You know those people with nose-printed car windows and paw-shaped bumper stickers? The ones who walk in your door and go straight to the floor to greet your dogs? That's us. We are pet people.
We deliver holiday treat bags to all of the cats and pooches in our neighborhood, but in most cases, we would be hard-pressed to name their owners. "I chatted with Boomer's mom on the trail today" is the way we start many conversations.
We have been married almost 10 years and our only 'kids' are the furry kind. As a result, our animals get treated to a pretty cushy lifestyle. Their sole responsibility is to pose for holiday photos in costumes which we refer to as 'paying their taxes'.
When our beloved dog Biggs passed away a few years ago we were at a total loss of what to do with ourselves. Even the cat looked confused by not having someone to fight with over water bowl privileges. We knew we needed some time to grieve before adopting again. However, we found ourselves slightly unmoored without a pup to fuss over. And so, we passed word around to friends and family that we would watch their dogs any time they went on vacation. Word spread quickly, and soon 'Camp Fulford' became a popular destination.
It turns out that keeping pets in your home, spoiling them rotten, and not charging money for it is a service that's in high demand. (Entrepreneurial types may spot a slight flaw in the business model…) But we get a great deal of joy from our furry friends, so we think we are getting the better part of the bargain.
We truly believe that pets are family, and that applies to ones who are with us just a short time. We have come to appreciate all of the different quirks and traits they bring, from the ones who live to chase toys to those who hog pillows and the universal canine joy of barking their heads off during Amazon deliveries.
We have kept Camp going even after getting our own permanent dog, Maple, because of the fun that we get from our visitors. Maple gets a stream of different playmates and some badly needed experience with sharing, and we get to enjoy the fun of multi-dog greetings and 'pack walks'.
And yes, the campers pose for photos as well, as not even visitors can get away from paying taxes.
We have learned a lot of valuable lessons from our Campers along the way. They remind us to live in the moment and to find great delight in the simple things. They demonstrate the restorative power of a good nap, a long walk, or the touch of someone we love. In short, they coach us to see life as an adventure and to make time every day to play.
Lee and Melissa Fulford are long-time Smyrna residents who enjoy spending time with their fur family, reading, and exploring places off the beaten path. Their current hobbies include embracing middle age, searching for the world’s best tacos, and juggling.