Guide dog life

Dear Diary, Today I was the Only Dog in the Grocery Store. Love, Cooper

Helping with grocery shopping

Dear Diary,

Today we went to the grocery store. There aren’t many dogs in the grocery store, not like in the pet food store.

But I just want to talk about why I like going with Pat to the grocery store, and why I like being the only dog there.

So, we’re walking up and down the aisles and when we get to deli meats, I go extra slow. And it’s a good thing because Pat would have forgotten sandwich meat, I’m pretty sure of it.

She stops at the deli counter and a lady asks what she’d like.

I’m thinking, “Say the ham, you want the ham, Black Forest ham would be perfect, say you want the ham.”

And Pat says, “I’ll have 300 gm. of the Black Forest ham, please.”

Omg, she asked for the ham, this is so perfect, I love that ham.

Anyway, the lady sees me standing next to the basket, and naturally, she starts talking about how handsome I am.

She asks Pat if she can give me a little piece of ham.

Oh, no way, it’s a dream, I should pinch myself, this has to be a dream. “Please say yes,” I’m beaming my thoughts to her, “please say yes,”

And Pat says, “Yes, of course, thanks!”

And the lady hands Pat a little piece of ham, for me!

Then they start talking, and she’s still holding the ham.

Holy heck, that ham looks so delicious and they’re talking.. will it ever end? She’s always talking…. I don’t want to drool on the floor but I can hardly help it.

Finally, she’s done talking and she's about to hand me the little piece of ham when she notices the drool.

So she says, “One sec Cooper, look at this drool, someone is going to slip on it,” and she gets a tissue from her pocket.

“Don’t forget, you’re holding a piece of ham,” I’m thinking, “don’t forget about the ham.”

At long last, she’s done with everything and I try to look casual — like it’s not all that important, but really it is — and that ham looks so delicious…

She finally hands over the ham and says, “Here you go Cooper, just for being you.”

I love her so much, almost as much as ham.

Ok, next stop — cheddar cheese. Cheese is usually packaged up pretty tight so I’ll have to wait till we get home for a piece. My only mission here is to walk real slow so she gets the idea.

Love, Cooper

Here’s the related story — on how guide dogs help in the grocery store: