Along the Way

I'd lost my buddy (my beagle, Bailey) a year before I made the move to West Linn.  I wanted another, but waited until I was situated in my rental house.  I searched rescues, but ended up on the internet, and had little 6-pound Sadie shipped from Missouri.  Where beagles have some very distinctive traits, they can have completely different temperaments (like children from the same parents).  Bailey was a solid, mellow girl, who would look, unblinking, directly into my soul (ok, corny, but it felt that way!).  Sadie is a lithe, high-strung pup, who is sweet beyond words, but crazed beyond belief.  She's giving me a run for my money, but has won my heart.  Here she is at nine months and 20 pounds.  Pretty cute, huh?

That's my segue into more about dogs.  Last summer my neighbors heard the county sheriff's canine unit was looking for places to train.  They suggested my property because the house was vacant and could take abuse.  I was happy to participate.  They scheduled several days of training--some having "criminals" hide in the house, others hiding narcotics.  I'm sure they got more than they hoped for--the house was a maze of confusing rooms.

That was just the beginning.  Word was out, and soon two different S.W.A.T. teams were calling to use the house.  Here's Sadie with one of the tough guys.

The first team practiced victim rescue--and evidently they like to keep it very realistic.

The second group told me most of their drills are in anticipation of hostage situations.  They used the house numerous times and did rifle practice outside also.  But the grand finale was a weekend of fun and games for these guys.  Friday they shot out all the windows.  And Saturday the explosives came out.  They blew out doors, walls, and finally the garage doors.  It was fascinating to watch (at a good distance--with eye and ear protection).  This was the final hurrah before the demo.