As many of you know, this trip is not just about playing with the animals. It's also about taking care of myself. The kitchen in my hotel room has been great at being able to fix healthy meals and I was able to find a yoga class that has sessions at the library and out at the Sanctuary. The fact that I feel that I have been spending hours in the gym speaks volumes to how badly I've needed the yoga.
Along those lines, today I took the opportunity to hike a trail at Angel's Landing before lunch. Not only were the views incredible but it ended at a labyrinth with prayer flags in the trees. If my sore muscles speak volumes about how much that I need yoga, the fact that I kept wondering things like 'how many more paths do I have to take to the end' and 'did I take the wrong path' speak volumes to how difficult it is for me to quiet my mind and just enjoy the moment. I mean really...it's a labyrinth for crying out loud. All paths led to the end and back out, all I had to do was follow them - no need to worry about it. It was a good experience. I was able to do some good work while I was in this beautiful place.
After the labyrinth I had lunch with Jana, another founder of Best Friends. We talked about the Albuquerque Community Cats Program (and about whether they will be able to continue now that Best Friends is pulling out their employees this year), about her experience as a founder, and about employee training and mentoring programs at Best Friends.
After lunch I spent another wonderful afternoon walking puppies. Can you believe no one signed up to volunteer with them! So I spent the day teaching the pups that the leash is not a bad thing and that walking can be fun. This included several encouragement sessions for a few of the younger ones.
After working with the pups, I picked up the handsome guy below for a sleep over. Bruno is a blue pit bull with some anxiety and separation issues. His 'home' is being remodeled so he is in temporary quarters and it makes him very nervous and stressed.
Bruno and I walked the same path I did this morning to burn off some of that nervous energy before we went to the hotel. He settled down very nicely - until we got into the car. Despite my encouragement, Bruno informed me that he prefers looking out the front window and eventually - despite my efforts - ended up sitting in the front seat. Thankfully he was well behaved in the front as my arm was getting sore from encouraging him to remain in the back.
Once we got to the hotel we had some anxiety, but I sat with him until he relaxed. I was warned he was a bed hog. Not sure where I'm sleeping tonight, but you can see he has relaxed.
Bruno has to be back at the crack of dawn tomorrow, so since I will be up I think I am going to do obedience work with the puppies at 8:15 and then see the tour of the Wild Friends area at 10:15 before I do my last shift at Dog Town. I already told them if no one volunteers, I will do the awful job of helping out with the puppies again. Someone has to do the hard work :-).
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