Like this:

For the past week or so northern California has been inundated with precipitation. In the mountainous regions around Lake Tahoe this has meant snow, and lots of it. Up to 8 feet in some places in the last week.

But here in the city by the bay this has meant rain, lots of it. So much in fact that there have been legitimate concerns of flooding in some areas.

I feel permanently damp and cold. But as the Irish say, ‘There’s no bad weather, only the wrong clothing.’ So, armed with an umbrella, a raincoat, and rain appropriate shoes I make my way through the sodden city. Spending as little time outside as possible as I go.

Charlie, on the other hand, doesn’t have the same options. Everyday the good people at On the Go Pet Care pick Charlie up for an hour of leash-free frolicking in the fields, parks, and beaches around the city.  And he loves every minute of it.

For one glorious hour (plus travel time) he gets to carouse with his chums (about 5 or 6 other dogs in the group), chase dogs chasing tennis balls (Charlie doesn’t do the fetch thing), and feel the wind through his floppy ears as he bounds through the tall grass and sandy beaches.

Note: Charlie actually resembles a rabbit when he runs.  Or a teeter-totter. When the head is up, the bum is down and vice versa.

These walks happen rain or shine and, as I mentioned, it’s been mostly rain lately.

Tangent: Last Monday there was so much rain that the gophers had been flooded out of their holes and onto the open field where the dogs went. Once off-leash the dogs quickly abandoned their tennis balls for more unpredictable and lively toys.  It took the poor walker the next 45 minutes to get all the dogs back on leash (no gophers were harmed in the making of this post).

So, for the past week Charlie has gotten wet. Really wet. Being 2 inches off of the ground does not lend itself to staying dry in pretty much any weather condition.

You know how your towel in the bathroom will start to smell a bit like mildew if you don’t let it dry completely or use it for too long before washing? Well, that’s the way Charlie now smells.

It’s not so much the wet dog smell as it is the mildew smell. Thank goodness he’s not a longhair.

The long and the short of it, it’s time for a bath because Charlie stinks.

~Kbshea

(Note: I actually have a video of this but I’m too cheap to pay for the ability to upload videos so you’re out of luck. So instead, here’s a pic of Charlie and me napping just because it’s my favourite time of day.)

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