Each morning I wake up early in the morning to play tennis, and each morning I realize that I must wait an additional few minutes until it's light enough. I can't believe that there is only 1 month maximum of tennis days left! With that being said there is a huge need for someone to build indoor courts here in Yerevan. Apparently the Hrazdan Tennis Club is working on some that may be ready in 2006... here's hoping.

A week or so ago I was walking Rocky. My dog trainer seemed somewhat upset and told me the story of Gmpo. Gmpo was a stray dog that lived in one of the yard areas relatively close to my apartment. My trainer had found Gmpo when he was only a few weeks old in a puddle of water in the dead of winter. He took Gmpo into his home and nursed him to health over the next few months. After Gmpo was in good health, the trainer returned him to the same yard where the neighborhood children began taking care of him. Gmpo recently had his one year birthday. Unfortunately, he was killed shortly thereafter.

Although the city of Yerevan has consistently told the public that they do not kill stray dogs, they continue to do so. In Gmpo's case he was poisoned and then taken to an abandoned area where he was shot. It is a depressing topic that needs a solution! Apparently there is a woman who has opened up an animal shelter here that is going through the "remont" process. I must follow-up.