The Sasha Gang That Couldn’t Bark Straight at Sasha's Doggy Daycare
Sasha's Doggy Daycare
Although we’re nearly finished with the month of November, at Sasha's Doggy Daycare we understand the special need for National Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month. A time to celebrate older dogs and remind us how special they are. Sadly, senior dogs often the longest in shelters. Many watch as younger dogs are adopted before them. Currently in North America, there are multitudes of senior dogs hoping for a forever home. Start with the Good Dog Rescue to launch your search.
Adoption rates for senior dogs are much lower than for puppies. Many people overlook them simply because of age. But older dogs have so much love to give. Most are already trained, calm, and ready to be loyal companions from day one. Adopting a senior dog can be one of the most rewarding decisions you’ll ever make. They are grateful for care, easy to settle in, and often form deep, lasting bonds with their families
This is Dan and my assistant Gracie checking in:
Now that we’ve been curating these precious creatures for nearly six years, I know I’ve become sensitized to the plight of older dogs. While I suspect the demographics of our canine base at Sasha’s skews young, we’ve still lost a few elderly and furry souls to old age, which I acknowledge intellectually will eventually transport us all across that great divide--it still dampens my spirit. Other than for the unconditional love I can tap into every day.
And I’ll just mention here (since I threw in this photo) that when home I’m casually known as the squirrel whisperer since I’ve been called upon a few times to champion the health of baby squirrels that have fallen to the ground from their tree-based nests. They too are great creatures though known to naïvely chew through my internet wiring when housed inside.
Massimo
But what was important was Massimo seemed to take an instant liking to me. That was both a blessing and a curse. I didn’t know it at the time but he was nearly 18 years old! A spectacular feat when the average canine lifespan is only a dozen or so years (among the larger breeds). Unaware of his age at the time, I simply assumed he was simply a slower, more patient breed. So thought nothing of it every time he climbed our indoor stairs to Sasha’s boarding section of the building. But once I learned of his age, I was quite concerned about him overburdening himself.
On occasion, I attempted sneaking up the stairs while he was downstairs asleep, but he possessed this MASH-type radar that seldom failed him. Although I most disliked when he burdened his senior frame, it was a mission borne from an intrinsic reservoir of unconditional love. I couldn’t deny him. It was a sad day when his mom tearily explained she was taking him down to Marymoor Park one last time to bid farewell to his dog buddies that he visited with nearly every day. Massimo was our first honoree in our photograph hall of fame that showcases our friends over the years. (This is a pic of Massimo’s last day with me.)
Sasha’s Cast of Characters
When we opened Sasha’s in November 2019, I was still spending all my nights at home with Finnegan (our family golden doodle) and Rogue (our family German Shepherd, who was the size of a mountain lion, and was also Sasha’s half-sister) and of course, my sweet RN wife and partner in canines, Ky.
We LOVED those dogs dearly (and still do). But once we opened shop, we soon realized that falling in love with these new creatures might help us in our grieving. It was an emotional balm, soothing our inner wounds since we lost both Finnegan and Rogue to malignancies later in the year. It was succor for the soul to be surrounded by the love and antics of our new and sometimes unpredictable furry friends. When I find myself alone at Sasha’s, especially at night, I experience a sublime, nearly haunting state of being. As if I’m surrounded in a room of warm-blooded dogs, coalescing as invisible apparitions that touch, bump and take out my legs--though with compassion--all without the fleas or perpetual shedding.
So confession time. I fancy myself an author. Have since eighth grade. Not a belief apparently shared by most of the English-speaking world! But nonetheless I continue. Have one tome self-published and the other six collecting dust in my agent’s slush pile. But I perpetually live by the axiom:
Never forget the magic of making s**t up!
Please commit that phrase to heart since it will be at the foundation of Sasha’s soon-to-be world-famous blog. Hopefully, this tenet will better enable you to temporarily suspend your disbelief since much of what I will share is likely to be a hybrid of half-truths and imaginary horsefeathers. Only time will tell. But hey, isn’t that what life’s all about? Blending new colors into an otherwise drab palette existence. Sometimes I wish I could rewrite the predictable monochrome endings to so many movies. Not only would they be more entertaining, but I respectfully submit far more engaging as well. And I love theatre popcorn with real butter!
Ergo, some of the basic assumptions I integrate into my Sasha blog storytelling:
· Ninety-nine percent of all dogs talk with each other and most also attempt to communicate with their humans (i.e. via bark or paw or even a snarl) but often without human comprehension. Some are even known to communicate with trees, spirits and other animals.
· I have received a cosmic gift that allows me to actually hear my dogs (Sasha’s Gang) speak in English and full sentences and I can respond to them. As you can imagine, this makes my job as Sasha’s curator and author of Sasha’s Blog a bit easier. Or it should!
· Though not a religious person, I would classify all dogs as God’s children.
· Dogs possess genuine intellect, emotions, plans, desires, dislikes, love, compassion and a sense of fairness (most the time).
· Sasha herself has returned (in spirit at minimum) to Sasha’s Pet Resort to lead her gang in further exploits we hope leave you hankering for more
Having said all that, I’d like to introduce you to the cast of characters who will join us each week for more Sasha’s adventures:
Sasha Girl--(German Shepherd) (F)
My first German Shepherd whose brothers and sisters were all destined to work as four-legged agents for the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency). They were bred and raised by a very bright wound care doctor in Klamath Falls, Oregon. For some reason Sasha didn’t make the DEA cut. But Sasha soon embedded herself in my heart. Especially after I laid with her many days at the vet’s following her spinal surgery. And when I’d go out to our wetlands to hit golf balls, she always accompanied me for protection against bear and other furry intruders. She religiously took her lookout in a hollowed-out tree stump where she could keep an eye on me while she dozed lightly. My heart still aches for her.
Mama Cass--the Rottweiler (F)
Sasha’s Resort matriarch. Gentle as a butterfly though she resembles a terrorist. Brown & black. Raised a brood of kittens. Worships a dog deity which can cause disputes with other dog sects. Breaks up fights and is the peacekeeper/enforcer at Sasha’s.
Mark Spitz-- the Golden Retriever (M)
Loves water, thus his name. Worships Marymoor Park and swimming in Lake Sammamish. Hears Sasha’s name and starts twitching in drooling anticipation. Loves it here. Energizer bunny in terms of metabolism. Some think he is a Great Pyrenees, but his hair is curlier and he’s just a wee bit smaller.
Bambi--Foxhound Mix (F)
She was a rescue and treated horribly. Thus, is very internal and still recovering with her owner who worships the ground she pees on. She joins us at Sasha’s five days a week as she lives across the street in the condos. She is a true cuddler with the right people. Frail, tawny, resembling a small deer with a smiling face. Though she also has a quick growl when other dogs invade her sacred territory upon the wrangler’s bed.
Socrates--Chow Chow Mix (F)
Coal black and soft as a cotton field. She’s a rescue who was treated very poorly as a pup. Introverted and not real social with other dogs. Speaks in quotes or axioms. Is unsure of other dogs and ignores whenever possible. But if she’s your friend, it’s for life! Thus, is very internal and still recovering with her owner who worships the ground she walks on.
Hoss-- the Great Pyrenees (M)
Resembles a polar bear. Humongous and alabaster, weighing in at over 120 pounds. Brown eyes the size of a bovine’s. The only great Pyrenees we’ve ever housed that doesn’t have the perpetual muddy mouth fueled by constant drool. Eats one hard-boiled egg each morning. Stubborn as a mule. If you take him out for a potty break he may take that as an invitation to sunbathe and homestead our parking lot, ignoring pleas and leashes to come back inside. He loves to have his head massaged.
Eisenhower—Blue Healer Mix (M)
A military brat who was left behind when army family was transferred to Japan and dogs0.875rem;"> weren’t allowed to follow. Portly dog with the splotches of a blue healer. He follows me everywhere. When boarding I revise his diet to half kibbles and half raw pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix).As a result he lost five pounds though I don’t believe his daddy continues this menu at home.
Madden--Black Lab (M)
Detests flying. Agile and lightening quick but like a bull in a China shop. Can rip your arm out of its socket. In fact, had to let a wrangler go since she was going to sue Madden’s owner for injuries to her shoulder. Watches football over basketball and baseball. Is a most difficult dog to calm down. She rips down our barriers and fences.
About Home for Good Dog Rescue
Home for Good Dog Rescue (HFGDR) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Berkeley Heights, NJ. They rescue dogs from high-kill shelters in the South, transport them to their rescue facility, and give them a second chance at life. As a uniquely 100-percent foster-based rescue, they place each dog into a loving foster home until adoption, and since their inception, they have rescued over 12,000 dogs and given them loving homes for good Visit https://homeforgooddogs.org/our-story
About Sasha’s Pet Resort
Sasha’s Pet Resort, a well-established name in the Pacific Northwest’s pet care industry, is embarking on an exciting new chapter designed to build resilience and foster growth in an evolving marketplace. Recognizing the shifting landscape of pet ownership and business operations post-pandemic, the company is evolving an ambitious e-commerce platform that promises to bring the latest innovations in pet care directly to industry professionals.
For more information visit store.sashaspr.com or email danm@sashaspr.com
About Dan
Founder of Sasha’s Pet Resort and an occasional pilot, golfer, writer/author, sports fan, Peruvian jungle lodge owner/proprietor, husband, father, squirrel whisperer, long-time resident of the Pacific Northwest and flaming liberal. To read more of Sasha’s blogs please click here.
Watch for the next edition of Sasha’s Blog at https://store.sashaspr.com/blogs/news
Best,
Dan