This beautiful hound named Otis went missing about 3 weeks ago on Copper Hill Road in Granby, his owner has been looking frantically for him ever since the day he was lost.

If you have any information or have seen this dog, please contact me at thomas.zukowski@wfsb.com, let’s try and bring Otis back to his family!

It has been way too long between posts, but the blog is back, and so is Buster! I took him for a little run this weekend, then the snowstorm hit on Sunday, and the B-Man did not like going outside in that!

How does your pet like the snow? Got any pictures? Send them to me at thomas.zukowski@wfsb.com, and I will post them here………it’s time to get back to blogging after a long break!

Buster is now over a year old, and has grown quite a bit since he adopted me last summer, I figure he now weighs about 60-70 pounds, he has calmed down a bit, still likes to eat my socks, but the jumping has kind of subsided and he has learned who the leader is, me, and is pretty good now at waiting for me to walk through a door, then freeing him with our “keyword”.

Here are some new photos of him:

If you have a great animal story or photo, send them in, let’s get this thing going again!!!

They were guests on ‘Better Connecticut” today, and I was told that these 2 dogs did appear in the Broadway version of the show, and were seen on MTV, when “Legally Blonde” aired last fall.

Here are some photos:

The town of Enfield will be getting a dog park! Their website is www.enfielddogpark.com,  all of the latest fundraising information is on there, including a winter fundraiser coming up on January 24.

This is from their website, if you can help them out, here is their contact info:

Organization News

The Manchester Road Race is just around the corner, Joan Benoit Samuelson will be hosting a fun run the week before the race, on Thursday the 20th, at 4 pm, details are on the race website.

“Spirit of the Marathon” is out on DVD, if you haven’t seen it, it is an amazing documentary about 5 different runners and their training experiences for the Chicago Marathon a few years ago, a remarkable film, and definitely worth checking out.

It was a great time, my legs are killing me today……..and I can’t wait ’til next year! Here are just a few of the many photos I took with my I-Phone out on the course:

The start line early in the morning………

A sneaker as big as mine:

The Winner’s trophy:

The medals table:

The start of the race:

Broadcast House………next year, it will be gone………..

Over the bridge, heading to East Hartford………..

Volunteers at Mile 19……….

Great River Park, heading towards 20…….

The city is in sight, Mile 21!

3 miles left, and it was getting hot…………

Mile 24, notice the Whalers jersey up ahead!

Mile 26!

The final yards……….

I ate everything on this plate, then a butterscotch sundae………and it was all gooooooood…………

Picked up my number…………put my chip on my shoe…………….got my shirt and shorts all picked out……..been hydrating and carbing…………….looks like it is time for one of Hartford’s greatest sporting days, the ING Hartford Marathon!

This will be my 10th straight year participating in the event, my first time was 1998 when I did the half, and I haven’t missed a raceday here since.

I am such a creature of habit when it comes to these things, I always get there around the same time, park in the same place, etc. etc., this is the time of year when I most miss our downtown studio, it was always a great place to stop in before heading over to the park.

Are you running your first marathon this Saturday?? Let me know! thomas.zukowski@wfsb.com

One first time runner that I know of is Sebastian, the morning host on WCCC, thanks to Bruce DePrest, I got to speak to him on his show Thursday morning and share some of my marathon experience with him. Good Luck to Sebastian on race day!

If your out watching on the course, look out for #1860, I’ll have my Lance Armstrong yellow “Live Strong” shirt on, when the winners cross the finish, look for me about 2 hours later……..

Good Luck to all, I am going to have my IPhone with me, I will share pictures this weekend!

Here’s the website if you want to check it out:http://elmknollfarm.com/

Got a favorite pumpkin patch? Share it with me and we’ll post your comments! thomas.zukowski@wfsb.com

A Dog’s Purpose (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a
ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s
owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were
all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a
miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told
the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and
offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog
in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought
it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the
procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something
from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as
Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm,
petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he
understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker
slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition
without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a
while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the
sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ‘I know
why.

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth
next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting
explanation.

He said, ‘People are born so that they can learn how to
live a good Life — like loving everybody all the time and
being nice, right?’ The Six-year-old continued,
‘Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they
don’t have to stay as long.’

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things
like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face
to be pure excitement.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady
tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire
body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by,
and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!