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Ground Dog Day: Cosmo gives a mixed prediction at inaugural event

Published on February 2, 2022

Will we have six more weeks of winter or an early spring? If Cosmo, a 40-pound mixed-breed pup, is right, we might have a little of both.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Huntsville Animal Services Director Dr. Karen Sheppard watch as Cosmo eats from the "Early Spring" bowl at the 2022 Ground Dog Day event. Mayor Battle is wearing a gray suit and is standing to the left of Dr. Sheppard, who is wearing blue scrubs.
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Huntsville Animal Services Director Dr. Karen Sheppard watch as Cosmo eats from the “Early Spring” bowl at the 2022 Ground Dog Day event. Cosmo ate from both bowls, though he chowed down on “Early Spring” first.

Cosmo made his prediction Wednesday morning at the inaugural Ground Dog Day at Huntsville Animal Services (HAS). Cosmo’s long tail wagged back and forth as he received encouragement from his handler, Mayor Tommy Battle.

“You’ve got a big job today,” the Mayor told him. “You have to figure out if we’re going to start spring or if we’ll have six more weeks of winter.”

The Mayor then walked the brown-and-white pooch forward so he could make his prediction. Cosmo approached the “More Winter” food bowl first, but then stopped and started chowing down on the “Early Spring” kibble.

After several bites of “Early Spring,” he returned to the “More Winter” bowl.

“We might a little spell of winter because he’s going to eat them both,” Mayor Battle said. “Great job, Cosmo!”

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Mayor Tommy Battle bends over to scratch the head of Cosmo at the inaugural Ground Dog Day event as Huntsville Animal Services Director Dr. Karen Sheppard, crouching, holds the leash.
Mayor Tommy Battle scratches the head of Cosmo at the inaugural Ground Dog Day event as Huntsville Animal Services Director Dr. Karen Sheppard holds the leash.

HAS Director Dr. Karen Sheppard said events like Ground Dog Day serve to remind the community there are plenty of great dogs like Cosmo available for adoption. Despite taking in 5,000 animals – about 3,000 dogs and 2,000 cats – HAS had a save rate of 95% in 2021.

“It was hard work every day and it was only successful because of all those who adopted, fostered and donated,” she said, while also giving credit to Mayor Battle and the City Council. “We had so many volunteers involved in the day-to-day activities, and there were also a lot of rescues that helped us save animals.”

Later this month, Huntsville Animal Services will host “I (heart) HAS,” a Valentine’s Day-themed event on Saturday, Feb. 12.

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