It's been MONTHS, but after three physical therapy sessions, doing the prescribed exercises, and two full prescriptions of anti-inflammatory medications, Bigun got to take me on a walk along the trails. It was such a gift. I just love watching that waving tail above those skinny little haunches as he examines every scent. I was afraid perhaps he would feel more exuberant than I was able to control with him off-lead, but he was the perfect gentleman. He would bound about twenty yards ahead, glance...

Today's pollen count was down, I felt better, and we'd bought pollen-filter masks yesterday, so I felt equipped to face the elements.

Big' and I "hit the trails!"

I unclip the lead as we get to the trail head, and pull the chuckit out from under my arm, and he starts bouncing, eye whites wide, tongue lolling, tail waggin' and hind feet springing. Pogo dog!

I LAUNCH the ball down the first trail and he's OFF like a blur. With my weak, wobbly...

Big' and I are here on the sun room floor, me with my back propped up by an ottoman, and him on his bed. For the next two weeks the vet says: "No walking, no active play, no stairs, no jumping up or down."

We ARE talking about Bigun the Wonder Dog, who leaps the flower beds with a grace that defies the leading ballet dancers, runs full tilt after bees, birds, and balls, and that's after clearing the stairs from the upper floor to the lower in seconds.

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It's Facebook for dogs -- be sure and check him out there. You can even pet him.

Bigun's dogbook page

She didn't last 24 hours. She would've been a great dog, if she and Bigun were not so territorial. They both wanted to play, but it seemed like each play session ended in growling, barking, and lunging. Each were building in intensity. The last DH had to bust it up by hitting them with dog bed cushion.

He said she was going back, and within the hour he was heading north to return her. I feel sad for everyone involved.

She came to us starved. We could plainly see her backbone,...