Prada Steps up to the Plate

Thank you for your prayers for the students and faculty of my university. We really appreciate them, and could always use more. The students appear to be recovering well, but it will be a long road for all of us. A considerable portion of the Biology department is out of commission for one reason or another, most of them for the entire semester or permanently, so the University itself has taken a hard blow. We are receiving substitutes from a neighboring university in Birmingham but that’s not going to replace the research being done by those we have lost.

I have mentioned before, I think, how Prada has endeared herself to the homesick dog-loving students in my res hall by simply existing and letting them pet and play with her. She took that to a new level Friday night and Saturday morning. Grieving students found themselves with something warm and fuzzy to hug and love on. She took up the job of comforting both students and faculty like a therapy animal. I spent several hours downstairs in the lobby and MPR with her off-leash so she could work the crowds.

Friday night we visited our campus minister’s house and spent some time with the students there in prayer and recovery. Prada was invited to explore their fenced-in backyard, which she was quite curious about. She hasn’t had a fenced-in outdoor location to run around in since her puppy raisers had her, and maybe not even then. She didn’t go dashing around like a bolt of lightning as per her usual in large enclosed spaces, but seemed more interested in sniffing around. Had a bit of difficulty when I called her back, but she didn’t run away when I came to get her. I’ve been invited to let her play out there more often, and I think that will be a good training opportunity for her. We have a similar setup now, at my roommate’s house. She took me and Prada home for a few days since classes are cancelled for the week, and Prada and I now occupy the basement apartment. It’s quite spacious don here, with lots of room for the pup to run around in. Another good opportunity for her to practice coming when called (which she’s really good at in the res hall but for some reason doesn’t think the rule applies if she’s off-leash elsewhere). I am extremely grateful to my roommate and her family for putting us up here. They’ve taken me in on several occasions, last year’s Thanksgiving and Spring Break. Large family, lots of wonderful kids for Prada to play with (we keep hoping they’ll wear each other out), and a very familiar home atmosphere, as the parent/child relationship is very similar to what I’m used to at home. Very comforting and relaxing, and Prada seems to enjoy it here, too. Thanks, guys!