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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-08-05, Page 7Godench Signal -Star, Wednesday, August 5, 2009 - Page 7 • • Sallows summer program gets creativity flowing To the Editor; On behalf of the Huron Perth Children's Aid Society, I would like to congratulate the Board of Directors of the Sallows Gallery for implementing a creative and innovative summer pro- gram for children in Goderich. Our agency runs our own day camp, Camp Marafiki, for children through- out the two counties who would not otherwise be able to attend a camp program. Children are transported by Letters opinion summer staff to a central location. During the month of July the program is situated in Goderich. While in Goderich the campers had the opportunity to attend the programs at the Sallows Gallery. The children greatly enjoyed the program and our camp staff highly praised both the pro- gram and the staff. Some highlights for the different age groups included: Tapes support local animals To the Editor; First, I would like to thank Zehrs Food Plus for allowing us to have a box at their store for the collection of tapes. Unfortunately so many organi- zations requested boxes that they decided to discontinue the store col- lection so that all charities will be treated fairly. Secondly, I would like to thank all the people who supported us by leav- ing their tapes at Zehrs and hope you will continue to support the OSPCA (Humane Society) by taking your tapes to the store at 48 East St. (across from the post office). We rely on your support to help us care for all the ani- mals in our care. Thanks a million! Barb Howe OSPCA volunteer Scavenger Hunts to find items in dis- played photos; drama games; art activ- ities; educational sessions about pho- tography and the opportunity to create and develop their own picture/photo and creating their own necklaces out of natural materials. The students employed in the Sallows Program, Jen Armour and Sarah Little are to be commended on their creativ- ity, patience and kindness to the Camp Marafiki participants who attended this program. A special thank you as well to Board of the Sallows Gallery and the Goderich Library where the gallery is located. Sincerely, Tom Knight Executive Director Huron -Perth Children's Aid Society Submissions to Letter to the Editor must include full name, address and phone number of sender for verification purposes. Letters should be 500 words or less and The Signal -Star reserves the right to edit for length and clarity. Address letters to:'Y, Goderich SignalL-Star, Box 220, I2fl to S b erl 7A A little advice for Michelle Obama and the First Dog Hello Michelle. Love the doo. So it's been almost four months since the first family adopted Bo, that cute little Portuguese water dog and by now you know why they call him a "water dog." A better name might have been "Puddles." $y now the staff have a pool going . on who trips over him the most, the secret service are on full alert from all the motion detectors he sets off and the kids think "poop duty" is gross. Oh and your husband? He claims he's too busy to walk the dog because at the moment he's trying to stop North Korea and Iran from blowing up the world, trying to bring 150,000 troops home from Iraq, get a peace deal going between the Israelis and the Palestinians before they kill each other and set up a nation- al health care plan for 300 million Americans. MEN! So it's you and Bo in the battle for the White House and the cuddly little bundle of wiry hair and webbed feet is so far winning by a landslide. Michelle, I'm here to help. I have 30 years experience dealing with pets who believed they were smarter than me, the result of which- is a definitive book on how to maintain complete control of your home while relegating the status of the dog to ... wait for it ... a pet. The book is called The Dog Rules. It's a `tough love' training manual for mutts. First and foremost Bo must not be allowed inside the White House which is reserved for the first family and staff. Bo should live in a doghouse, Or okay, a dog White House attached to the main house, preferably in the Rose Garden. Bo is to be allowed temporary access to the White House only if it's really cold outside, really hot outside or his birth- day. At no other time — "oh, look how cute he is when he rolls on his back to have his tummy scratched" — okay, really dark outside. Michelle, forget that rule and concentrate on what I call "canine control management." Bo is never to jump up on the furniture, that's simply unhygienic. I know, that photo of Bo in the lap of the president in the Oval Office is just so sweet and ... okay. Bo can jump up on the old furniture but not the new furni- ture. Yes, I realize the girls have slee- povers so ... okay, Bo can jump up on the new furniture until it looks like the old furniture and then you can sell all the furniture and that dog house that's never been used in a great big White House lawn sale. Along with several hundred dollars worth of empty beer bottles, left behind by those wacky Bush girls. Okay Michelle, here's where you drop the hammer on freewheeling Bo. I know the president has forbidden Bo from the bed you share and let me say, as a bit of an expert in pet behavior, your husband is absolutely right. In fact, that dog should not even be allowed anywhere near your bedroom. All the World's A Circus... Unless there's a thunder and lightening st"rm which real- ly freaks uogs out. Then, and only then, I would sug- gest Bo be allowed to sleep at the foot of his bed as long as he stays on his blanket. Bo should never be allowed to sleep beside you like another human being. That's just creepy. Okay, let's say the dog experiences a nightmare. Then he's allowed to sleep beside you like another human being ... but not under the covers. Okay, the White House being notori- ously damp and draughty, Bo is allowed to sleep beside you like another human being and under the covers ... but he's not to put his head on the pillow. Michelle, if you take nothing away from this lesson in pet proofing the White House remember this next rule. Bo can sleep beside you like another human being, under the covers with his head on the pillow, he can fart and snore and have nightmares every night but he is not, I repeat, not to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom where you and the president now have to sleep. That's just unfair. The rule of real dog lovers? After some basic training, just let him to his thing. If you're not going to spoil him, why adopt him in the first place. The fact of the matter is — Bo was born to rule the White House and he • will. Watch and learn. It's not that he's smarter than you, it's just that he's way, way more focused. The minute he heard the president ban him from sleeping in the bed, that became his goal in life. And he knows instinctively that the path to the foot of your bed does not go up the private elevator to your second floor living quarters. The path to the bed and the back seat of the presidential limo and the presidential logo on the carpet of the Oval Office goes directly through your heart. And by now, four months in, he's pretty much within striking distance of those three presidential tar- gets. In his eyes, the quilt on the bed with presidential seal reads: "Mission Accomplished." Trust me, the battle between you and Bo for control of the White House is one which will give you great joy to lose. Thirteen years ago I sat my dog Jake down and gave him the "No, no, bad dog lecture" in every room of the house. Now, almost every night I trip over the ramp that helps him climb into my bed and after. I curse, I remember how blessed I am. Good luck Michelle. I hope you and the family have a long and wonderful life with Bo. And if somehow he man- ages to bite Dick Cheney in the ass, then I think the whole world can rejoice in your good fortune.