"HELL"AVATORS
Tales from an Urban Dog
by
Little Bear Skydancer

Just let me say one thing to all you Dog Guardians out there. If you live in the city, or take your Dog everywhere, chances are you'll have to take one of those Stress Boxes called Elevators. Please read carefully and HELP your Dog survive.

1. Keep him/her AWAY from opening doors. One time I was waiting with my Mom and when the doors opened, a snapping snarling dog from upstairs lunged out at me. If I hadn't been coming from outside, I would have peed right then and there! Please stand next to us and keep our leashes short but loose. You NEVER know what's behind those surprise doors and not every other dog is always as friendly as yours!

2. Guardians? Please don't force us inside with a dog/child/situation that makes us nervous. Can't we just wait for the next one? I mean it can feel really CROWDED in there.

3. I'm comfortable when my Mom puts me in sit right next to her while riding. She won't let me off either until the coast around the corner is clear by taking a quick peek and then she'll release me.

4. DON'T LET LEASHES DRAG. DON'T LET LEASHES DRAG. DON'T LET LEASHES DRAG. For all the obvious reasons except one you might not have thought about. When the door closes and part of my leash is on the other side, when the elevator begins to move, I'll move the other way. Few dogs survive this horror. Make sure that you know where the Emergency Stop button is and hit immediately before trying to release your dog from the strangle hold.