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 Here we are heading into the last few weeks of summer. These days are often referred to as the “Dog Days of August”! This phrase made me start thinking about the goals our family set for ourselves this summer. It was not as ambitious a list as our New Year’s Resolutions, but it was a decent list of things that my family and I could do together over the summer to better ourselves. We are still working our way through the ever evolving list as a family. We have achieved many of our family goals, like going on an overnight camping trip, going fishing, competing in running/walking events, teaching the kids to swim, and to play. Although it was pretty rainy here in New Jersey earlier in the summer, the weather has been great recently for spending time outside with my kids at the beach or at the park playing, exercising and doing as much as we could before weather turns and summer ends. We accomplished a lot, but the family and I still have a few things left to accomplish before the kids head back to school. The main thing being that we need to get ourselves a new dog!
This has been the first summer we have not had a dog in our home in MANY years. It has been very different around our house this summer without our usual four-legged friends around to keep us on our toes. We were blessed to have one dog, an American Staffordshire Terrier named Snoop, for 15 years. He traveled and ran with us all over the country helping us train for many races and even helping to prepare us for parenthood. Snoop, who was basically our first child, had to be put down a little over a year ago due to his declining health, and we have not been able to find another dog quite like him.
We have since tried to adopt a new dog from the animal shelter to no avail. The first dog we rescued, a female Staffordshire named Sage, ended up having mange and needed to be returned to the pound. We then adopted a mixed-breed dog named Tigger from the pound. He was a very good dog, but it became apparent why he was a stray early on when he easily jumped over our 6' fence to take a tour of the neighborhood on his own. Unfortunately, our neighbors were not amused by his “escapes” and we were forced to return after several months of playing hide and seek throughout the neighborhood. For these reasons we have decided not to adopt, but get a puppy and raise him as our own.
As you can see, having a pet, especially a dog, is a great responsibility. There was always something that needed to be done for the dogs. Most dog owners know exactly what I am talking about. Whether it is walk time, dinner time, play time or bath time there is always something that needed to be done for the dogs. These responsibilities were often some of the best times of my life. I loved taking long walks and runs with my dogs, regardless of the weather. Hot, cold, rainy or sunny they always needed to go out, and I always obliged. Running around the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC during Cherry Blossom season with Snoop is something I will always remember!!
Thinking about the “Dog Days” only reminds me how much fun we had with our dogs over the years. If you have never had a dog you may not understand how special that bond between pet and owner can be. Our list of goals revolved around pets and getting outdoors this summer. Did you have a list of goals to achieve or places to visit this summer? Have you accomplished all the things you set out to do this summer? I know I for one have not, but I am having a BLAST working on it.
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As the Lifestyle Coordinator at Phytness Solutions, Tim is responsible for coordinating the interactions between the company's staff of Phytness Consultants and their clientele. Mr. Cusack attended Seton Hall University, where he ran track and was a member of the 1991 Big East Champion 1600 Meter Relay Team. His Personal Training & Weight Management Certifications are with SCW Fitness and he is an active member of several running clubs in his area of including the JSRC and NJRRC. Tim's main goal is to design and implement the necessary programs that help clients find the necessary balance in their lives. It is his desire to help spread the Phytness Lifestyle and ensure that not only his clients, but all Americans achieve their health, fitness and nutritional goals. 
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