The therapy horses that live on my farm will not leave me alone. When I am outside they like to come over and stare at me. Sometimes they sniff my head or try to touch my face. When the horses are inside my house they follow me from room to room.

The horses usually ignore Walter and Ava. I can understand ignoring Ava. I try to do the same thing, especially when she is dancing in circles on her hind legs in a desperate attempt for attention.

Walter likes to bounce up and down on all four legs and give big kisses, so that might be why the horses don't bother him.

At first I thought they followed me because I can be very calm if I am asked to sit and stay. Pudge the Pit Bull was always calm and the horses loved to be with him. The problem is I am not calm most of the time. I like to run and chase tennis balls and steal Headless Duck toy from Walter.

Then I thought the horses might like the way I smell. I get a lot of baths because I like to roll in the dirt and my shampoo smells like flowers. Ava never rolls in the dirt. She doesn't even like to touch grass. Walter would rather bounce than roll so he stays pretty clean too. Still, we have a lot of flowers planted around our house and the horses don't seem to be very interested.

Then I discovered the sad truth this week when I was with my family feeding the horses. As the wagon went by, some of the food for the horses fell onto the ground next to me. I turns out I look just like a little pile of hay.

It might be time for a summer haircut.

Henry's Hint

This past week was the start of summer and the weather is getting hot. Everyone loves spending time outside, but hot weather can spell trouble for our furry companions. Every year, during the summer months, veterinarians see a rise in the number of pets with heat related illnesses.

Even the healthiest pet can suffer from dehydration, sunburn or heat stroke if overexposed to the sun. Both dogs and cats can get dehydrated quickly. Make sure your pet has a clean source of water available at all times. Pets should be kept indoors during the hottest hours of the day, but if you must keep them outside, offer water in a spill proof container in the shade. If you are exercising or walking your dog, be sure to bring plenty of water with you. Most dogs won’t drink out of a water bottle so don’t forget a bowl.

If your dog must to be outside, please provide a dog house and be sure they have access to shade from trees or a porch. If your pet is kept crated inside, make sure the sun does not shine in a window. A seemingly comfortable spot may become dangerous in the hot sun.

About Henry

Henry was adopted at the first PetSmart Big Tent Event in Lake City by Debbie and Jorge Garcia-Bengochea of Gentle Carousel. He is being trained as a therapy dog. To learn more about Gentle Carousel and their wonderful animals, visit www.Horse-Therapy.org