My Carbon Trading Schemes (of sorts)

OK, as you know, I've been in trouble lately for barking. Well, I've settled down a bit now and They have been pretty sure to keep the sliding doors on the deck closed when I'm at my chirpiest.

Two things are responsible for the improvement. Don't laugh, there are more than 2 bottles

The FIRST thing accounting for my improved behavior is my concern to contribute to Saving the Planet, in particular, water, which as you know, is a scarce resource from time to time. See that blip up in June? It corresponds with my failure to acquire any stars (see below) in my bad week!!!! The thing is, They got this idea, that before resorting to a (Heaven Forbid) bark collar, They would try the water thing! Now I'm not a fan of getting wet, so He bought these bottles and they are strategically placed all over the house; and I might add, now at Eric, Elsie and Max's house too, so that not only do I get squirted if I don't respond to the Quiet command, I don't get a gold star either. And of course, if They aren't home, Eric, Elsie and Max's Pack Leader can squirt me from their house! Which might be a problem when I have to pay the Calendar people and the fine for exceeding water consumption!

Which brings me right up to the SECOND thing accounting for my improved behaviour is, as you know, the fact that I am raising money for the Aspen Animal Shelter Calendar and supporting my Search and Rescue friends from the Snowmass Snow Patrol at the same time. The way it works is I pay to have my photo and my friends' photos in the calendar. The money goes to the Shelter, and my friends get the recognition they deserve for all their hard work and training.

I got my photo taken professionally, because you've all seen first hand what a pathetic photographer She can be. And of course, if my image was going to be distributed widely, I wanted to look my best. So Stephanie came one day and took some photos indoors...

... and chased me round the garden to get me in my natural surroundings, hunting lizards! Of course, I submitted this one for publication... I have insisted on having my photo opposite my birthday in the calendar (for those who want to send me birthday greetings, food or presents, it's on 20 October and I'm going to be 4), so that costs extra. But not as much as if I was going to be on the cover. But I digress...

She said I would NEVER raise enough money to be on the cover because you see, how I raise the money is that whenever I am Quiet on command while barking, I get a gold star, and each gold star is worth 50c. Each star is faithfully recorded in my Behaviour Diary, which was a present from Eric, Elsie and Max's Pack Leader at Christmas.


Some weeks I have good weeks....

And some weeks I have really bad weeks.... So because the Quiet thing is really rather a challenge for me, She instituted the Poo thing. She says since She has to get up in the dark and cold and early mornings to let me out to Poo, someone may as well benefit, because it sure isn't Her. So if I Poo on command during my allotted time in the rush to feed me, play with me, give me fresh water, make Her lunch (and share it with me), brush Her teeth (while playing with me), clothe Herself, hide my Kongs, take the Rubbish out (and that's NOT me, although I sometimes have to remind Her...) and get to work on time in the mornings, I get a silver star, which is also worth 50c.

So while on the subject of accounting, and it being the end of the financial year and all, for the record, for the 6 months to June 2008, I have earned 213 stars, which is $106.50. Hmmm, I had better do better for the next 6, otherwise I might be a bit short... any sponsors out there?