| Brookline Labrador Retriever Rescue Helping Labs Find Their Fur-Ever Homes |
| March 2006 |
families that want to adopt Brookline Labs. They ask them all kinds of questions about their lifestyle, dog experience, and what kind of
dog they're looking for. That's important to know so they can match them with a dog that will fit well in their family. We could go visit these
people and ask them if they would take us to the park and if they know how much to feed us. But they'd probably just pat us on the head
and say "What's up, pup? What are you trying to say?" I don't get it. How come everyone could understand Lassie, but they can't
understand us?? We're speaking the same language! Would they know what I was saying if I told them Timmy was trapped in a well?!
Sheesh. I guess people aren't as smart these days as they used to be. So we need to let them communicate with each other at their level.
Communication is a big part of what Brookline does. Not only do the volunteers meet the families that want to adopt, they also meet the
families that have to surrender their Lab. They ask all kinds of questions about the dog so they can give the adopting families as much
information as possible. They ask boring questions that we puppers wouldn't remember the answers to - like when we got our last
shots, what's our medical history, blah, blah, blah, YAWN. And they ask questions that, well, some dogs might not want to answer
honestly - like does he pee in the house or chew on the furniture? Hee-hee. They have to be able to tell the adopting families all this stuff
so they know what they're in for. People deal with things much better when they know what to expect. It's funny; humans don't seem to
care so much if you pee in the house if they knew ahead of time that you were going to pee in the house! Go figure. So, as you can see,
it's important for the humans to talk and get all that stuff figured out.
Another important thing the volunteers communicate to the families is the rules. My favorite rule is "Once a Brookline dog, always a
Brookline dog". Cool! That means if a family has to give up the Lab they adopted at any time - even five or six years later - the dog has to
go back to Brookline! Way Cool! No more shelters for these puppers! Phew! Do you know how good it feels to know that I'll never go to the
lock-up again, no matter what?! I'll bet every dog that is dropped off at the big-house tries to tell his people "No, this isn't right! I don't want
to go here! Find a rescue group!"…but the family just doesn't understand him. Bummer. Yep, communication is key and we need those
human volunteers to get those important messages across!
I guess there are some other reasons we need human volunteers around, but I can't think of any right now. Hee-hee! Anyway, I think
communication is the biggest reason. And the ladies and gents of Brookline are pretty darn good at that! They may not have my way with
words….but then again, I am the Great Sparkdini! That's a lot for any human to try to live up to!
Thanks for your question, Ariel. Anyone else have a question? Drop me a line at AskSparky@verizon.net.
Hugs and Sloppy Kisses,
Sparky
dog they're looking for. That's important to know so they can match them with a dog that will fit well in their family. We could go visit these
people and ask them if they would take us to the park and if they know how much to feed us. But they'd probably just pat us on the head
and say "What's up, pup? What are you trying to say?" I don't get it. How come everyone could understand Lassie, but they can't
understand us?? We're speaking the same language! Would they know what I was saying if I told them Timmy was trapped in a well?!
Sheesh. I guess people aren't as smart these days as they used to be. So we need to let them communicate with each other at their level.
Communication is a big part of what Brookline does. Not only do the volunteers meet the families that want to adopt, they also meet the
families that have to surrender their Lab. They ask all kinds of questions about the dog so they can give the adopting families as much
information as possible. They ask boring questions that we puppers wouldn't remember the answers to - like when we got our last
shots, what's our medical history, blah, blah, blah, YAWN. And they ask questions that, well, some dogs might not want to answer
honestly - like does he pee in the house or chew on the furniture? Hee-hee. They have to be able to tell the adopting families all this stuff
so they know what they're in for. People deal with things much better when they know what to expect. It's funny; humans don't seem to
care so much if you pee in the house if they knew ahead of time that you were going to pee in the house! Go figure. So, as you can see,
it's important for the humans to talk and get all that stuff figured out.
Another important thing the volunteers communicate to the families is the rules. My favorite rule is "Once a Brookline dog, always a
Brookline dog". Cool! That means if a family has to give up the Lab they adopted at any time - even five or six years later - the dog has to
go back to Brookline! Way Cool! No more shelters for these puppers! Phew! Do you know how good it feels to know that I'll never go to the
lock-up again, no matter what?! I'll bet every dog that is dropped off at the big-house tries to tell his people "No, this isn't right! I don't want
to go here! Find a rescue group!"…but the family just doesn't understand him. Bummer. Yep, communication is key and we need those
human volunteers to get those important messages across!
I guess there are some other reasons we need human volunteers around, but I can't think of any right now. Hee-hee! Anyway, I think
communication is the biggest reason. And the ladies and gents of Brookline are pretty darn good at that! They may not have my way with
words….but then again, I am the Great Sparkdini! That's a lot for any human to try to live up to!
Thanks for your question, Ariel. Anyone else have a question? Drop me a line at AskSparky@verizon.net.
Hugs and Sloppy Kisses,
Sparky
Hi Ariel,
That's a very interesting question! You would think that we Labs could handle everything
on our own. After all, we are really smart (and really good-looking) dogs! It's obvious that
we're way smarter than people are. Think about it. We can understand everything they say
to us (and we're smart enough to ignore them when the situation calls for it!). But how
many times have you looked at your person and said "I'm hungry. Could I please have a
snack?" or "Hey, it looks like a nice day. Let's go out and play ball!"…..and they look at you
like you're speaking some foreign language and tell you to hush?! Silly people! But, since
they ALL seem to have the same language problems, we sort of need them to
communicate with each other.
See one of the important jobs the Brookline volunteers have is going out and meeting the
That's a very interesting question! You would think that we Labs could handle everything
on our own. After all, we are really smart (and really good-looking) dogs! It's obvious that
we're way smarter than people are. Think about it. We can understand everything they say
to us (and we're smart enough to ignore them when the situation calls for it!). But how
many times have you looked at your person and said "I'm hungry. Could I please have a
snack?" or "Hey, it looks like a nice day. Let's go out and play ball!"…..and they look at you
like you're speaking some foreign language and tell you to hush?! Silly people! But, since
they ALL seem to have the same language problems, we sort of need them to
communicate with each other.
See one of the important jobs the Brookline volunteers have is going out and meeting the
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
See Sparky's Other Columns:
Dear Sparky,
Why does Brookline need human volunteers? Can't they use labs like us to help save other labs?
Your Secret Admirer,
Ariel
Why does Brookline need human volunteers? Can't they use labs like us to help save other labs?
Your Secret Admirer,
Ariel