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An older Black woman hammers a fence board while a shepherd mix holds a stick and a white Maltese peeks up from below. 13 / 26

Grandma Odessa Grabbed Her Hammer to Fix the Fence. Two Dogs Showed Up to Help.

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That wobbly fence board is not going to fix itself, so Grandma Odessa has rolled up her sleeves. Wearing an olive hoodie and a look of steady concentration, she grips a claw hammer and lines up a nail on the weathered top rail. A bucket of tools and a pair of gardening gloves sit in the dirt behind her. She has company, of course. Duke, the big tan-and-black shepherd mix who is never far from the action, stands at her side holding a long stick in his mouth like he is handing her the next piece of lumber. Down below, peeking up between the fence slats, Pearl watches with round, curious eyes, looking very small and very interested.

Home repair projects call for a little extra caution when pets are nearby. Nails, screws, and splinters can injure paws and mouths, so it helps to keep a magnetic tray for hardware and sweep the area when finished. Keep swinging tools and power equipment away from curious noses. Many dogs love carrying sticks, but chewing them can lead to splinters in the mouth or throat, so a durable chew toy is a safer option. Also check that a repaired fence has no gaps low enough for a small dog like a Maltese to squeeze through.

Duke seems convinced he is the project manager, and Pearl seems happy to serve as quality control from a safe distance.

With helpers like these, the job might take a little longer, but it will definitely be more fun.

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