Puppies of Jenkintown Part VI: Ah, that’s where the camera was, edition

Yes, I admit, it has been a while since the last Puppies of Jenkintown entry, a full month in fact. I don’t want you, dear reader, to suspect that I haven’t been walking my daughter or I haven’t been allowing her to shoot puppies or, heaven forfend, we ran out of puppies. We haven’t, of course.

Why this very evening I went for a walk with Benny — just a block or so — and saw two entirely new pups. I didn’t tell Julia for fear of launching her into a snit, as she was already in a fragile, post-rainy day state of mind. We did manage to bring back the acorns freshly shook from a tree up the street by the earlier thunder boomer. Julia places them strategically around the yard for squirrels.

Squirrel!

Um, where was I, oh yes, more puppies of Jenkintown. My point was that three things must come together toget some proper puppy shots: 1) puppies, 2) camera, 3) fresh batteries. Those three things don’t always coincide. However, here are some from the latest batch, including Grover, the hardest working dog in Jenkintown.

All photos by Julia Rose Lester

Grover

We ran into Grover, a neighborhood fixture, at Jenkintown Java, which has also become a neighborhood fixture since it opened last year. Let’s hope it lasts. Grover too, for that matter.

They sell a decent cup of coffee, some exceptional sandwiches and, best of all, Bassets Ice Cream. We stopped in a few weeks back and chanced upon Jim finishing up dinner with Grover, his seeing-eye dog by his feet. Aly and I used to run into Jim when I took the train to work.

More so than I, Aly has a habit of introducing herself to people she sees all the time. I’m not as good at it as she is, and, I’ll admit, I’ve never quite mastered how to approach blind acquaintances. Fortunately, I have Aly, so I can get away with “Hi Jim, its me Greg, Aly’s husband.”

I had to build Julia’s courage up a bit — she’s never really met a blind person before — but she eventually overcame her shyness, with a great deal of a prodding.

Grover was exceptionally patient. Not only posing for Julia, but putting up with wee Benny running around in circles and saying “Gah” really loudly. We don’t pet the working dog while he’s working Benny.

Laddie
Julia’s thumb and Laddie the Yorkshire Terrier’s owner couldn’t keep out of the picture no matter how hard they tried.

Given the name, I presume Laddie is male, but Yorkie’s are such effeminate dogs that I have trouble picturing them without little pink bows in their hair. (Don’t judge me!) Still, there must be male Yorkies if they keep breeding them. I’m fairly certain about how those things work.

Patches

Patches, on the other hand is a Staffordshire Terrier, and they too must deal with stereotyping. And it isn’t as if they earned it. People dress Yorkies up in ridiculous outfits, and they turn perfectly fine dogs like pit bulls and staffies into the thugs of the canine world. Julia approached Patches warily, as if he might have hidden a Glock in his collar.

Then again, look at him, Patches doesn’t quite trust you either.

He’s got better reason.

Chelsea
Chelsea here is a Wheaton Terrier. Wheaties are a hairy breed and this poor girl has just been trimmed (not shaved, mind you, the flash is a bit deceptive here). And, no, this isn’t the most flattering angle.

Chelsea
Speaking of Chelseas, this Chelsea was much friendlier than the picture and muzzle suggests. She is a mutt, part pit bull, part whatever would sleep with pit bull, and a rescue dog. Jenkintown has plenty of rescue dogs, I’ve noticed. Nice people.

Jenkintown also has a lot of Chelseas. Aside from these two dogs, I remember at least one other pooch and, at least, two kids. The naming convention splits down party lines, I’d imagine.

Lastly. Julia got this nice shot of our neighbor Gary’s flower.