Jemma, the Advice Dalmatian!

 

April, 2004

Dear Jemma,

Hi Jemma how are you? I am mostly good. I am new to your website. I think it's the best.

I do have a a couple of problems. My dog Angel Marie is nothing but lazy and I am starting to worry about her. AND she is stinky because she hates baths--she loathes water. She is a lab mix so what in the hoot-in-danie is wrong with HER!

Please find a spot in your heart where you can help her.

bye, Jazmyn

Angel Marie's mom adds,

"Angel Marie was a rescued dog. She is absolutely TERRIFIED of water and was very timid when we got her but she is much better now, except for the water issue. Also she HATES TAKING A BATH! I'm not sure that will ever change. She is better however with not being so timid since she has us now. What do you think or recommend about the water issue? Yes she is very lazy but I think it's because she doesn't get to go for walks as often as she should ..."

Angel Marie contributed this,

"Mine, mine, mine!!! My bed, my bowl, my girls, my mom! And, most especially, MY LOVELY SMELL!!!! Get that nasty, noisy, rushy water AWAY from me! I don't have a problem--YOU DO, you interfering spotted know it all!!!" <note: heavily edited due to offensive language>

 

Dear Jazmyn, Mom and Angel Marie,

Angel Marie is not lazy when it comes to opinions. Angel Marie exercises her opinions and they are strong and hearty. They are also very loud. But, I, Jemma, will help her anyway, in spite of her loud opinions.

When you have strong opinions that is good if they are good opinions. Angel Marie's opinion about her rescued new life with Jazmyn and her new family is strong and good. Angel Marie does not EVER want to leave her family and this is a good and strong opinion.

But, Angel Marie has a bad opinion that is also strong. It is an opinion that says she must stay home always on guard in case her home goes away. Her opinion says to her "do not move or else I may lose my family." This is a bad opinion because it is not right. Angel Marie must learn to see that it is good to go for nice and lovely walks and to run about at the park with Jazmyn and then to come home to her lovely bed and lovely bowl with a lovely supper in it. Oh, that is so nice! When you are running and running and come home to your supper--that is so nice and so good.

Angel Marie has another bad and strong opinion about water. Water is lovely to drink and splash in, Angel Marie! So lovely when you are hot and you've run and run and run, and the water is cool and cool over your long and lovely tongue! So, you see, Angel Marie, water is not bad!

This is where you are wrong in your bad and strong opinion about water, Angel Marie, it is not water that is bad, it is BATHS that are bad. They are noisy and slippery!!!!!!!! I do not like them!!!! But, sweet and good Faith puts lovely cotton in my ears and a rubber mat on the floor and then baths are not so loud and slippery. And, there is always a lovely shake, shake, shake after, and a warm towel to rub and rub on. Oh, bathes are not so bad, Angel Marie! And there is always five treats after! Five lovely treats: one for each leg and one for my tail that all had a bath!

So, do not be afraid, Angel Marie! No one will take your good and nice home from you ever again. And, remember this, your lovely strong smell will always come back, not too long after a bath, either. Faith says so.

Sincerely,

Jemma