The Dog Days of Summer

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By Ida Williams, Director of Marketing and Communications

Here we are again, nearing the end of summer.   

The monks and nuns are on retreat.  Some stay at the monastery, some travel to visit family, and most head to a beach location as a group for a time of spiritual rejuvenation.

It is pretty quiet here during monastic retreat time.  No church services, no bells ringing, no guests arriving, and no dinners being prepared.

Bark, bark, bark, bark…  “Yes, Kahn, I know you are still here.”  While the monks and nuns are away, the dogs stay and play with the staff and volunteers.

 
Kahn enjoying the office time

Josh comes in first thing in the morning for feeding breakfast, potty breaks, and clean-up.

After answering phone messages and emails, I walk to the training kennel to get Kahn and bring him to my office.  Now that he is eleven years old, he moves a bit slower, and strenuous play with the other dogs is out of the question.  Tom and Heather (dog trainers with Brother Christopher and Brother Thomas) have Fuller and Kula outside in the yard, and I can hear their playful rough-housing as I walk down the hill.  When I arrive, Fuller has just completed a full body roll and is back on his paws in full pursuit of Kula, who seems to be taunting him to catch her if he can.  


 
Fuller and Kula chasing each other

Anne Marie, volunteer and owner of a New Skete Shepherd, arrives to take the dogs for walks on the mountain road.   One by one they get their morning exercise.

Back in the office, I hear the sound of paw steps on the stairs.  Who could this be?  I did not know that any of the dogs were in the house.  In a whirlwind of fur, Daisy comes running into my office.  She and Kahn do the greeting dance:  stand nose to tail, left hop three times, right hop three times, wag, wag y’all.  (If you attend hockey games, you know the song reference here.)  “Daisy!  Daisy!”  “She is in here, Brother Stavros.”   Ah!  Daisy has full roam of the house.  Good for you, Miss Daisy.  Brother Stavros and Daisy’s visit was short, but she will be back in the office spending her day with Anastacia and Robin while Brother Stavros goes on retreat.

Daisy guarding the door to the office

Daisy with Anastacia

 
Daisy and Kahn

Over in the exercise pens, Gizmo and Hannah share a space while Brother Christopher works with the few remaining dogs in the training program.  

Karen takes Quila and Taccoa for an afternoon walk, enjoying the cooler weather we are experiencing.

Quila ready to chase a ball

 
Taccoa enjoying a game of fetch

Dave tends to Hoss, Iris, and the puppies.  Julia is meeting with a family that is here to take home their New Skete puppy.

Lisa, a volunteer, is socializing puppies, including Brother Christopher’s newest ward, Haiku.  This little fluff ball is going to be a very big guy when he is fully grown.  Puppy socializers are scheduled throughout the retreat.

 
Haiku wanting out of the kennel

Time to return Kahn to the kennel for the evening.  Tom and Heather have all the dogs’ evening meals prepared.

Tom and Heather walking dogs on the monastery road


Caring for dogs is a 24/7, 365 days a year job.  And it is a great job when it is your turn to enjoy the Dog Days of Summer at New Skete Monastery.   

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