I’m often accused, especially by members of my own family, of wasting time pondering things that others find . . . not really important.
Like, what makes some towns choose black letters on white background for their street signs, and others go for the white-on-green look?
Last week one of my writing students turned in a piece about tanning. And since my dog is never far from my thoughts, I — naturally — found myself wondering if dogs can get tan. Or sunburned.
Now most of you know that Kemba’s preferred lifestyle involves spending a huge chunk of the summer either in the ocean or on the beach. He rocks those amazing-looking dreadlocks behind his fluffy ears in the warm weather, which he gets simply by shaking off after a
dip. (One woman who was admiring my duck dog’s dreads in front of Jack’s Coffee in Amagansett actually refused to believe I wasn’t using a crimping iron to get this effect.) Also, his gorgeous red coat bleaches out to a tawny gold.
But does he tan? Does he get sunburned? Hmmm. I never thought about that till last week . . .
So I took a peek at what Pet360, PetEducation.com, Dog Guide, and Eukanuba had to say. They all agree that dogs, just like us, can get sunburned. And the preventive means are similar, as well: Stay out of the sun between 10 and 3; use pet sunscreen; wear protective
clothes; buy doggy sunglasses — “Doggles.”
Somehow I don’t see myself doing any of those things for my dog. He’ll be fine. I’m fine, and I don’t do any of the stuff I’m supposed to do — except smear myself with Bullfrog sunscreen, which I can barely get off even by scrubbing in the shower. Also, the breeds that tend to get sunburned are white dogs, dogs with thin hair, and hairless dogs (Chinese Crested, Xoloitzcuintli). My boy is none of the above. Besides, he’s been out in the heat of the sun for two summers now, with no ill effects.
So I’m not going to worry about it. But at least I checked.
You know, I also wonder why the standard hand signal for bikers wanting to make a right turn is to “extend your left arm out sideways bent at a 90-degree angle at the elbow joint, hand pointing upward.” Wouldn’t it be a hell of a lot easier — and clearer — to just point to the right with your right index finger?
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My guess, and it is only a guess is that Kemba is not vulnerable to sunburns. The question I do have is…”Does Kemba go to the same colorist that treats our new President?” The similarities in pigment seem too coincidental.