Nicole's presentation with Ollie definitely struck a chord with me, and it is something I have been thinking about during my readings of Timbuktu. First, she explained the body language of dogs to us -- something we also learned in our training with PSPCA. Before this course, I never knew to look to the mouth of a dog to tell me about their emotional state. However, as both Nicole and the trainer at the PSPCA mentioned, a dog who licks or yawns in unusual circumstances is a stressed one. She also described the positioning of the tail -- something Timbuktu utilizes a bit as well. Mr. Bones describes orphaned dogs as always walking about with their tail between their legs. This is probably because they are stressed, anxious, or cautious. In the same way, Nicole explained how dogs experience the fight-or-flight response; how, if backed into a corner, their only reaction may be to fight. Mr. Bones also displays this response, running away from situations that do not work in his favor, such as with Henry Chow and his father. Lastly, it seemed that Nicole and Ollie had a real companionship. It seemed as though the enjoyed each other's company, and that she respected her pet as is, with a certain level of respect. Mr. Bones encounters many humans with varying levels of respect and appreciation for him -- some love him and care for him, and treat him as an equal, while others (the mean kids; the man with the shotgun; the pilot) treat him as an inferior, without compassion or connection. It reminds me that the dogs at the PSPCA come from such varying backgrounds. That not all of them have been treated well or with kindness, and that this has made them wary of the world, and rightfully so. It reminds me to consider them as is, to try and understand them in a more holistic way, based on their background and where they come from. And it reminds me that when I cannot be there, their lives continue on.

-Shannon P. Kelly