Neighborhood dog gets her own hand-sanitizing station
When you run into a dog in public, it’s impossible to resist petting them. No matter where you are in the world, you’ll run into a dog looking so cute, you have to give them some attention.
Sadly, in the days of the pandemic, we just don’t have that simple pleasure anymore. We all need to think about how the kind act of petting an animal can now be hazardous to the health of others.
One family has done their due diligence for not only the health of others but also for their dogs’ love of meeting new people.
Sparkle, a beagle-mix dog, loves to sit on the porch outside her home. She’s on a long leash, and that allows her to do her favorite thing; say “hi” to anyone that passes by the house.
However, this has all changed because of social distancing. The dog still wants to be pet, and the humans always want to pet her but, we can’t. Until Sparkle’s parents came up with a way to allow the enjoyment to continue safely for all, that is.
They made a special sign letting their neighbors know that it is okay to give their dog a pet as long as they sanitize their hands before and after petting Sparkle.
It’s a simple way to allow the interactions to continue, and it’s making everyone that sees it smile.
“A few days ago, my boyfriend and I decided to go on a walk,” Jennie Ross told The Dodo. “We were about a mile or so from where we live, and my boyfriend gasped and told me to look to my right. We saw the sign and saw Sparkle on the front steps.”
It’s this type of small, yet thoughtful, idea that people in a time of missing social interactions need right now. Ross continued to show her appreciation for the efforts.
“I thought she was just the sweetest thing,” Ross added. “She was completely relaxed and was obviously having a wonderful day in the sun! The hand sanitizer and sign were a great idea. We love a socially responsible gal!”
Sparkle’s sign reads:
“My name is Sparkle. I LOVE to be outside and meet people, all year! But I also go inside whenever I want. If you have questions, my tag has my adoptive mom or dad’s cell phone number.”
In a time when we are all unsure of what we are allowed to do socially and tend to wait for further and clear guidelines, a sign made to tell us what’s going on and what we’re allowed to do is a beautiful resource.
Ross snapped a few pictures that day and posted them to Facebook.
Soon people from all over the country were in love with Sparkle and wanted to give her a pet themselves. Several users on Facebook commented on the post and confirmed they too had seen Sparkle and her sign. It’s true!
“Glad she’s getting the recognition she deserves,” one Facebook commenter wrote. “She’s the cutest, I’d always stop to pet her and then end up sitting on the sidewalk for like 15 minutes. She loves attention and is the sweetest thing.”
Sparkle’s parents have done the internet and their neighbors proud.
I hope they can keep the sanitizer station stocked, cause the masses are coming to give that little rescue pup some attention.
This is an idea many of us can get behind, and I hope it starts a trend of pettable animals in everyone’s neighborhood.
We can all use a bit of socializing, even if it’s only with a beagle named Sparkle.
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