In my humble opinion

They say it’s your birthday

By JONATHAN CHARLES FOX
Posted 11/17/21

That’s what I’ll be singing to my dog, come Thanksgiving Day, which coincides with Dharma turning 12 this year. Twelve. I can almost hear some of you gasping, because you feel like it was …

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In my humble opinion

They say it’s your birthday

Posted

That’s what I’ll be singing to my dog, come Thanksgiving Day, which coincides with Dharma turning 12 this year. Twelve. I can almost hear some of you gasping, because you feel like it was just yesterday that you first encountered the Wonder Dog, undoubtedly peeking out of a puppy sling hooked to my shoulder, while I snapped photos of you and yours at one of the hundreds of events that the dog has dragged me to over the years. Twelve.

During our 4,382 days together, I have fielded thousands of questions, and answered as many requests for her to smile for the camera, something she has always been happy to do—with the exception of that unfortunate incident with a famous movie star who lives nearby and is not a fan of my dog. You know, the animal that every other living being on the planet adores.

In honor of Dharma’s 12th revolution around the sun, I thought I’d take this opportunity to answer some of your burning questions, and share a few favorite pics from years past, because here in the Upper Delaware River region, wherever we may roam… it’s all about the dog.

When out and about, I’m frequently asked if she’s a real dog. My answer is always the same. “Yes, I’m a grown man.” C’mon!

What kind of dog is she?

Dharma is a hypo-allergenic non-shedding purebred Havanese, the national dog of Cuba, developed from the now-extinct Blanquito de la Habana.

No, she is not named after Jenna Elfman’s character on the popular television series “Dharma and Greg.”

What does Dharma mean?

In Buddhism, dharma refers to the nature of reality regarded as a universal truth. In Hinduism, it is the way of goodness, truth and duty. Pretty deep, huh?

Does she ever get to be a “regular” dog, or is she always working?

Yes, and yes. As a seizure-alert dog, Dharma is always on duty, because she is trained to let me know when she detects minute changes in my brain chemistry. And yes, she is a “regular” dog here at Camp Fox 24/7. She even gets into trouble. Frequently.

Need more Dharma in your life? Follow her exploits on Facebook and Instagram. Just look for @dharmathewonderdog. She’s one in a million.

Fun Fact: My incredibly popular canine has her own PO Box, so if you want to send a birthday card, simply address it to Dharma the Wonder Dog,  PO Box 107, White Lake, NY 12786.

Dharma, Jonathan Charles Fox, Havanese, seizure-alert dog

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