Scarlet, Mia, and ME 2


Yesterday we met up with Scarlet and her dog Mia for a Manners Evaluation. My new unicorn guinea pig leggings arrived, so I was excited to wear them! They are light aqua colored and have rainbows and colorful clouds and stars on them. The guinea pigs are all wearing rainbow unicorn horns and have odd looking wings coming out of their butts!

We met up at PetSmart, which is one of the stores where Hestia is always terrible. I am guessing the smells of all the other animals using the store as a toilet, all the food and treats, and remembering going on walks in the store when she was a puppy and it was snowing out combine to make this store her kryptonite.

She was AWFUL in the store! She kept pulling and sniffing everything and trying to say hi to Mia. I was very embarrassed!

We did most of the Manners Evaluation in PetSmart. When it came time to test Mia around other dogs, we went up to the entrance of the store and stood off to the side. We had Mia and Hestia in sits when a man with a pitbull came into the store. He was barely able to hold onto his dog’s leash, his dog was pulling so hard. His dog locked eyes on Hestia and Mia and made it its life mission to come see them.

The man called out “Can we come say hi?”. I said “No, we don’t want them to say hi, thanks”. The man replied (still coming closer), “My dog’s friendly!”. I replied “No, please don’t”. Luckily the man stopped approaching at this point. His dog was wavering between friendliness and the type of over-excitement that can lead to bad things… He said again, “But he’s friendly!”. I said “No”. He said again, “He’s friendly!”. I finally lost my patience and said “No. These dogs aren’t!” (not because they’re not friendly, but to try to get the man to go away!) The man seemed stunned and said one last time “But he’s friendly!”. I said again “No. These dogs aren’t friendly”. Finally he gave up!

Boy was that stressful! But Mia and Hestia handled it well. They both stayed in their stays. Mia was getting treats and was able to ignore the dog pretty well. I was so busy trying to tell this man not to bring his dog over that I wasn’t giving Hestia treats, so she was leaning waaaaaay over as far as she could lean from her sit position! But she stayed sitting!

After that, we headed over to Home Depot. We hung out near the entrance and talked for a while. It was really good to meet Mia! I’ve heard a lot about her from Scarlet, but hadn’t met her before. Mia passed her ME, yay!

After Home Depot (where Hestia immediately regained her brain, by the way!), Brad and I went to Earth Fare for our weekly shopping trip. Hestia was very very good in the store, and I was really proud of her. We got all sorts of yummy healthy food, yay! I got a coupon for $2 off their juice, and was very excited because I love juice. But even with $2 off, their juice was twice as expensive as the same cold-pressed organic juice from 7-Eleven!

Brad got some pictures of us at PetSmart and Home depot! Scarlet is a person wearing black with a grey sweater, with hair down the middle of their head dyed a light teal color. Mia is a brindle standard poodle, but mostly gray. I am a woman with curly brown hair wearing a dark teal top and aqua unicorn guinea pig leggings. Hestia is a small white and black Japanese Chin with a smushed nose, wearing a purple coat. Brad is a clean-shaven man wearing a white driving cap with blue and purple flowers and lace. He has on a purple blazer, a purple scarf with silver ovals, and a purple tie with Hawaiian flowers on it. He is wearing a silver cat pin with a butterfly on its nose. His blanket on his lap is teal, purple, and white in an Indian design. He is wearing shoes that have a white background with purple, blue, and pink designs on them.

Scarlet standing with Mia in front of a fish tank for sale.
Scarlet standing with Mia in front of a fish tank for sale.
Scarlet and Mia walking down an aisle.  You can see Veronica and Hestia in the background.
Scarlet and Mia walking down an aisle. You can see Veronica and Hestia in the background.
A black and white photo of Mia sitting in the store.
A black and white photo of Mia sitting in the store.
A black and white photo of Scarlet and Mia entering the sliding glass doors of PetSmart.
A shot from behind Scarlet and Mia as they watch Veronica holding Hestia running past them.
A shot from behind Scarlet and Mia as they watch Veronica holding Hestia running past them.
Veronica has just tossed a clipboard which is in mid-air.  Hestia is in a down next to Veronica, and Mia is in a sit next to Scarlet.
Veronica has just tossed a clipboard which is in mid-air. Hestia is in a down next to Veronica, and Mia is in a sit next to Scarlet.
The moment after the clipboard lands Hestia looks at the clipboard and Mia looks at Scarlet.
The moment after the clipboard lands Hestia looks at the clipboard and Mia looks at Scarlet.
The man with the pit bull tries to convince us that his dog should say hi to our dogs!  The man is elderly and the pit bull is grey and white.  Mia is in a perfect sit next to Scarlet.  Hestia is behind them sitting, but leaning waaaay over towards the dog.
The man with the pit bull tries to convince us that his dog should say hi to our dogs! The man is elderly and the pit bull is grey and white. Mia is in a perfect sit next to Scarlet. Hestia is behind them sitting, but leaning waaaay over towards the dog.
Mia jumps in the car while Hestia sits by looking on.
Mia jumps in the car while Hestia sits by looking on.
Mia looks straight into the camera as she walks into Home Depot with Scarlet.  Behind them Veronica walks with Hestia who is prancing on her hind legs.
Mia looks straight into the camera as she walks into Home Depot with Scarlet. Behind them Veronica walks with Hestia who is prancing on her hind legs.
A closeup of unicorn guinea pig leggings.  The unicorn horns have fur at the base of them!
A closeup of unicorn guinea pig leggings. The unicorn horns have fur at the base of them!
While Brad was changing the settings of his camera for the lighting inside Home Depot, he shot this picture of Veronica smiling.
While Brad was changing the settings of his camera for the lighting inside Home Depot, he shot this picture of Veronica smiling.
Brad shows off his very purple outfit and has a camera on his lap.
Brad shows off his very purple outfit and has a camera on his lap.
Resting on the footplate of his wheelchair are Brad's new and very exciting shoes!
Resting on the footplate of his wheelchair are Brad’s new and very exciting shoes!
Brad smiles and looks down and toward the right slightly.
Brad smiles and looks down and toward the right slightly.
Veronica, Hestia, Scarlet, and Mia stand next to a giant lion wearing a crown in Home Depot.  Everyone except Hestia is looking at the camera.  Hestia is sitting in front of Veronica, looking up at her.
Veronica, Hestia, Scarlet, and Mia stand next to a giant lion wearing a crown in Home Depot. Everyone except Hestia is looking at the camera. Hestia is sitting in front of Veronica, looking up at her.
This picture is mostly black and white, except for the orange, which makes Scarlet and Mia seem in color.  Mia is getting a treat in perfect heel position, while Hestia and Veronica are walking behind.
This picture is mostly black and white, except for the orange, which makes Scarlet and Mia seem in color. Mia is getting a treat in perfect heel position, while Hestia and Veronica are walking behind.
With Veronica's leggings at the side of the picture, the camera focuses on Hestia sitting and looking up at Mia.  Mia's head comes in from the right of the picture and she is looking at Veronica.
With Veronica’s leggings at the side of the picture, the camera focuses on Hestia sitting and looking up at Mia. Mia’s head comes in from the right of the picture and she is looking at Veronica.

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2 thoughts on “Scarlet, Mia, and ME

  • deb

    Brad looks so different!
    We usually go to PetCo because it’s a lot closer. After we move I don’t know what’s where. We made the mistake of going into Petco on Saturday once. Dogs all over the place, pulling and bouncing and I don’t know what all. When I wasn’t holding Eowyn to protect her, she heeled beautifully for me, ignoring the other dogs. In all the times we’ve been there or at PetsMart, she has never once sniffed at anything unless I held it out to her. Given her mental issues – brain issues, I should say – I’m very proud of her.