Posted by Danette Rivera : Monday, Aug 20, 2012

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I love dogs. Our family had a total of three while I was growing up, and I loved them all. The first was Eddie, a loyal golden retriever, later to be joined by his more mischievous tag team partner Bennie the Beagle. When Eddie passed on, his stead was filled by Lucky, a handsome if somewhat vapid golden whose sweetness was only surpassed by his dog-breath. Some of my happiest memories are with those dogs, running around the yard and house playing, going on walks, wrestling, and watching them swim in the river at my grandparents' farm.

But boys grow up and dogs grow old. Bennie left us while I was away at college, and a couple years ago Lucky finally kicked the bucket. My empty nesting parents have been dogless since. This summer I decided that the time had come for me to stop looking at old pictures and dog sitting for friends--I decided to adopt my very own dog.

The West L.A. Shelter is mostly full of the dogs you'd expect to see in the pound: pitbulls, boxers, chihuahuas, and the like--all barking up a storm. I was meandering amongst the noisy cages when I was utterly stunned to see two crystal blue eyes staring right at me. The very large, 7-year old Alaskan Malamute those eyes belonged to wasn't barking, wasn't making a fuss, he was just sitting there panting. A volunteer took him out for me and we walked around the yard together, and that was pretty much that. My room mate came to meet him the next day and I brought him home that afternoon. Draymond "Dray" Martin was now a part of the family. (If you don't get the name, read this.)

He's adjusting well and after a bit of a stressful first month, and I'm starting to feel like I've got a pretty special dog. The long morning and evening walks and brushing sessions are more treat than chore, and I'm lucky enough to be able to bring him to the workplace. He loves hanging out at CFLA, and he's very friendly. So if you see an 85-pound pile of fur laying around, give him a pet and say "Hi Dray!"

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Monday's Workout
Complete as many rounds as possible in 12 minutes of:
200 m Run
5 Deadlifts (275/185)
25 Walking Lunges

... and coming Tuesday
Five rounds for time of:
10 ring pushups
20 squats
30 double unders
- note: 15 minute cap