The Joy of having Royal Critter Sitters

DogSpeak: Reflections from Lord Banjo

Now that the Royal Parents are retired, they travel much more than they used too, and in my opinion, all too often without me. That’s why my Royal Court contains more than one Critter Sitter. Miss Beverly is the Royal Critter Sitter in Charge.  She earned that distinction when she kept me one summer for almost two weeks while my parents went on a river cruise, and I rate her home a five-star pet resort for its location and amenities. She lives in an area with lots of parks, a town square and a downtown area where shops put out water bowls for us dogs. I get to meet lots of people and their canine companions on our walks.

I am completely miserable in the extreme summer heat, so Miss Beverly took me on early morning walks before the temps were unbearable. Then she let me nap in the cool, dark living room with two fans blowing on me. I must say the Royal Parents could learn a thing or two from Miss Beverly. Only after the temps cooled down in the evening, did she, or sometimes her daughter SarahAnne take me on a second walk. Between the two of them, I regularly got two long walks a day. Why SarahAnne even taught me tricks. That’s one reason I dubbed her Camp Counselor SarahAnne.

Since she’s graduated from Nursing school, SarahAnne’s kept me a few times at her house. I’d say she’s easily in the running to become Royal Critter Sitter in Charge should Miss Beverly wish to retire. With roommates coming and going, a boyfriend who’s in and out with his dog, and out of town friends who visit, there’s always plenty of action at her house.

Possibly the best-ever time I’ve had with her was the weekend her college friend Grace visited with Max, the golden retriever. Nurse SarahAnne lives in a dog-friendly walkable part of town too, so we had lots of adventures. 

One afternoon, we walked and barhopped along the Beltline in Atlanta with Max and Grace. The Beltline is a very happening place with dogs, joggers, skaters, and cyclists. While she ran errands another afternoon, she dropped me off at her boyfriends’ house, and—don’t tell Mum—he let me sleep in his bed while he worked. Mum has this thing about me getting on the bed, you know. Goodness knows, I needed some rest after trying to keep up with all these millennials, who are way more active than the Royal Parents.

I was fired up when we spent our final day at the park.  There, SarahAnne let me go in the pond and roll in the sand, over and over again.  Max wasn’t keen to go in the water, but I sure was.  I like ponds and lakes any time but especially when it hits the 80s. I even got to chase some ducks.  I slept like a baby that night and was fine with being left behind while the girls went partying. Yes, Nurse SarahAnne has turned into one fine Royal Critter Sitter.

I know I’m one lucky dog to have not only loving Royal Parents—though I do think they travel overly much—but also attentive and caring Royal Critter Sitters. What more could a Royal Pooch ask?

Lord Banjo lives in Georgia with his Mum, Kathy Manos Penn. Find similar stories in his book, “Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch,” available  on Amazon. Contact him at inkpenn119@gmail.com.