FEBRUARY 2013- CHICAGO, IL
I am the first to admit that I love my dog. She is
absolutely, without a doubt a member of my family. Does that mean that I would typically
consider shelling out $25 a day for her to be entertained while I am at work?
Never. But when the plumbing goes out and my sink has to be repaired, I turn to
doggy day camp to keep Gabby out of the way for a day. Researching
day camp options in my area, I stumble across a place that is accepting new dogs.
Believe me, not all facilities are.
I call the camp, and they ask me to bring Gabby for a meet
and greet, to see if she’ll fit in. Strange, I think, but I agree. Gabby and I
arrive at the facility and are greeted by Bruce, one of the camp counselors.
“Who do we have here?” he asks Gabby, as if she has walked
in on her own. He bends down enthusiastically to shake her paw.
“This is Gabby,” I respond. “We’re here for her temperament test.”
“Well, well, Gabby, it is certainly nice to meet you,” he
smiles, still speaking directly to Gabby. “Would you like to meet some of your
fellow campers?”
Bruce takes Gabby to one of the play rooms, and I wait in
the front of the store. On the wall, I notice a large bulletin board with
pictures of some of the camp’s events. The board is decorated with dogs dressed
as leprechauns, cupids, and pilgrims. The middle of the board is split into two
sections; both labeled “Winter Party”. The dogs in this area are either dressed
in Santa hats and reindeer ears, or as a menorah and dreidel. I later learn this costume is decided
according to each pet parent’s preference. To the right of the party pics is an
arched banner that reads “Welcome New Campers” with a picture of the dogs that
are new to the camp. Each of the dogs sits calmly in front of the kind
of background you would expect to see in an Olan Mills family portrait. How well behaved. I think.
Bruce and Gabby return from the back.
“Well, it’s just as I’d expect,” he reports, still looking
at Gabby. “You’re a typical Boxer, alright!”
“She did great,” he says, now smiling at me. “She’s very
energetic, but she seems to play well with the other dogs. I think she’ll be a
great addition to the camp.”
“So we’re in?” I ask, baffled by my momentary excitement.
“You’re in!”
Gabby returns to camp the next day, and I head to work.
Sometime around noon, my phone rings.
“Hi Trisha, this is Bruce, Gabby’s camp counselor.” Uh, oh,
this cannot be good.
“I wanted to let you know that Gabby seems to have been
involved in a little scuffle, and has a small bite on her cheek from another
dog. She is doing okay, but as her counselor I need to bring you in the loop.
We’re taking her out of the play area for some individual attention. If she does
okay, I’ll put her back with the group.”
I tell Bruce not to worry, but to
let me know if anything changes with her condition. Later that evening, I return
to camp. Bruce and I sit down for a de-brief. Feeling very much like a
parent who is called into a teacher conference, I try to muster up my most serious
and concerned face for the ridiculous meeting.
Bruce tells me all about Gabby’s
day at camp, and brings along another counselor armed with Gabby’s report card.
Are these people serious? I think.
 |
| Gabby's Report Card |
I look down at the hand-written card,
holding back a smirk. The top of the page has been colored by the other counselor. In the middle
of the page, just below the portion that lists all of her "best friends", is a check-list that details her day.
Today at camp I:
-Was a happy camper…. Check.
-Was a little devil…. Check.
-Had a ton of energy…. Check.
-Chewed up a delicious toy….
Check.
-Wrestled with my friends….
Check.
-Got some rest…. No Check.
Completely blank (big surprise).
-Was very talkative…. Check
again.
-Enjoyed myself, but missed
you!.... Check.
Below the list is a small section
for comments. The counselor’s notes almost trail off the page. She informs me that Gabby is “well on her way to figuring out what is
appropriate and what is not”. Our meeting comes to an end, and the counselors
encourage me to continue bringing Gabby to camp.
“She had a lot of fun, and we’d
really like to see her again soon. We both think that with more socialization,
she’ll be a shining star at camp!”Gabby and I walk to the door, and Bruce hands
me one last parting gift: Gabby’s new camper picture. The one that will be placed
among the other “shining stars”.
 |
| Welcome New Campers |
Is my dog patiently posing in front of the
professional background like the other new campers? No. Is she sitting down? No. Is
she staying still? No. In a perfectly Gabby moment, she is standing just inches
from the camera lens eyes glowing and mouth wide open. I cannot
look at this picture without laughing. She may not be the most
straight-and-narrow kid on the block, but I can tell you one thing: this pooch will
always be my shining star.
