Here's a picture of our "Best Puppy in Match" that I blogged about a week or so ago. He's one of the very few Otterhounds in the country. There is a dedicated group of folks keeping this breed's interest up. From the AKC page-->"The Otterhound is a large, rough-coated hound with an imposing head showing great strength and dignity, and the strong body and long striding action fit for a long day's work. It has an extremely sensitive nose, and is inquisitive and perseverant in investigating scents. The Otterhound hunts its quarry on land and water and requires a combination of characteristics unique among hounds--most notably a rough, double coat; and substantial webbed feet." BIG dogs, (100+ pounds) they are and very much the "hound". Imagine a group of English chaps out w/ a whole "herd" (pack!!) of these out cruising the countryside!! What the heck do you suppose out friend Roy, here, is going to do w/ all that TAIL??!!!
In the two days since my last entry we have been busy doing 'our thing' for your pets. After the 168 arrivals on Wed. it has been pure ORGANIZED mayhem. The staff has now done 249 -20 min. playtimes and logged 98 -3/4 mi. hikes!!! They have served up 82 special holiday meals, & cut 1,052 toenails!! They have done this all cheerfully and efficiently w/ a minimal amount of O/T and only one accident. Yes, we had our first fall on the ice....... an inherant problem that we work so very hard to avoid but,..........in our world of constant hosing and cleaning, and cleaning, and cleaning ....it DOES happen. This one took us by surprise.....didn't really realize that conditions were quite right yet.And lo and behold, what's this stuff outside this morning??? I believe I detect a tad bit of the white stuff falling from the sky!!! Doesn't look like it will turn into a big deal but maybe enough to make things a little treacherous again this morning. I doubt, from the looks of it, that this will amount to any accumulation but it is still a reminder of what is to come. That's not all bad......... it just takes some adjusting to.
I am humbled, to the point of tears at how incredibly grateful I am for all that I have and for where I am at in this world. I hope that any of you reading this can feel the same. We live at a remarkable time in history, surrounded and shared by truly remarkable people. It is my hope for all of us that we take this day to make a pledge to ourselves to make EVERYDAY.... a little part of "thanksgiving". It is by far, my favorite holiday. Best wishes to you and yours as you go about your 'doin's' of the day. Best wishes, and THANKS for all the efforts of our troops everywhere and what they are doing to insure my peace and happiness during this time.
Ok, here we are............. THE biggest, busiest day of the entire KENL INN year. Thanksgiving brings it out!! We are ready today for............. at last count I knew, 162 arrivals. If you stop and think about it.....that's one pet every 4.8 minutes in the front door.........ALL day long for 13 hours!! Whew!! What is sooo amazingly cool is how this unique little team of ours is going to go into "warp" speed mode and put it all together!! We've laid the ground work already. Everyone has their instructions and their 'stations'.......all 'bunks' are ready to go..... everyone knows their small part of making it all fit together. Everyone is hopefully, in their 'best' spot and understands how their piece becomes important to the whole puzzle. I've got the "bird" ready to go .... to put on a slow roast out in the front room to create some "ambiance" (and insure we'll have enough for "dinners" tomorrow!), Patty will be there early, I know, to make sure that everything is in order at 0700, kenl staff will be on all toes and ready to greet all their guests, and groomers will be frantically trying to put the last buff 'n fluff on all their last 'spaw' patrons!!At the end of the day. Rose and her crew will have it all put together,.......... pets, meds, food, water, belongings, etc. Everyone will have had their admission assessments, extra activites, hikes, kool kongs, snuggles and last minute 'good night' hugs for the day and we'll start all over again tomorrow!! By the end of the night, they will make it all seem like this is just another day and ?What else is new?............. see you tomorrow. (go team, go!!)
Okay, so I'm a bit new at this and I'm playing around today trying to figure out how to put a picture in here to share w/ you. This is appropriate as it is one of my favorite pictures of our old Bulldog, Zipper. (very expressive and very much a halo around his head at all times!!) He by far, has been the ONE dog who has made the most impact on our lives. (my husband, Ben & mine) I see things every day in our lives, even yet, that is somehow influenced by Zipper still even though he is long since gone. Still, I shed tears at even that thought. BUT, you know..... we all move on and one way or another learn to deal w/ the every day disappointments of life w/ other 'friends'. This has been a pretty successful 'experiment' it looks like this picture business might work out okay...... I hope you will look forward to seeing more in the future!! thanks for tuning in!!
With Thanksgiving just around the corner I thought I would make a note about some of the preparation that we are going through at this time. This, I guess, involves primarily the assurance of all the appropriate people being in all the appropriately prepared places at the right times over a concentrated period of time. The staff has to adjust from ?maybe 40 dogs last night to 200 ?maybe at this time next week. One of the realities of life here at K.I. is that you MUST be able to adapt to being VERY comfortable (and possibly quite bored) with time to spend at your leisure during the workday to WHAM...... you had better be on the ball, thinking ahead and know exactly what your next move will be the next day. That, and the fact that you KNOW you will be working very very hard over every holiday period....... because when the "public plays we pay".
Plans are in action to make sure that everyone knows just exactly what is expected......that we have all the pets in the right places... (exceptionally dirty dogs, fence fighters, jumpers, older and geriatric dogs together and in a more monitored spot, etc.) Hopefully I've been able to adjust anyone's schedule so that any really important family events are not being missed..... hopefully anyone who can't live w/out seeing the Huskers play at least has part of that time off. It takes a concentrated effort on everyone's part to make sure it all goes smoothly and sometimes it's a bit of a challenge to insure that all 40 some staff members are all tuned in on the same page. It IS, however, part of what we really enjoy about our jobs. Knowing that the staff will pull together and do another exceptional job and then in 5-6 days we will be able to look back and say ...."YEAH!........ we DID it again, didn't we??" is great. THEN they can go back to a more leisurely pace again and take the next week to clean up and recooperate!!
So, ..... kudos, some more now, to Dian and her new puppy, Roy. Dian has Otterhounds and this was their first big show this last weekend--- okay, it was really just the fun match AFTER the 'real' show......... but it still counts and its still a big whoopee!! He took best puppy in match!!This brings back fond memories of about 20 years ago when I did the very same thing. I truly hope that she has better luck w/ this dog than I did w/ the one that I had back then. Go ROY!!
Congratulations to Chevy today,...... she's completed her Level 1 certification through the PCSA!! We encourage all our staff to go through training at any level from any of the professional organizations that are pertinent to our industry ...... however the PCSA is by far the leader in what is most related to Chevy's work here at K.I. Chevy is the faithful one who greets your pet 5 days/wk. at 0500! Most people would probably feel that certainly, being the first one in the door in the morning, is not necessarily the most desirable of positions- but it seems to suit her well. She's prompt, dependable and this gives her the upper hand on knowing just what's ahead for the day by the time we open at 0700. Frankly, if you turned the lights on MY dogs at 0500 they would just look at you and say "are you kidding me?" ........... but for all of those that aren't quite ready to get up yet..... there are plenty of others that are gun-ho and ready to start the day. This gives Chevy the unique perspective of knowing the dogs and their personalities just a little bit better as she hustles to get the 'needy' ones outside and yet stay respectful of those who just aren't quite up to it yet... or who need more time to get the old bones moving.
So, today is another Friday. Do the weeks just seem to go faster and faster or what? I had two different conversations w/ coworkers yesterday about how this week had practically ended already, they wouldn't see me too much today, and then it would be Tuesday again, before we "reconnected". Time is just too short and too valuable. Fridays though, which is what I started this all about......... a big ARRIVAL DAY always for us here in the 'hotel' business. As you all start to make you plans for the w/e ..... that's when we go into gear to try and make our plans for getting all yer critters cared for. All the staff here at K.I. are 'weekend' warriors. They all work at least part of every w/e in order to maintain the high staff to pet ratio that we want here so that we can ensure that your pet's are getting everything they are supposed to. I know that's not always an easy commitment to make but I appreciate their understanding and cooperativness in maintaining this level of care w/ minimal hassel or grumbling!!
So.......... Kudos, today to Dian who has recieved her AKC tracking Judge Provisional liscense.... and to Kristin and her dog Mack, who just recieved his AKC "Companion Dog" degree in three out of three trials. Great job, gals!! I like to think that we do a lot here to help promote individual growth and development. Maria and Paula just got back from the Iowa State Professional Dog Groomers Association annual convention. They are pumped and ready to go w/ all the knowledge that they need to hopefully get their 'Masters' grooming certification w/in the next year here so I will keep you posted as they work to acheive their goal!! On another note........ I guess I'm done 'playing' w/ the blog idea since I've discovered that Dian actually incorporated it into our web site............ hopefully you will stay tuned as I continue to keep you updated on thoughts 'n things. Once again, please feel free to respond.
I can't help but think about the "end" of things here this morning........ Howloween ends, fall break ends for the LPS kids, the DAYLIGHT ends tonight............and if we are lucky at all .......... the ELECTION ends this week. The other ending recently, that I am more sensitive to today --is that of my Dad's passing recently. For one of a million different reasons, of course, he is missed........ but this morning especially, we need his "always there when you need him" presence in the wash room. He was always ready to go into action and do the dirtiest, hairest dogs there was for us and help us get through those 'impossible' days. Guess we'll have to figure out a different system today. Dang, him anyway!! :( (I'd better get going!)
Here's a picture of our "Best Puppy in Match" that I blogged about a week or so ago. He's one of the very few Otterhounds in the country. There is a dedicated group of folks keeping this breed's interest up. From the AKC page-->"The Otterhound is a large, rough-coated hound with an imposing head showing great strength and dignity, and the strong body and long striding action fit for a long day's work. It has an extremely sensitive nose, and is inquisitive and perseverant in investigating scents. The Otterhound hunts its quarry on land and water and requires a combination of characteristics unique among hounds--most notably a rough, double coat; and substantial webbed feet." 
