In celebration of our AWESOME 26-24 win over Dallas, I’ve put together a short video clip of Piper, my German Shepherd and D.C.’s biggest 4-legged football fan!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCi94sV64q0&hl=en&fs=1]

For those who haven’t met her yet, this is Brit.  She and her brother are a pair of puppies that I rescued from the Tri-County Animal Shelter in Hughesville, MD.  She tries to be a good dog, and generally speaking she succeeds.  This morning, however, was not a good morning for us.

It’s my fault, really.  I taught her how to play fetch, and she’s a beagle mix, so she has a natural hunting instinct.  I had assumed (incorrectly) that life in suburbia would prevent her from turning into the great white hunter.  Aside from the occasional errant squirrel, there’s not much to hunt for.

I had not taken into consideration that birds, apparently, were fair game as well.  My neighbors have a bird bath and feeder, so I get birds swooping through my yard to reach the birdie oasis next door.  As of today, they may need to re-think their flight plans.  Brit somehow managed to catch a low flying bird this morning and dumped it in the house like some sort of spoils of war.  The mangled mess of feathers I found waiting for me this morning was disgusting, and there she is, strutting around the house like she had just saved us all from a hideous intruder.

So now I have a dog that is not only mildly neurotic, but also madly proud of her obvious hunting prowess.  Me?  I get to clean up the feathers and blood.

Related Posts:
A theory about dogs & real estate
Pound Puppies Bring many happy returns
Holiday Weekends & Wet Dogs
Rescued Dogs Make Great Pets!

~Jonathan Benya
Century 21 New Millennium
9405-A Chesapeake St.
La Plata, MD 20646
301-653-8116
301-609-9000

http://www.teambenya.com

digg_url = ‘http://www.teambenya.com/charles_county_real_estat/2008/07/bad-dog.html’;

    I spent Saturday at my parent’s home in Virginia(literally, smack dab in the middle of nowhere), and enjoyed the beautiful weather and some time with the dogs.

    They say happiness is a WARM puppy.  As far as my dogs are
concerned, they think happiness is a WET puppy.  Perhaps my dogs made a
mistake.  They could have a lisp for all I know.

    I had a great time, aside from the smell of wet, muddy, salty dogs that I had to endure on the way home.  My arm is still sore from playing fetch, and my clothes smell like fresh grass clippings.  Ah, the finer things in life….

(Hmm…. How did he get this boat to move again?)

~Jonathan Benya
Century 21 New Millennium
9405-A Chesapeake St
La Plata, MD 20646
301-609-9000
301-653-8116
Waldorf and Southern Maryland Real Estate
www.teambenya.com

     With as many hours as I work each day, it’s made me think about WHY I insist on working such long hours.  I think it has a lot to do with upbringing.  My brother and I both grew up on the water, and it was the greatest experience I could have ever asked for as a child.  We went crabbing daily, fishing just as often, and we typically ate whatever we caught that day when dinnertime came.

(For those of you In Southern Maryland or coming to the area, head to Captain Billy’s for dinner, and order the crabs.  You’ll thank me later.  Unless you’re allergic to shellfish, in which case you should probably ignore me)

You’ve Got To WORK For The Reward

     My parents were by no means wealthy, but they worked very hard for what they have, and among a list of things too long to mention, they taught us how to:

1)  Enjoy the basics.
2) Understand that if you enjoy your work, the long hours you put in are easy.

     Fishing for dinner?  We’ve done it.  We didn’t get the fancy Jet Ski’s or power boats our friends got as kids.  We got a sailboat instead, the kind that fits one, possibly 2 if someone hangs off the side of the boat.

Jib Jabbering

      Sailing that boat was work, bar none!  It taught us some very important life lessons, though, and to this day, we still have that old boat, and I have zero interest in powerboats.  I remember being disappointed that I didn’t have the latest and greatest toys as a child, and I didn’t fully understand what my parents were doing, but there’s no way I could thank them enough today.

     Whenever I wanted to go sailing, it took an hour just to prepare the boat, and another 30 minutes to take the gear down afterwards.  I saw the link directly:  A little work, and a little reward.  I learned to enjoy working, and was glad to do so.  It’s carried over into my adult life.  I enjoy my work immensely, and so I don’t feel a need or desire to take time off often.

     At any rate, because it’s now mid-March, I need to take a day off, and go to Annapolis.  I need new sheets for my little boat, and I’m running out of time if I want to have it in the water by May first!  I wonder, will that qualify as time off to relax, or do Thomas and I need to find a new way to unwind?

      (In case anyone was wondering, Thomas was the one sailing in the previous picture.  He’s on the left, on the right in the fashionable orange jacket is a dog.)

The Washington Post recently ran an associated press article about the growing number of cats and dogs abandoned because of foreclosures.

The house was ravaged _ its floors ripped, walls busted and lights smashed by owners who trashed their home before a bank foreclosed on it. Hidden in the wreckage was an abandoned member of the family: a starving pit bull.

The dog found by workers was too far gone to save _ another example of how pets are becoming the newest victims of the nation’s mortgage crisis as homeowners leave animals behind when they can no longer afford their property.

The rash of discarded pets is gut wrenching.  I can’t imagine how their owners must feel surrendering their beloved pets to the shelter, but to simply abandon a dog or cat completely, cut them loose and let them run as strays, is simply disgusting.

Even shelters are overwhelmed at this point.  Shelters across the country are reporting a huge increase in surrendered pets, and for many of these former pets the odds of getting adopted before they’re put down is 50/50 or less.

I can’t imagine the loss and devastation I would feel if I had to give up my dogs, knowing that there’s a good chance they would end up being euthanized.  If anyone is considering getting a dog or cat, please, help ease the burden of shelters by adopting a stray or surrendered dog rather than purchasing a puppy from a breeder.  You’re making the difference between life and death for these dogs and cats!

Link to Washington Post Article

Link to USA Today Article

~Jonathan Benya
Century 21 New Millennium
9405-A Chesapeake St
La Plata, MD 20646
301-609-9000
301-653-8116
Waldorf and Southern Maryland Real Estate
Southern Maryland Real Estate Blog

I’m
always amazed by how unconditional their love really is!  For the past
week I’ve been getting home close to midnight, and my feet are ready to
fall off when I walk through the door.  Without fail, all of my dogs
wake up when I get home and meet me by the door.  They’re obviously
exhausted themselves, but they make a point to greet me and show how
happy they are to see that I’ve made it home safe again.

You
see, I’ve managed to provide them with shelter, food, and security.
Before I adopted them, they were all packed into a crowded shelter with
limited provision and zero  attention.  Little did they know that they
probably faced death if nobody chose to adopt them!  I am repaid each
day a million times over by knowing that they are waiting for me when I
get home.  It doesn’t matter if I come home at 5pm or Midnight, they’re
going to be there to greet me regardless.

It’s a give and take relationship. 

I
give them a second chance at life, a good home, and plenty of love and
respect.  In return, I get 3 faithful companions who show me they care
about me, no matter what happens.  It’s amazing how a long stressful
day at work can drift from your mind when you’re greeted by a furry
companion at home.

It’s a give and take relationship with our clients as well.

As
a Realtor, I have found that the hours I work are long and exhausting.
Every morning I wake up I’m greeted by wagging tails and excited barks
from dogs that are anxious to start the next day.  Their energy,
enthusiasm and excitement helps energive me, and helps me start my own
days stronger and more confidently.

The fact is, I couldn’t
be a pleasant, outgoing, energetic person each and every day without
them, and I’m very lucky indeed to have found them!  They’ve become an
essential part of my life, and the three of them are now a vital
ingredient to my success in their own special, unique way!

~Jonathan Benya
Century 21 New Millennium
9405-A Chesapeake St
La Plata, MD 20646
301-609-9000
301-653-8116
Waldorf and Southern Maryland Real Estate
Southern Maryland Real Estate Blog

~Jonathan_Benya
Century 21 New Millennium
9405-A Chesapeake St
La Plata, MD 20646
301-609-9000
301-653-8116
Waldorf and Southern Maryland Real Estate
Southern Maryland Real Estate Blog

    However, my next door neighbors are dog lovers much like myself, and they happen to have an adorable beagle mix named Bandit.  When I say "next door neighbors", I mean a walk up the hill behind my house and through the woods to get there.  Not exactly next door, but it’s the closest I have.

    Anywho…..  I met Bandit about 2 weeks ago, and I had no idea where he came from.  He just sort of showed up in my yard one day and decided to stare at me as I worked in my garage.  Being unsure if he was friendly or not, I yelled at him and he took off running.  I thought that would be the last I saw of him….

    I thought wrong…..  Bandit started showing up in the afternoons, I would see him in my yard staring at my house, and at night my dogs would growl at the trees.  If I didn’t know any better I would have worried it was a fox or something that was bothering them, but no, it was bandit.

    A few nights ago I was working in my garage, lo and behold, Bandit shows up behind me.  This time he decides he wants to be friendly, so I managed to get a look at his collar.  It was then that I realized where he came from.  I gave his owners a call to let them know I had their dog, and they said "Oh, just tell him to go on home".

    I realize how strange this might seem to some people, but growing up it was not unusual to have other family’s dogs roam around to be friendly, and Bandit was a particularly social creature, so I told him to go home, and off he went.

    All was fine and well until last night. I went to take my dogs out and as I opened the door I was stunned to find… yes…. Bandit.   Even more surprised were my dogs!  My beagles are exceptionally well trained.  I told them to go to their yard, and they did so, without hesitation!  However, my German Shepard, Piper, was not so interested in listening to me!

    She’s still young and so she’s working on trying to be more obedient, but the temptation of another dog was just too much!  She nearly pulled my arm out of it’s socket when she decided to run!  I thought poor little Bandit was going to have a heart attack when he saw Piper lunge at him! I managed to keep hold of her, wrestled her into her yard, and then proceeded to deal with Bandit.

    The problem is that Bandit has decided that he’s my buddy.  He thinks it’s O.K. to come visit, and he wants to play with the other dogs!  Well, Bandit wouldn’t leave my side, I think my dogs were being more than a little intimidating, so I proceeded to walk towards Bandit’s house, with Bandit following closely behind.

    I dropped him off with his owners, let them know I didn’t particularly mind him, I just didn’t want Piper to get any funny ideas, so I felt Bandit was safer back at home.  They thanked me, I  walked back home, took care of my own pups, and went to bed. 

    I think I’m going to have to be more careful in the future. I’m still nursing a sore shoulder thanks to Piper, and I don’t think Bandit fully understands the idea of avoiding my little doggies……  We shall see…..

~Jonathan Benya
Century 21 New Millennium
Website
Blogsite

    The new park has already gotten it’s funding approval from the Maryland Board of Works, and they’re planning on spending $1.87 million dollars on the project.  Remember the old Pisgah Landfill?  Well, that’s where this new project is going!  It’s a case of beautifying one of the uglier spots in the county, and this is going to be a HUGE improvement!

    How huge?  About 234 acres, to be exact!  This park is going to be more than just picnic tables and baseball diamonds, though.  They’re planning to include football fields, soccer fields, playground, an off-leash dog park, and for the first time in Charles County, mountain bike trails AND a BMX bike course.

    To say it’s long overdue is an understatement.  What will be interesting to see is how much of the area immediately surrounding the new park will be developed.  I know that there is a 77 acre parcel of land for sale in Southern Maryland next to the upcoming park that is currently for sale for $575,000, I have a feeling that it won’t be available for too much longer once developers take note of the new park project!

~Jonathan Benya

Century 21 New Millennium

Waldorf & Southern Maryland Homes For Sale

Southern Maryland Real Estate Blog Home

She’s a little mouthy when dinner’s due, but she’s a completely adorable, well mannered mutt!  C’mon, how can you not smile when you see a pup as cute as this! 

Not only that, but she plays well with other dogs, so she gets to enjoy lots of trips to the dog park!

She came from the tri-county animal shelter in
Hughesville, MD, and if you are interested in finding a great family
pet, I highly recommend you look there and the Humane Society of
Waldorf, as well!

~Jonathan Benya

Century 21 New Millennium

Team Benya

Website

Blogsite