April 11, 2001

Smells of spring 'odorific'

By CORKY
Canine friend of Herald editor Garret Leiva
       Spring has finally sprung. I know this for a fact because of the aroma of decaying leaves and fleece squeaky toys wafting across the backyard. The period between the vernal equinox and summer solstice is here and it stinks good.
      While canines are primarily associated with the dog days of summer, I dig spring - literally.
      This is the time of year when a young dog's fancy turns to what they love most: sniffing. After six months of hibernating under snow, the earth starts smelling odorific around April. Especially when your sniffer is a million times greater than mortal man's. Besides, the frivolity of turning snow yellow loses its luster around February.
      Amazingly, humans wait for a rotund rodent named Punxsutawney to determine the arrival of spring. Dogs, however, only need dirt. If you can dig dirt, roll in dirt and track dirt across the carpet, spring is official here. No groundhogs or Gregorian calendars required.
      Interestingly, Homo sapiens consume a pound of dirt each year, yet you never see them munching on topsoil. Sad really.
      Spring is also my favorite season because hope springs eternal for all the lost toys of winter. Sprouting from the ground emerge soggy tennis balls, ignored 'fetch' sticks and given-up-for-dead Mr. Hot-dog. Also blooming forth like crocus and daffodils are bits of paper towel and platinum status credit card applications. Rubber, wood, plastic, ridiculous 21.9 annual percentage rates - they all taste better with dirt.
      Another rite of spring I eagerly anticipate is yard work.
      Unfortunately, mulching sticks with your molars is considered a nuisance not lawn nutrient. People don't even appreciate my backyard composting efforts. Try aerating the lawn with strategically dug holes and you're hit with a wave of obscenities instead of being showered with praise. They even have the audacity to rake up my chewed rock gardens.
      While April showers bring May flowers, they cultivate something more important - mud. Simply put, doggie nirvana is squishing dirt between your paws. Sometimes I'll stand out in the rain for hours, soaking in this utter bliss. It is one of those rare moments I wouldn't trade for a case of Scooby snacks.
      Spring has finally sprung and the signs are everywhere: leash-less walks in the woods, chasing squirrels, hanging your tongue out the car window. Poet George Herbert called spring "(a season) full of sweet days and roses." It is also a great time of year for unearthing squeaky toys.
      Unfortunately, the smells of spring also include shampoo and doggie deodorant. Spring cleaning around our house means more than windows. Thankfully, rainy days - like me - roll around often between the vernal equinox and summer solstice.
      Grand Traverse Herald editor Garret Leiva can be reached at 933-1416 or e-mail gleiva@gtherald.com