Dogs Away

Even though we are having a nice warm spell here in Toronto, there is no denying that winter is just around the corner. Before long, people will be bundling up, staying inside, turning on the furnace, and putting away the dogs for the season.



We got our dog, Ivan the Siberian, at the Toronto Humane Society, and we didn't even think to ask if they had any seasonal models. He is one of the old-school dogs that needs to be walked all year long. It seems that many of my neighbours have the new-fangled seasonal dogs. I'm very curious about these dogs, and I would be interested in getting one the next time we are dog shopping.

Maybe you haven't heard about them, and I can relate. I haven't actually heard anyone talking about the seasonal dogs. I haven't seen them advertised, or read about them, or even seen them for sale at the local PetSmart. But I know they exist, because there are loads of them here in Toronto.

It's the only explanation I can come up with to explain where all the dogs go. All summer long, the park is full of people walking their dogs. Then, as soon as the temerature drops and the snow falls, it's just me and Ivan. Obviously, if all of the mutts in the park were standard dogs, they would still need to be walked in the cooler weather. But not these dogs. Obviously, the owners are able to store the dogs in the closet, or in the garage for the winter, in some form of stasis. Surely they aren't refusing to walk the dogs just because the weather isn't so balmy? Because that would be cruel.

So, if you know where I can get a summer-only dog, let me know.