Hey, everyone! It’s me, your attention-loving and tail-wagging JournoDog!
We are here at the end of the year, a big one in many ways for both humans and furry friends alike. Much like 2020, the past year of 2021 has been a big pile of poopy pandemic poop in many ways. Yet, despite COVID-19 bringing many growls and angry barks, there are tail wag moments, too.
This is my first-ever JournoDog year-end dog news roundup. Please, save your pets, pats til the end… I know I’mma good boi, but let’s stay focused on the news for the moment.
COVID still not buried in the dirt: Some humans have been rightfully concerned about this continuing crisis. While smart people have taken pandemic precautions throughout the year and gotten their vaccinations and booster shots as needed, too many humans have their heads stuck up butts by not-socially distanced sniffing too close to crap holes of conspiracy and bad information. There is a clear epidemic of unintelligence in the humans these days, sadly.
[Speaking of intelligence: A series of interesting studies came out in 2021 showing how canine intelligence manifests in the pet population — from adorable head tilts to being able to recognize toy names and find new objects. Clearly, dogs are often smarter than many people who are injected with stupidity too frequently.]
Dog flu has sadly gotten worse during 2021 and many fellow furry friends have gotten sick around the U.S. That’s why the canine influenza vaccine is so important. As a JournoDog public pet, I felt a duty to get vaccinated myself. My editors (Ma and Dad) took me in for my first shot in December, and I got get my booster shot at the start of 2022 in order to remain my happy healthy tail-wagging self. See also: Get your vaccinations, people and pets!
Working Dogs: This has been a big year for dogs working in many roles, from COVID-19 detecting to therapy and emergency rescue animals.
- Sniffing out COVID: Yes, science shows dogs can sniff out COVID-19 even before symptoms arise and that’s led doggos being trained for this smell-work at airports and sporting events in 2021, plus so many other possibilities. None of this should be surprising, because dogs’ noses have been amazing forever.
- Therapy dogs continued shining in 2021, not only in hospitals where COVID-19 patients have been but other healthcare facilities where people haven’t been able to have as much person-to-person contact due to the pandemic. They’ve also been used in other places, such as higher-profile examples of the tragic Miami Surfside building collapse and after the horrible school shooting in Oxford, Michigan. Doggos were also used in hugely important search and rescue efforts, and so many other instances during 2021. Also important is that 2021 marked the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America, and although I wasn’t around then, the work those hero dogs did then shaped a new era of therapy dogs. Their impact is still being felt today.
Dogs Return to White House: In big semi-political pup news, dogs have returned to the White House with President Joe Biden. Yep, there was even a cool Indoguration ceremony in January 2021 when the new president got sworn in. In fact, their dog Major is the first-ever rescue dog to take on the First Dog title. There was some initial nipping involved, but the doggos eventually settled into their new White House surroundings. In June, one of the Biden’s dogs Champ sadly passed away (this happened to be my first big story as JournoDog). Just before the end of the year, the Bidens brought home a new puppy named Commander who’d just been born in September 2021. Yes, this has been quite the year for the pooch-arazzi in D.C.!
Bones or No Bones? You can’t talk about dogs in 2021 without noting the celeb Pug pooch Noodles. a social media star who’s garnered national headlines and got honored in New York for Senior Pet Month in November. Each day, Noodle and his owner Jonathan share their daily ritual on TikTok and Instagram. Jonathan props the pup up in his bed to find out if he is ready for his morning walk. If Noodle isn’t ready, he flops back down into bed and it’s a “no bones” day where you are supposed to be kind to yourself; if Noodles stands up, then it’s a “bones” day where you celebrate and be productive. See Noodles on Instagram here: @showmenoodz.
Finally on a personal pup note: 2021 was a pivotal year for yours truly. Taking on this JournoDog Job has been so much fun already, from even those first days.
I found my new fur-ever home in the middle of the year, justing after arriving from Kentucky and spending a few days in a rescue shelter before Ma and Dad met me and then brought me home. Soon after, I took on the new role of JournoDog. While I know they miss their old girl — the inaugural JournoDog who captured so many hearts in her later years with snow-brows and wise words — I have found a place in their hearts, too.
My initial months gave me a lot to learn about being a good JournoDog. including how to sniff out stories and when it’s not a good idea to chew on leads that aren’t stories worth the ink (bra, socks, books, and more). My JournoDog Schooling was an adventure for this first year, no doubt. Reporting on my own Origin Story was quite the journalistic accomplishment, if I don’t say so myself.
With all of that, I am very much looking forward to 2022 and being able to become an even better JournoDog. I promise to sniff out the stories and dug up scoops (of food), and chew on those toys that need more chews because they won’t squeak the truth enough.
Until next time (in a new year!), or whenever the news beckons like a barking dog you can’t help but pay attention to, #JournoDog out.
As always, remember: Love your dog. Support local journalism. Believe in facts and trust credible sources. And try to smile and find a little happiness for your heart every day.
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