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Show Oreo the border collieaussie wet, Oreo puts one paw in the pan and slides it around Durango couple Andy and Debhie Pierce's border collieAussie mix, Oreo, may not look all that the yard with the other three feet. When he finishes his ride, he makes his way back to the gate from which Andy amazing. But, they write, he certainly is amusing. Commonly known as superb Frisbee dogs for their ability to jump, Oreo has taken his role one step further. After years of going through Frisbees at "an alarming rate," the couple finally stumbled upon an almost indestructible toy: a stainless steel pie tin. Little did the couple realize the new toy would result in a new trick. 'His best trick requires wet snow or grass,' they write. 'We throw out the pie pan, like a Frisbee, and he runs and jumps in it with his front feet and slides like a surfer. And what if surf's 'not up' that day? If conditions aren't or Debbie have thrown the pie tin. He scoops up the tin with his face and holds it in his paws with a grin that seems to say, 'more, please.' 'I am sure this is not what Sara Lee had in mind,' they write, adding that the trick requires Oreo to get muddy, making him look like a 'mud pie loving dog.' As for future tricks, Andy and Debbie have big plans for Oreo. 'If he wins the prize, we could afford to get him a proper dog toy and teach him how to use it!' they write. Courtesy Andy and Dcbbia Pierce Oreo the surfing dog asks for more please." Blanca the cockatoo Blanca is actually a native Durangoan. Despite her exotic appearance, The Umbrella cockatoo, which is native to a tiny island in Indonesia, was by Ann Bond of Durango. And although Bond has come to cherish Blanca, she says love at first sight. hand-picke- as a hatchling d it wasn't exactly Sr 'She was very homely,' says Bond of the day she brought Blanca home. 'She looked pine with all these spikes sticking out of her head. Miuy Ann Bond and her Bo umbrella cockatoo, Blanca. Vote! like a porcu- However, the spikes soon turned into vibrant white plumage, and Bond realized the bird she could once fit into the palm of her hand was going to be more than a handful. 'When you get the bird, they tell you 'This is going to be like having a toddler that never grows up for 80 years," she says. Nevertheless, Blanca has managed to perfect many constructive hobbies. 'You name it, she does it, says Bond. Included in Blanca's repertoire is sewing with her beak and feet, screwing lids off of jars and watching the Discovery Channel. She even gives Bond a hand preparing meals. 'She's unhelpfully helpful in the kitchen,' she says. But like any curious toddler, Blanca requires supervision. 'She likes coffee and alcohol, so you have to be careful,' says Bond. 'When you have a drink she runs after you and tries to dip her beak in it.' Despite this, Bond, who also has two cats and a dog, says Blanca brings something to her life that her other pets can't. 'It's a totally different relationship,' says Bond, noting that so far Blanca's the only one of her pets who can say 'I love you.' the greyhound New Year's resolution for the Durango, 'to be more like my dog Bo.' 'I made one millennium, writes Sue Mooney of BOKHOWS Sue says it's not so much what Bo does, but how he does it that makes him so from Greyhound Rescue in amazing. Since adopting him almost four years ago Denver (he was sidelined from racing with injuries). Sue says every day with Bo is a lesson in listening to and trusting one's instincts. 'He has tremendous curiosity and greets life with enthusiasm, she writes. Most importantly, he lives in the now. He eats when he's hungry; stops when he s full; and sleeps when he's tired.' For an animal that can run at speeds up to 45 mph, Sue believes Bo is equallife ly adept at slowing down and stopping to notice the little things that make worthwhile. nowhere is this more apparent than on Sue and Bo s regu- Perhaps lar walks on the Animas River Trail near their home. have 'Since my friendship with this remarkable creature began, she writes. learned to stand still and listen - to birds, to squirrels, to the sound of snow melting first light even more. ... I have seen a bald eagle fishing and appreciate morning s Sue also says Bo shares his gift with others. In addition to being a school librarian at Fort Lewis Mesa School, Sue also works at Four Corners Health 'He gets along really well with Care where Bo is a I I Center, frequent guest. Jerry McBride Sue and James Mooney sit with their greyhound. Bo, a rescued race dog. the residents, she says, 'it's sort of an informal pet therapy. He really seems to enjoy the elderly.' However, despite his unwavering affection for living creatures, Sue writes that Bo is no dummy. 'If a neighbor dog doesn't play fair, Bo doesn't go back for a I haven't second try - he has too much always been that smart.' self-estee- March 3, 2000 - Cross Currents 13 |