I love talking to the vet techs and staff at our vet, the Cambridge Valley Veterinary Service, they are professional, competent, smart, and funny.

Cassandra is usually all business, but she is the person I most want to hear on the other end of the phone when there’s trouble with my dogs, she and I have been through enough dog drama for a Netflix docu-drama.

She helped care for Red, Frieda, and Lenore. She is impressive in many ways, honest, caring, very smart. And also very direct. When I wasn’t being careful enough about Red’s activity, she let me have it. She is a wonderful advocate for animals.

I took Zinnia to the vet to buy a new collar – they sell the best and strongest collars – but it’s a different experience. I can’t go into the building any longer, I have to pull up outside and call them, and Cassandra or Nicole will come out.

Zinnia is still growing, I’m calling her “moose” now. This is her third collar.

They bring Zinnia inside, I pay over the phone. Today, they fitted Zinnia with a new collar, she has worn out or outgrown several. When they were done checking her out and trimming her claws (she was delighted to go inside and see her buddies there) they brought her back to the car.

I did get to talk to Cassandra for a minute, she said the practice has been swamped, lots of people are going to shelters and getting puppies to help them get through their sheltering-in-place.

The practice is urging people to get their dogs trained, so they won’t be shocked or disappointed in six months when some of the puppies are Zinnia’s size.

Almost everything about our lives is different, except life inside of the farmhouse. Cassandra helped me choose a new collar for Zinnia, no more pink for now.

I’m touched by how people always find a way to speak to one another, even though masks and social distancing.