Wanna play with a puppy?

I’m a yogi who adores animals. On the glorious Saturday morning of Oct. 10, my friends and I participated in Puppy Yoga!

Instructor Kari Nietert from Dimitra Yoga led the event with 30 participants at the socially distanced outside patio of the Crooked Hammock in Lewes. Her composure was nothing short of miraculous as a passel of puppies darted in and around our legs and arms.

There was a whole new yogi experience when we assumed the position of downward-facing dog. Most of us couldn’t stop laughing as we all wanted the pups to come to our mats and lick our faces. We didn’t plan to do as much yoga as we did, but teacher Kari even took us to tree pose!

One participant, Deb Windsor, who works at Rehoboth Beach Animal Hospital and Urban Float, was so happy holding one puppy that I asked if I could take her picture. She gave me her email address so I could send it to her.

Many volunteers were on hand to manage the rambunctious antics of these four-legged cuties. Hannah and Gavin Purse from Seaford were expert puppy wranglers. Mom Amy Purse was proud of her children as they ran all over the lawn making certain the puppies didn’t get into too much trouble.

At one point, a puppy got ahold of someone’s sneaker and made a beeline right down the middle of one row of yoga mats.

My friends Karen and Ginny never stopped grinning the entire hour. The whole plan to join the class was Ginny’s idea. Six years ago, she convinced me that I needed a puppy in my life. Now she is hard at work trying to get our friend Mark to adopt one, too!

Linda Torelli, marketing director for the Brandywine Valley SPCA, said, “The Crooked Hammock has been a longtime partner and supporter of our work. All of the puppies were adopted at the shelter following the event.”

Isn’t that the best news you’ve heard in a long time?

The Brandywine Valley SPCA has shelters in Georgetown, New Castle, Dover and West Chester, Pa. Their website boasts 10,792 placements, 13,003 spay and neuters, and a 96 percent live release rate. You can tour their facilities, volunteer and make a donation on their website, bvspca.org.

I have had many conversations with other dog owners about where they got their pet. Whenever you encounter an owner with a rescue, there unfolds a knowing conversation between owners. Animals know who rescued them. And you know you were rescued, too.

The SPCA will be holding another puppy yoga session Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Crooked Hammock. Tickets are still available for $35 each with all proceeds benefiting the SPCA; go to secure.qgiv.com/for/ywpchl.