In 1970 I took my Dalmation dog, Daisy, to obedience training on Broad Ripple Avenue. The name of the school was Bill Worley's Canine (K9) College. It was located approximately somewhere between where Landsharks and Ossip Optometry are today in the 800 block. Do any of you remember it?

If so, drop me a line and tell me what you recall or a story you might have. Bill Worley was quite the respected trainer. My dog failed the course and was an embarrassing drop out. Here's why....

She had been doing so well. We had attended most of the classes. Then one wee, early morning she woke us with pitiful, painful howling and crying. We called our vet and got him out of bed. (Can you imagine today being able to call your vet at his home?) He told us he would meet us at his clinic. We arrived at about 4:00 AM. He took one look at her and told us that he was pretty sure that her stomach had flipped and he would have to operate. It didn't sound good and after signing consent forms, worried and upset, we left her in his care. Several hours later he called to say that he had decided to observe her for a while and was now wondering if she had recently been in heat. I said she had. It was his conclusion that she was experiencing a false pregnancy and the pains she was having were like that of a false labor. I had never heard of such a thing. He told me that he wanted to keep her for the day to monitor her and I could pick her up that afternoon. When I arrived to get her I could hear her howling from the parking lot.

I know he was happy to send her home. She went home with a bunch of doggie tranquilizers that did nothing to keep her from being vocal and neurotic. She was so doped up she lost her balance. She howled endlessly. We lived at 64th and Broadway, a nice quiet neighborhood. I felt compelled to go door to door to tell my neighbors that we were not abusing our dog, she was hormonal and neurotic. The icing on the cake was when my husband left me with crazy Daisy to do his summer Navy Reserve duty. By now the dog was mothering every toy she had. You could not go near her or she would growl. All her toys were in her bed. She started to produce milk. All of this lasted for a full week and then she started to become normal (after nearly attacking the television repairman).

It was the longest week of my life and then some.

So, due to missed classes and being a nut-case dog there was no way she could graduate from Mr. Worley's school. She regressed and we dropped out with her tail between her legs. She died before she turned two of another complication. In further conversation with my vet it was concluded that she was "mentally retarded". Today we would say mentally challenged. So I suppose she would have had difficulty in obedience school with or without the false pregnancy.

This was such a long time ago that I think I must be making it up because it sounds so crazy. However, when looking on the internet it's all there under false pregnancy.

In the same proximity of Bill Worley's K9 College was a pet store, close to where Starbucks is today. Do any of you remember it? I cannot remember much about it. The name even escapes me. Perhaps it was "Animal Fair"? They had a mynah bird that could really talk up a storm. Help me out, Broad Ripple historians. And while you are at it perhaps you could tell me about the more recent pet shop that was in the strip center by Sunflower Market in the early 90's.

I'd love to hear from. I'm looking for the next "Gazette Pet" to feature. Send me a picture with a story.