Dog Haiku

Haiku - A Japanese lyric verse form having three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables, traditionally invoking an aspect of nature or the seasons; a poem written in this style.

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I wait on the floor
In case some food might fall here.
I am ready now.

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I sound the alarm!
Paperboy come to kill us!
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

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I must go out now!
There are crows to be chased.
I will keep us safe.

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I sound the alarm!
Mailman Fiend come to kill us!
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

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When will you get up?
It is almost six o'clock!
The sun will rise soon.

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I sound the alarm!
Meter man come to kill us!
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

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I am your best friend,
Now, always. Especially,
When you are eating.

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I sound the alarm!
Garbage man come to kill us!
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

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Where are you going?
I think you go to the park,
And leave me behind.

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I sound the alarm!
Cat next door come to kill us!
Look! Look! Look! Look! Look!

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I ride in the car.
I will bark at other dogs.
They must know I rule.

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I run to the lake.
The water is icy cold.
I meant to do that.

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Put down that sausage.
Let it fall onto the floor.
I will see to it.

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More Trials

Long story short, the Parks department here in Kelowna has spent years making sure that dogs and their people never have adequate off-leash facilities. And until 2006, City Council let them get away with it.  In 2006, City Council finally allowed dogs ON-leash to walk along the waterfront, but only after a trial period.

So this week, City Council will receive a report from the Parks people recommending that site under study for over two years should not be made available to dogs, and that three more off-leash areas be made available, but only on a trial basis.  The site which won't be recommended would have been just the second off-leash area in Kelowna to provide dogs and their people access to Okanagan Lake.  All this despite the fact that their own surveys indicate that most people who responded want dogs to have access to the lake somewhere, even the 50% who don't own dogs.

We have some new people on City Council, and a Mayor who has been a good friend to dog owners.  There's an email campaign underway. We'll see if Council will assert themselves and direct City staff to do the right thing.