It was children read to dogs day in the former banquet room of the historic Eagle Hotel. We had six children show up, just the right number, and three dogs, along with their owner Dave. The dog’s names were Bonnie, Bill and Duke. The first two were beagles and the third was a basset hound.

The children trickled in – I had no idea how many were going to show up. I gave up on keeping this as an organized event the minute the children and mothers (no fathers) appeared in the doorway. There are times in which you must just let what happens happen, and this was one of those times.

Cathy and her granddaughter

It was not an organized event in which the dogs sat quietly and the children read to rapt canines. The children sat, the dogs moved around, and in fact, one pulled a little girl around the room – I called him the roving reporter.

Dave talked about his having 25 dogs; says that they stay in the house at night but have a dog door so they can go outside if and when they choose. He said that when he brings a new dog in, he introduces them to the newcomer a few at a time, that is lets them sniff one another. He says because he has so many dogs this takes him much of the day.

He told us all he feeds his dogs pumpkin, out of the can and this helps with anal gland problems.

I do not know if Dave has any family members living with him – I will find out when I go to his place and meet his other dogs. I am thinking that maybe I will do this next Sunday. There is no danger of my bringing back a dog because Dave does not have puppies. Also, I feel more of an affinity with herding dogs. Gosh yes, I could easily have 21 of them, though this might be harder than dealing with Beagles. There’s just one way of finding out.

It was wise of me to have put out interactive material on the two back tables – I found some large sheets with illustrations of dogs as race car drivers – and Cathy, our artist in residence, her granddaughter Zooey, Blake (one of the child attendees), and the two high school volunteers, Lexi and Melissa, did some serious coloring, and I do mean serious.

Vicki, who is on the board also helped me set up for the event, as did Natalie, who used to be a volunteer, disappeared, and reappeared.

Oddly enough, no one stuck around to assist in cleaning up. It never happens. After, looking around, I was reminded that there is a lot of detail involved in doing what I do. I think that a few, when they are asked to give an assist, simply see what needs to be done as busy work.

I cleaned up, went to Uhaul and brought back some boxes of children’s books, then went distributing. Speaking of which, I spoke with Zack, the owner of Bleeding Heart about our doing a fundraiser in November. This is coming right up, so we shall see.

Next: 282. 10/19/25: A Day at Home