Saturday in the park, I think it was the fourth of July.

Oh wait, this is Vegas and the 4th of July would be around 115 degrees. Dogs love parks no matter the temperature, and as my dog Zoe' was enjoying her morning at the park, it was about 78 degrees.

Saturday to me is normally a day to unwind from the hectic week, catch up on the long list of things that need to get done which never seem to get done, even on Saturday.

Well, this Saturday was different. You see, Zoe,' my lab/mix, had an appointment with her doctor today for those nasty ol’ shots that dogs need to keep healthy. Now, to most dogs, this would be no big deal - a ride in the car with head out the window with that nice wind blowing in your face as if you were on a Harley, get to the doctor’s, snag a treat from the receptionist, jump on the scale with one foot on floor so weight is lighter (female thing), grab a treat for getting on the scale, then into the examination room and wait for the nice doctor.

In comes the doctor who speaks to you and then to your owner as he hands you a treat because you are such a good dog, and he is going to take your temperature, so the treat is to make up for where the thermometer goes. Temperature taken, you snag another treat, listen to the doctor make small talk with your owner, then you get another treat as a distraction as the doctor gives you your shot. Then you get another treat, get down off the table, snag another treat, and out the door you go for your owner to pay. While waiting for the receptionist to tabulate the bill, you cock your head, and she smiles and gives you another treat. As your owner reaches for MasterCard, because the bill shocks him, the receptionist does not want to look at your owner while he is paying, so she looks at you and you snag another treat. For the dog it’s not bad for an hour out of your day.

That is the way most dogs are, however, Zoe' is not the way most other dogs are. For her, a trip to the doctor requires 2 tablets of Acepromazine 25 mg taken by mouth a half hour prior to arrival at the doctor’s office. You got it - I have a dog that has to have valium just to set foot in the doctor’s office. Have you ever seen a dog loaded on valium, hanging out the window as you cruise to the doctor’s office? Once at the doctor’s office, I have to borrow a muzzle for her because, even loaded on valium, she still doesn't like prodding and poking. Since Zoe' is high, she will have to be carried into the office because in her shape, walking is one step forward and three steps backward. For her, it’s no treats with a muzzle on, and she doesn't want any anyway because she surely doesn't want to be there. We go in and are immediately given a room because they don't want any other patients to see her hanging out in the waiting room wearing a muzzle.

All is well to this point because we are in the room, Zoe' is higher than a kite, and half way snoozing on the table. Then, breaking the silence, the door swings open and in walks a bubbly nurse with a - you guessed it - thermometer. Have you ever seen a dog loaded, with a muzzle on, get alert enough to growl and throw a fit? Even in that condition, she is smart enough to recognize where that thermometer is going. With the temperature complete, in walks the doctor who hides the needle so the shot goes well. Finally, this undertaking is complete and away we can go - oh wait, it’s that MasterCard thing, then we can go. That done, we once again race down the highway with my copilot hanging out the window with the wind racing across her glazed eyes. Now home, she walks around the house like a drunken sailor on a 3-day liberty, and finally, with a look of disgust at me, she ventures off into a deep sleep, dreaming of her evening trip to the park.

Next time, Zoe' will have to share her valium with me, as the look she gave me has me stressed.