animals and probably mentally taunting them with, “Hey, I have new clothes and you don’t.” I could be wrong, but I assume they are like children just without the verbal na-na-nas.

Because we were in the house and the sweater was unnecessary I took it off. She struggled in vain to keep it on, tugging at it with her teeth when I pulled it over her head. She was persistent, but I eventually emerged victorious. I put the clothes back into the bag and put them into the closet where she wouldn’t be taunted by them if she wasn’t going to get to wear them.

On Sunday, though she proudly donned her pink heart-designed quilted jacket with its pink fur collar. She pranced through the cemetery, burrowing in the leaves, the pink of her jacket glaring its neon color. Again, it was a struggle to get her to give it up once we got home, but she did. Now, though because of all of the rain and her aversion to wet paws I am considering buying her puppy booties. I know the family will think I am insane, but it won’t be the first time. I just wonder if she would wear them? Guess the only way to find out is to make the purchase ... wish me luck!

Former Journal-Register staffer Robbi Hess is a writer who lives in Albion. She welcomes comments and can be reached at proedge@rochester.rr.com.