Page 13 - magazine winter2011-1

I must have looked puzzled or it could have been the extra weight she slid on the
bar, but she continued to explain.
“The adjustable leash attaches to a belt that hooks around your waist. The belt

can accommodate one or two dogs keeping them safe while allowing me the use
my hiking sticks or my water bottle,” Platko said.

“Wouldn’t this system pull you over if the dog decides to run
after a rabbit or something?” I asked as I was pumping
10-pound weights over my head.
Daisy, Platko & Tigger
“
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the dog tethered at your waist gives you more control since it is your center of gravity.”
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“D
ll
“Do they really need a leash?” I asked naively.
d
“I insist all the dogs in my class be on a leash,” Platko said motioning to me to get
into a plank position and hold it for 30 seconds. “It makes me so mad when I see
people hiking at Red Rock Canyon with their dogs running free.” Her face tightened
in worry as she spoke. “Don’t people realize that the desert can be a dangerous place
for a dog on its own? When a dog is lost on the trails, their chances of survival
diminishes with each passing minute.” Tigger
“I hadn’t given it much thought. My big gripe,” I said, “was the dog poop on the trails.”
“That is another thing,” she added. “Not picking up your dog poop can spread diseases like heart worm.
“What advice would you give people who would like to get their dogs in better shape?” I asked.
“They could take my class, Get Fit with Fido or start out slowly, just like a human, not too much too fast. Don’t start
out running. Start with a short 30-minute walk three or four times a week, and after several weeks of walking,
progress to a short jog.”
“I noticed you are selling shirts for your two-legged clients as well as shirts for your four-legged clients.” I said
looking at the clock to see if my workout was almost over.
“Yes, I do, she said. “All the proceeds from the human shirts go to Nevada SPCA www.nevadaspca.org and all the
proceeds for the doggie shirts go to Hope Is Mine Foundation www.hopeismine.org Hope is Mine is a local
organization dedicated to providing trained service dogs to improve the quality of life for the physically disabled.”
(continued on page 14)
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