Autumn from a Dog’s Perspective
The click of a key in the lock of the front door breaks through my afternoon slumber. I smell the dried mud and school bus diesel before I even see my tiny humans. With a great commotion, several pairs of little running shoes clamber into the kitchen. They drop backpacks, scarves and homework behind them like autumn leaves.
Sticky hands pat my fur and I can’t help but to greet them with a kiss. I’ve spent all day awaiting their arrival (and a six-hour school day is forty-two hours in dog years, after all) but I take some comfort in the routine that the new school year brings.
I know that soon, it will be time for my big human to let me out in the backyard. I’ll sniff out the squirrel’s secret stashes and re-trace their zig zagging paths from throughout the day. Maybe if I’m lucky I’ll see a skunk; they love to explore this time of year, just like me!
Then, we’ll cook dinner as a family. My job is to clean up any crumbs that fall to the floor, but sometimes I’ll go the extra mile for my family and clean up the turkey carcass and corn cobs in the garbage too! Last autumn, I helped by eating the discarded fat trimmings. My big humans were so happy with me, they let me have a sleepover with my friends at the vet for a couple of days!
After dinner, my whole family will go for a walk. I can’t wait! The fallen leaves trap all the best scents. Under each one lays a special message left just for me. I’ll sniff and sniff until my brain is tired from all the information. This time of year can be a little spooky on walks, though. At the end of October, humans like to borrow other humans’ faces and go around ringing doorbells. Once, when I was just a puppy, I was so scared that I ran away from my family. Fortunately, my microchip helped me get home again.
Eventually, the cold, white, crunchy water will coat everything and I won’t get to go outside as much. But until then, I’ll enjoy all the adventures with my family that fall has to bring!
Dr. I. Wonder is here to answer your questions regarding your furry family members. If you have a question, email it to us at danielle@NeighbourhoodPetClinic.com. Our team at Neighbourhood Pet Clinic will tap into their collective experience to answer your various questions.
