I had another post-op check-up with my veterinary surgeon Russ Gurevitch, DVM (Veterinary Referral Surgical Services in Petaluma, California).

I'm so happy that Dr. Gurevitch says he sees progress. He was pleased at how I could run along pretty steadily as he watched me outside the clinic. Dr. G told my dog-ma that I'll get even better.

My back muscles and legs are definitely stronger. I can play with the ball and roll around in the dirt. But I tire quickly. Well, whaddya expect after a vertebral spine hemilaminectomy and multiple disc fenestration?

Dog-ma sez I look and act like my old self, except that I'm faking the finer points of back leg coordination. That's why I skid around corners and, though I hate to admit it, I kinda fall over easily. But I get back right up!

I probably have only one more follow-up visit with Dr. Gurevitch. I'll keep you posted.

I got back to Bodega Bay. The first time I've been on the Sonoma Coast since my back surgery. I didn't get to jump or run fast. I sniffed a lot. The cool sea air and ocean. The seafood smells coming from The Tides Wharf and Bay View restaurants. I like the Tides Wharf boardwalk. It's a five-star dog sniffstination. And a big, safe space to walk around.

You know I love the beach. But did you know I love having my head scratched by the one and only Tippi Hedren?

Tippi Hedren was at Tides Wharf signing photos and talking to humans on July 4 and 5. She comes back often 'cuz this is the film location where Alfred Hitchock made the 1963 classic The Birds. Tippi Hedren is the movie's star. She's also Melanie Griffith's mother and a "den mother" to many animals.

I sat down on the rug next to Ms. Hedren at her Tides table. You can feel what a nice person she is. She and her assistant asked dog-ma about my surgery when they saw I'm missing fur on my back. My buddy Jack corgi squeezed in next to the table. Usually shy, he didn't want to leave Ms. Hedren's side once she started scratching his ears. He and I know this was the kind of scratching and stroking you get only from a real animal lover.

Years ago, Tippi Hedren started Shambala Preserve and Roar Foundation in southern California. Not to make pets out of lions, tigers, leopards, lynxes, cougars, and other exotic cats, but to protect them. To rescue them from mistreatment and neglect. Elephants too. Shambala is a true sanctuary, a place that doesn't breed, buy, sell, trade, or use animals commercially.

Ms. Hedren talks to the public about the problems of exotic pet ownership, and she advocates for legislation to protect big cats. She and dog-ma talked about the costs of caring for animals — a million dollars a year to take care of the Shambala cats! — and the impawtance of spaying and neutering pets. These humans worry about how all animals will fare in a tougher economy.

Anything having to do with animals is highly politicized, and I'm wading into deep water taking a pawsition. But I, Tilin corgi, support dog-ma in supporting other humans who want to limit private exotic animal ownership. Dog-ma has BIG reasons for supporting Ms. Hedren and others who help with exotic animal rescue and accredited sanctuaries. She barked, "Few individuals, no matter how well meaning or rich, succeed in providing a safe haven for wild or exotic animals. Individuals apparently have a hard enough time trying to take care of domestic animals, including farm animals. . . ." She went on like this half the way back from Bodega.