HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

A little over a year ago and a half ago, I wrote about a man named Al.   By reader request, I am reprinting the story here.  Unfortunately, due to upheaval in my own life, I lost track of Al and most likely will never see him again.  If you see someone like him in your town, lend an ear.  Maybe there is something you can do to help them, in honor of Al.

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I have a story to tell. In fact, it is not really a “story” at all, but something going on in “real life.” Since I frequently discuss charitable causes, and am pretty reflexive with the knowledge of different programs, you would think that the answer would be obvious to me, but it just isn’t.

Without further delay, on with the story:

The whole story started one day when I was sitting at a table outside of one of the local eateries. Al was a striking figure, not because he was particularly handsome, but because his appearance just struck you. He carried several rigged up clear pouches around his waist containing a few all purpose spices and hand wipes. He wore a few layers of ringer t shirts and a pair of sweatpants. Underneath the shirts, he had some sort of rayon or polyester shirt or garment that came out over his hips. From the distance, it looked like he was wearing a skirt, but it really had sleeves and was tied around his waist. On his feet, are dollar store flip flops.

When you talk to Al, it was clear that he was a kind man who seems like an interesting man who has really lived and done some interesting things in his life, and had a depth of knowledge that you knew that he actually did them, no matter how peculiar it seemed. There was always a deal breaker, however, that after thirty minutes or an hour into his tales, you would hear something that would make some people walk away in disbelief as something didn’t add up.

One day, many years ago, Al decided that he had a calling to travel. He hitchhiked his way across the United States well passed the days when it was something considered safe. He didn’t always hitchhike, sometimes he took a bus, or found someone that he preplanned to travel with for a distance. Either way, he made it to just about every state. He survived in Hawaii by eating peanut M&M’s because the food prices were high, and besides, that was all the protein you need, so he said. He talked about his daughters. He has six of them.

I saw him in a parking lot one day, trimming the bushes, and a friend of mine asked if he could use a meal. I admit there was a little trepidation on all of our parts. Al didn’t know what hit him. We learned a little more about Al. He didn’t see his family because he was “on a mission” that they didn’t understand and hasn’t spoken to them in years. Not sure quite what that mission is about, but he says it is about walking around and talking to people.

We couldn’t decide if he was really a down and out person or was he eccentric, as he did rent a small place nearby. Apparently, he just parked his “stuff” there. He collected things he could “use” like recyclable cans and old boxes, for I know not what. In addition to the tiny efficiency, he had a storage unit as well. Yet, he carries around a mattress. What doesn’t add up is that we definitely know he keeps his things somewhere, and also he keeps talking about his mission and that he has been traveling around constantly for the past twenty years, but yet has said he has lived in our town for at least five.

Part of me wants to talk to the VA and see if there is anything they can do for him, even though he says he went there for a procedure so “they must know about him.” Part of me says that if I am noticing his situation, then that someone who has to do something is me. That half wants to contact his daughter. I know her first name, and the major city she lives in. I want to put an ad on craigslist in hopes of someone knowing her, and to tell her that her father is here, and that he needs some help. Maybe, perhaps, she knows full well where he is and good riddance, rather than what I imagine her thinking. My uncle was also a VietNam Vet. Actually, I never met him. He died before I was born, and didn’t last the year after coming home due to scars in his heart from coming home spit at. That is why I think I have a heart to help vets who don’t seem whole.

For now, there has been no adopted a stray dog, or a child, but a VietNam Vet. We are watching out for him and are looking for him every time we are out and about, and we try to just talk to him to brighten his day and see if there is anything he needs. Somehow, he is provided for. He talks about a lady at the grocery store who will give him sometimes a can of something that had been dented, etcetera. Whatever he gets he just loads it with the spices that he carries with him to make it palatable if it is not something you would normally eat plain.

We have not seen Al in a few weeks, and wonder how he has been doing with the weather. There is no way to call him, as he doesn’t have a phone.  As soon as I can get behind the wheel to drive that far, we’ll ask around about him.

Definitely, it would be something O. Henry wrote about if it turned out he really was an eccentric zillionaire, as we are so broke but worried about the person who really has it all. But, when you think about it, with 6 daughters estranged, it would never be “all.”

Most of the time, I already know in my heart what to do if only if I will sit and listen (it usually is my first gut instinct), but I benefit from the wisdom of others when I am delving into new territory.

The end of the summer is coming soon, and another patriotic holiday is coming up.  Labor Day is not as significant as Independence Day, but sometimes individuals use it as the last opportunity of summer to adorn their boats and porches with flags.   There is common knowledge and some myths about how you should care for your flag.   I learned something new about the American flag at American-Flag.com. It is widely believed that if a flag touches the ground, it needs to be burned out of respect.  This isn’t true. According to the site:

Despite the common myth, flags that touch the ground do not need to be destroyed. If your flag does touch the ground, and it gets dirty, simply wash it. Allowing a flag to touch the ground is disrespectful to the flag, but of course accidents do happen. Just try to prevent it from happening again.

While cleanliness is something not everyone is clear about, it is common knowledge that when an American flag is tattered beyond repair, it should be retired.  The most common method is respectfully burning it.  In fact, the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts, and The American Legion all take flags and perform a flag retirement ceremony.  However, the exception is for nylon flags.  When nylon is burned, it can let off a toxic gas.  When you turn in a nylon flag, please mark it “recycle,” and they will recycle it or bury it in a box.

Every time I look at getting a flag, I am very disheartened to see a Made In China sticker on it.  Granted, I find that the smaller the flag, the more likely it is made in a foreign land, but it really is the principle of the thing.  Finally I have that Valley Forge Flags are made in the good old USA. You may have to order them online versus find them at your local store, but it is worth it.  As far as POW Flags, you will find that the larger sizes are available from American manufacturers, you just need to keep a close eye when looking at the small ones.

Have a safe August, and Labor Day Weekend, no matter what your plans may be.

This is the one in a series addressing the top reasons why individuals give up a dog. Sometimes a dog is just behaving like a dog and it is us who are not fufilling our role as caretakers of our pets. There are little things we can do that make a big difference.

There are a lot of situations where a dog has bitten a repairperson, a landlord, or anyone else who could unexpected come into an apartment or home.

You might be expecting them, but your dog isn’t. Remember, to your dog this is like a “break in.” Sometimes, even if you are are present, the dog reacts very differently than if you were receiving a “guest”. Part of it may be your body language. Usually, even though you don’t feel threatened in any way, you are not 100% “at ease.” One also doesn’t go through the same ritual as when greeting someone known to you, so your dog might not get the “all safe” signal. Thirdly, the repair person, technician, or inspector might be walking into and touching areas of the house a regular guest wouldn’t…crawling on the floor, ducking behind a desk, etc.

What is often NOT talked about is not the danger that your dog can be to a person coming into your home, but also vice versa. Some dogs are less dominant and would kiss a burglar rather than defend your home, but they are still at risk. Some repair folks carry a can of dog spray, and do not let their hand stray from it. I am not saying ALL folks do but enough. If your dog went toward them quickly, even if it was in a friendly way, they could potentially squirt them and ask questions later. We had a repair person come recently, and even though I was holding a dog in my arms, he still had his finger on it. Sprays can cause great discomfort to a dogs eyes and nose and can potentially burn or blind in some cases.

There are several ways to avoid a potential situation, from preventing a normally well behaved dog from having to spend time at the pound on bite hold, to preventing a dog from harm from a spray can or a foot.

The first is, arrange for you or someone who knows the dog(s) well to be present during repairs. Otherwise, the apartment or home is off limits.

If you have an apartment, a landlord does NOT have the right to come in at any time without proper notice. Even if they are selling the building and bringing someone through to see it, they must tell you ahead of time. The exceptions are in the case of fire, roof leak, or other major safety situations. Being as it may, when you are not home it is best to get a baby gate and keep your pet restricted to a particular area of the apartment or home when you are not home.

Whether you own a home or rent, crate training is also an excellent idea. This way, when you are home with the dog, he/she feels “safe” when put inside his/her carrier or crate when an expected stranger comes to your home. Or when you are not home for a little while, your dog is protected from a potential situation.

Call to action:

Tell friends and family.
Send a link to this article to a friend or post a link on a bulletin board.
Print up a flier about the benefits of crate training and post it in your apartment building and vet office.