By Pat Orr
For the Apple Valley Review

This coming Saturday, Sadie the Superdog and I will hopefully participate in the world record setting dog training class at the Paws ‘n Claws Pet Fair held in Civic Center Park. They are shooting for100 dogs and handlers to be all on the same page at the same time.

Kind of sounds like a canine version of a Republican presidential debate – the danger is palpable.

Since the AV Shelter was our source for Sadie in the first place, it seems only fitting she should come back and help them set a world record. Perhaps a “brush up” training exercise wouldn’t be bad either even though she is the only “off leash” trained dog I have ever had. Perhaps she can serve as a role model.

I do remember some group training episodes with our previous labs that gives me a little pause knowing there could be 100 animals, all with various states of obedience ability, in the same place at the same time. The old Stephen King novel, Cujo, comes to mind. But having read and signed the liability waiver required by each participant, this could turn into the velociraptor scene from Jurassic Park and the Town would still be free and clear.

So even if you don’t have a “dog in the hunt” as they say, it could be a good show. Stop by around 11:15 a.m. and see the record being set

Just be ready to run if the weiner dogs turn vicious.

Unusual unanimity

It seems our current crop of elected county, state and federal office holders are unusually comfortable with each other.

I note that an upcoming fund raiser for San Bernardino County 1st District Supervisor Robert Lovingood also prominently features the names of Assemblymen Chad Mayes and Jay Olbernolte as well as Congressman Paul Cook. While it’s not unusual for members of the same political party to be supportive of each other, it’s not often they all hang out at each other’s fundraisers.

This indicate two things to me.

First, the Assemblymen and Congressman see no real challengers in 2016 and aren’t as concerned with a limited High Desert donor base – as their financial needs may be lower than expected.

Secondly, Mr. Lovingood has been a willing ally on many fronts at the county level and they would like to see that cooperation and his tenure in office continue. This region is perhaps one of the few in California that has top-to-bottom conservative leadership in key offices.

It must drive the Dems and unions nuts.

Kick up yer heels pardner

After you spend all morning trying to get Fido to sit, it may be time to hit the old watering hole.

At least the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce hopes so.

The Chamber is hosting their Western themed event, “Hoedown at the Moose Lodge Watering Hole,” at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Apple Valley Moose Lodge at 21955 Highway 18.

Wear your flannel, boots and jeans with a Stetson and you’ll fit right in. They will have dinner, dancing and hootin' and hollerin' for $25 bucks a head. There may also be special table and sponsor deals left if you call the Chamber office right away at 760-242-2753.

Yee haw!

What I do

Whenever there is a contentious issue in town that I comment on — like the Ranchos vs. Town Water Wars or particularly when the political season really heats up — folks contact me with their own well thought out pieces of writing to counter my hastily scribbled weekly column.

All of these folks are looking for fairness and equal time.

Ain’t gonna happen.

I am not an editorial writer. I write from one very slanted point of view — my own. That is why they call this “opinion writing.” A good opinion piece and 99 cents will get you a cup of coffee at McDonald's, not much more.

I usually attempt to keep it light and informational and perhaps provoke a chuckle here and there. Yes, I have my biases, that’s why it is called an opinion. If you want facts you can get consensus on, try the Scientific American, it is a chock full of fact based information.

So if one of my snippets provokes a response from the reader, either negative or positive, I guess I have achieved the goal set for this space.

— Pat Orr is a local business owner, community volunteer and political junkie.