[VotsUtegems]

...or "The Miracle at Pet Supplies Plus".

We have been working with Veronica on her dog reactivity. We have had success, but it's a work in progress: some days are better than others.

So when we heard that the Easter Bunny was coming to our local Pet Supplies Plus; we thought, "what a great training opportunity"! We did not have delusions of grandeur. We went thinking that all we may do is hang about outside the store and get some practice; if we are having a good day, we might venture in. We never actually planned on getting a picture with the Bunny.

We arrived early. I kept V. outside, working on focus and trying to help her relax vs. having a complete nervous breakdown from all the "excitement". She was doing OK; was able to sit at the door and wait for release, so we ventured in.

The first thing we saw was a Greyhound camped out, standing on a blanket right at the main entry way into the store. (Apparently, the owner was volunteering for the event). Veronica immediately let loose a barage of barking...so I pulled her to a corner and worked on focus and getting herself together. She pulled it together, but I was still doing some quiet obedience when the Greyhound owner called over; "Yoohoo, I have a firm hold on my dog, it's safe for you to walk her by". I can only assume she thought V. was a puppy; otherwise it was very sweet of her to reassure me that she was keeping my pit bull safe from from her greyhound.

Once we got into the main store; V. was beseiged by a couple of other volunteers who definitly thought she was a puppy. They gave her lovin', I explained our purpose in being there and reassured them that we planned to leave immediately if V. was disruptive. Their response was, "Pfffft! Barking. It's a dog thing."

Since everybody was cool and relaxed; I relaxed and V.'s initial barking was the only peep we heard out of her...until...cue omnious music...much later. V. did great. We put my husband in line just in case we got to stay long enough to get a picture; then V. and I cruised the store playing the "look at the dog game". V. was totally into it. At one point, despite my best efforts to be vigilent we did come down an aisle and turn just as a Golden retriever was coming down another aisle and turning...and they bonked noses...but not one peep out of V.

We decided to stand in line and V. sat about 1 foot away from a Bichon and minded her business. Now I will admit the treats were flying fast and furious...but my obnoxious loudmouth was blessedly quiet...that is until it was our turn for the picture.

I never considered the Bunny. We reached the front of the line, paid our money and I walked V. towards the bunny. The leash went taut, I tripped...V. was not walking towards the Bunny. The photographer looked at V., looked at me, looked at the immense line of people & dogs behind us. He was not a happy man.

"Who will be in the picture?", he asks.
"Just the dog", I say.
"Well, get her on the bench.", he responds.

I look back at V. She is looking at the Bunny like the aliens have landed. I pull her over. She creeps in, crouches down, sniffs the Bunny's feet...and...cue omnious music...lets out a string of alarm barking that shakes the windows.

I turn purple.
The ladies at the table laugh: "Oh don't worry about the bunny", they say, "he has protective gear on".
The photographer looks like he is going to throw a clot.

I think fast...maybe if I sit on the bench next to the bunny, I can get V. near my feet, we can snap a picture and get the hell out of here. I sit on the bench. The Bunny gets up , Veronica sits on the bench next to me.

"Good!! Good idea"!!, yells the photographer thinking I planned the whole thing. "You" he says, jabbing his finger at me, "Off the bench. Bunny, back on the bench"! And he speaks with such as air of authority we all scramble to comply.

Veronica now finds herself on the bench next to the dreaded Bunny...and that's when it happened. She took one of her meaty paws and plopped it in the bunny's lap. She tilted her head, buried it in the Bunny's juglar (or thereabouts) and took a deep sniff.

Then it really happened. You could almost see the play of emotions across her face. Understanding dawned . If she could have spoken, in that moment she would have whispered in a hushed, almost reverent voice; "Oooohhhhh My Stars! You, poor, poor hideously deformed human...HAI!! IZ VERONICA AND IZ YOUR FRIEN!!!!" At which point she lifted her head higher, found the hideously deformed Bunny mouth and planted the biggest kiss-lick-kiss-lick on it ever!!!

Everyone close enough to see, let out a collective "Awwww". The photographer was close to an apoplexy and yelled; "Doggy!! Woof, woof, doggy! Over here"!!

And Veronica's Easter Miracle was immortalized on film.

Happy Easter to all who celebrate; and Joyous Spring to all who don't.

[masaredera]

Awww...way to cute.

[acneman]

Awww,that is adorable.... Happy Easter to you or happy spring...

[DghtRdc]

What a great story! I enjoyed every word! And to find a picture at the end....absolutely awesome!

Thank you for making my day!


And a Happy Easter to you and your family!

[mtvlover571]

lol good story

[Kiariitf]

Awww...that's so awesome!

[THOUTHCAW]

JUST ADORABLE! I loved it!

[tattcasetle]

Great story. Nice picture.

[estelle]

LOL great story and awesome pict!!!!

[baronaaba]

I love the way you wrote about V.'s Easter Miracle - I felt like I was there with you every moment

Great story and beautiful picture of V, and that poor, deformed human, I mean ...bunny.

[Pharmaciest]

Hehehehe! Very well written! I love the ending!