Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Smelly Dog
With apology to Phoebe:
Smelly Dog, Smelly Dog,What are they feeding you?
Smelly Dog, Smelly Dog It's not your fault
You may not be a bed of roses
You're not friend to those with noses
I'll miss you before we're done
Or the world will smell as one
Smelly Dog, Smelly Dog, It's not your fault
One, two, what's that smell?
Smelly Dog, Smelly Dog, What are they feeding you?
Smelly Dog, Smelly Dog You're getting fat
I think that I'm gonna be sick
It's your ears, and nose and pick part of it, tempt me
One, two, what's that smell?
All the other dogs in the neighborhood are saying this for your own good
What, you're fat, so you can't run
No fun, I bet, No fun
Smelly Dog, Smelly Dog,It's not your fault
We know what was in your food
They say it might affect your mood
You smell like something dead (3x)
One, two, what's that smell?
(Phoebe)Yeah, that's not the song
Smelly Dog, Smelly Dog,What are they feeding you?
Smelly Dog, Smelly Dog It's not your fault
You may not be a bed of roses
You're not friend to those with noses
I'll miss you before we're done
Or the world will smell as one
Smelly Dog, Smelly Dog, It's not your fault
One, two, what's that smell?
Smelly Dog, Smelly Dog, What are they feeding you?
Smelly Dog, Smelly Dog You're getting fat
I think that I'm gonna be sick
It's your ears, and nose and pick part of it, tempt me
One, two, what's that smell?
All the other dogs in the neighborhood are saying this for your own good
What, you're fat, so you can't run
No fun, I bet, No fun
Smelly Dog, Smelly Dog,It's not your fault
We know what was in your food
They say it might affect your mood
You smell like something dead (3x)
One, two, what's that smell?
(Phoebe)Yeah, that's not the song
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Quarantined Hound
Riley has been quarantined
The ear ointment is really messy and he seems to be able to extract it from the depths of his canine otic canals onto his face & head. YUK!! Too many people come in to see him and to give him an ear scratch or a belly rub. I just could not expose them to this mess. So the old fella is at home in lock down. We go home at noon and let him out for a few to roam the yard (lol)!
We miss you Riley! See ya next week!
The ear ointment is really messy and he seems to be able to extract it from the depths of his canine otic canals onto his face & head. YUK!! Too many people come in to see him and to give him an ear scratch or a belly rub. I just could not expose them to this mess. So the old fella is at home in lock down. We go home at noon and let him out for a few to roam the yard (lol)!
We miss you Riley! See ya next week!
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Doctor Wanda
We're back from the second vet visit. He loves to see all the other dogs & cats. New smells are a high for him. This time we saw Doctor Wanda. Our history with her goes back to her first days on the job in the 80's. She treated Pete (Re-Pete) for many years and has such a caring, but common sense way about her.
His final distemper shot went in without a flinch. The ears are a yeast infection & we now have the fix. I told her we were soul searching about the heart worm tx. It is such an expense, and considering our lack of information on his history we are having a hard time justifying the cost. She understands this and left the ball in our court.
We left in high spirits, he pooped on her grass, not mine (lol), and we went off to the shop. DH & I shared a breakfast biscuit and coffee while Riley roamed the shop. Big mistake!
The smell came first, followed by a raised eyebrow, then the question..."Riley do you have some bad gas or what?" Well it was the "or what"! In the front window no less, probably in full view of pedestrian traffic. Thank goodness our downtown is dead on Saturday mornings!
A very ashamed Riley went outside while I took care of the "or what".
Ups and downs are what we are given, no matter what area of our lives. S**t happens...we deal with the bad and enjoy the heck out of the good and thank God for second chances.
His final distemper shot went in without a flinch. The ears are a yeast infection & we now have the fix. I told her we were soul searching about the heart worm tx. It is such an expense, and considering our lack of information on his history we are having a hard time justifying the cost. She understands this and left the ball in our court.
We left in high spirits, he pooped on her grass, not mine (lol), and we went off to the shop. DH & I shared a breakfast biscuit and coffee while Riley roamed the shop. Big mistake!
The smell came first, followed by a raised eyebrow, then the question..."Riley do you have some bad gas or what?" Well it was the "or what"! In the front window no less, probably in full view of pedestrian traffic. Thank goodness our downtown is dead on Saturday mornings!
A very ashamed Riley went outside while I took care of the "or what".
Ups and downs are what we are given, no matter what area of our lives. S**t happens...we deal with the bad and enjoy the heck out of the good and thank God for second chances.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Going, Going, Gone!
I left him on the porch.
He did not have on his beeper collar, but that hasn't seemed to make a difference.
I talk on the phone. I fix supper. DH comes home, "where's the dog?" he asked. I said "in the utility room I guess. I think I let him in." No dog. No dog inside. No dog outside. No dog anywhere.
Called the dog. Look for the dog. No dog.
Resign self to fact dog has decided to leave. Continue to fix supper.
DH looks outside once more.
Riley is on the porch licking his personal places and looking very pleased with himself.
We let him in.
The inquisition begins. Yet he remains silent. No explaination. No apology.
Dogs...what can you say?
He did not have on his beeper collar, but that hasn't seemed to make a difference.
I talk on the phone. I fix supper. DH comes home, "where's the dog?" he asked. I said "in the utility room I guess. I think I let him in." No dog. No dog inside. No dog outside. No dog anywhere.
Called the dog. Look for the dog. No dog.
Resign self to fact dog has decided to leave. Continue to fix supper.
DH looks outside once more.
Riley is on the porch licking his personal places and looking very pleased with himself.
We let him in.
The inquisition begins. Yet he remains silent. No explaination. No apology.
Dogs...what can you say?
Thursday, January 18, 2007
What Does He Do All Day At My Job?
SSSNNNNZZZZZ.......................SSSNNNNZZZZZ..............................SSSNNNNZZZZZ.................
legs twitch..........little yelps are audible......................the dreams are real to him. He awakens suddenly, looks around for the rabbit/squirrell/cat..............none found............assesses his options............sniffs out a spot...........turns around a couple of times..............stretches his front legs and body out....................and collapses into a black and white heap of fur..................SSSSNNNNZZZZZ....................SSSSNNNNZZZZZ...............SSSSNNNNZZZZ.....
legs twitch...............little yelps are audible............................
Yep! That's the life of Riley!
legs twitch..........little yelps are audible......................the dreams are real to him. He awakens suddenly, looks around for the rabbit/squirrell/cat..............none found............assesses his options............sniffs out a spot...........turns around a couple of times..............stretches his front legs and body out....................and collapses into a black and white heap of fur..................SSSSNNNNZZZZZ....................SSSSNNNNZZZZZ...............SSSSNNNNZZZZ.....
legs twitch...............little yelps are audible............................
Yep! That's the life of Riley!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Speaking of Babies
On a totally different subject here. Today our daughter will have her first prenatal visit with her midwife. YIPPEE!! It is becoming real and we will sigh with relief as this first trimester comes to an end. I have not let myself get caught up in the baby game because it seemed so early. BUT today makes it official. Let the games begin!
I am not trying to lessen our daughter's reality. She has been so sick since conception. She has found that seaband bracelets are helpful and has developed many methods to handle the nausea and vomiting. While we are not close geographically, we have suffered along with them!
Today I will once again thank God for the baby he gave us almost 26 years ago and for the precious life she is carrying now.
I am not trying to lessen our daughter's reality. She has been so sick since conception. She has found that seaband bracelets are helpful and has developed many methods to handle the nausea and vomiting. While we are not close geographically, we have suffered along with them!
Today I will once again thank God for the baby he gave us almost 26 years ago and for the precious life she is carrying now.
He Makes Me Laugh!
Weird things to report. (may contain graphic descriptions of a dog's daily activities that some may find offensive)
While walking yesterday afternoon we arrived at his usual poop spot. He sniffed and weighed his options. Finally settling on an old stump of a small tree, about 4" in diameter , irregularly spiky on top and about 6" tall. He raised his right hind leg as though he were going to urinate. Instead he ended up straddling the stump with his hind legs, with his rump resting on the stump and he proceeded to poop. I was most definitely taken by surprise and was laughing so hard I was crying. The mental picture you are now having cannot begin to describe what this looked like. He of course eyed me with such humiliation that I had to turn away. He finished his business, climbed off the stump and happily trotted along the path while I wiped my eyes.
When we got back to the office I took off my gloves before unleashing him. We use a retractable leash with a bulky black plastic handle. It is wonderful for walks. But while I was ungloving he decided to take a stroll across the tile floor. The chase that ensued was nothing short of comical. The retractable leash handle hit the hard floor with a bang. A startled Riley yelped and took off running. Well you know what came next. The faster he ran the faster the leash chased him, and it made a terrible racket going across the hard tile. No commands I knew could stop him. He was terrified. When he hit the carpet and the noise subsided he stilled. I unleashed him and gave him some love and laughed some more.
While walking yesterday afternoon we arrived at his usual poop spot. He sniffed and weighed his options. Finally settling on an old stump of a small tree, about 4" in diameter , irregularly spiky on top and about 6" tall. He raised his right hind leg as though he were going to urinate. Instead he ended up straddling the stump with his hind legs, with his rump resting on the stump and he proceeded to poop. I was most definitely taken by surprise and was laughing so hard I was crying. The mental picture you are now having cannot begin to describe what this looked like. He of course eyed me with such humiliation that I had to turn away. He finished his business, climbed off the stump and happily trotted along the path while I wiped my eyes.
When we got back to the office I took off my gloves before unleashing him. We use a retractable leash with a bulky black plastic handle. It is wonderful for walks. But while I was ungloving he decided to take a stroll across the tile floor. The chase that ensued was nothing short of comical. The retractable leash handle hit the hard floor with a bang. A startled Riley yelped and took off running. Well you know what came next. The faster he ran the faster the leash chased him, and it made a terrible racket going across the hard tile. No commands I knew could stop him. He was terrified. When he hit the carpet and the noise subsided he stilled. I unleashed him and gave him some love and laughed some more.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
A Change of Attitude
Maybe it's just me, but it seems Riley has become a little attached to us. His cat-like demeanor is usually the norm. You know what I mean, his attention is only offered on his terms, in his time, and at his convenience.
Over the past few days I have realized he is seeking me. I am working at my desk and feel the soft nudging of a wet nose. I had not heard him approach. His gentleness still amazes me. Yet he is asking for affection. This is a first.
Last night at supper he actually ran to the table when I set the plates down. He was asked to lay down and he did, but at least he exhibited some normal dog behavior. As a reward he was given a steak bone and some steak fat in his bowl after we ate. At breakfast today he waited by the table until I was done and then enjoyed some scrambled eggs. I always heard the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. I guess men and dogs can be paralleled here also!
As I am typing this he is snoring under my desk with his head resting on my purse. What a picture!
Over the past few days I have realized he is seeking me. I am working at my desk and feel the soft nudging of a wet nose. I had not heard him approach. His gentleness still amazes me. Yet he is asking for affection. This is a first.
Last night at supper he actually ran to the table when I set the plates down. He was asked to lay down and he did, but at least he exhibited some normal dog behavior. As a reward he was given a steak bone and some steak fat in his bowl after we ate. At breakfast today he waited by the table until I was done and then enjoyed some scrambled eggs. I always heard the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. I guess men and dogs can be paralleled here also!
As I am typing this he is snoring under my desk with his head resting on my purse. What a picture!
Monday, January 15, 2007
The Dog Whisperer
Do you watch Caesar? We do. We love to see how he trains the owners to project the right attitude thus producing a well behaved dog. We have enjoyed it much more since Riley started watching it with us.
Usually he ignores everything and everyone at home. He finds a spot, lays down, licks himself and falls asleep. We wake him, take him outside, he comes back in and repeats the process. Any attempt to have him interact with our lives involves food from the refrigerator, not the dog treats bag. Ham is the most influential enticer. The wonderful smokey smell combined with the delicious salty taste cannot be ignored by this pooch. He is your slave.
BUT turn on the Dog Whisperer and wait. The first time a dog yips, howls, or barks Riley is at attention. He runs into the den, ears perked, tail wagging, and eyes bright. Small woofs come from him as he searches for the source of this noise. He usually finds his reflection in the patio door and assumes this is the culprit. Then the dogs on TV talk again. He whines, he sniffs and he searches. He finds the TV speakers and whines back at them. Then he sits in front of the TV and watches, cocking his head first left then right as he listens to his own language. His little spaniel head and floppy ears are just about cute! During commercials he loses interest but as soon as a dog speaks he's back! Now if only he would listen to Caesar and learn!
Usually he ignores everything and everyone at home. He finds a spot, lays down, licks himself and falls asleep. We wake him, take him outside, he comes back in and repeats the process. Any attempt to have him interact with our lives involves food from the refrigerator, not the dog treats bag. Ham is the most influential enticer. The wonderful smokey smell combined with the delicious salty taste cannot be ignored by this pooch. He is your slave.
BUT turn on the Dog Whisperer and wait. The first time a dog yips, howls, or barks Riley is at attention. He runs into the den, ears perked, tail wagging, and eyes bright. Small woofs come from him as he searches for the source of this noise. He usually finds his reflection in the patio door and assumes this is the culprit. Then the dogs on TV talk again. He whines, he sniffs and he searches. He finds the TV speakers and whines back at them. Then he sits in front of the TV and watches, cocking his head first left then right as he listens to his own language. His little spaniel head and floppy ears are just about cute! During commercials he loses interest but as soon as a dog speaks he's back! Now if only he would listen to Caesar and learn!
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Get That Dog A V8!
As we're approaching the one month anniversary of dog ownership I feel the need to update the world on the life of Riley.
a. He's still here.
b. He's still petrefied at the thought of going into the
yard.
c. He still stinks, but at a more tolerable level.
d. He has become known at work. We have visitors who
ask for Riley as soon as they hit the door. We have
pedestrian traffic looking for him through the
window.
e. His elimination communication has not improved,
but I seem to be getting more outside activity these
days.
f. He's a leaner. You ask what is a leaner? Well we are
all familiar with the breeds known as pointers and the
breeds known as setters. They are so named because
of the method in which they indicate the presence of
prey. Riley leans. Whenever at rest he leans. Against
legs, walls, windows, pretty much wherever he stops
he finds a surface on which to lean. He's a leaner.
When we are home on weekends he stays outside most of the day. Thankfully our winter has not shown up yet providing some beautiful 70 degree days. He stays on the porch (leaning against the wall) unless tethered in the backyard within the invisbly fenced area. We made his tether out there in hopes he would become comfortable in the space and wander around. He doesn't. He sits to be leashed to the tether and does not move from that point. WEIRD DOG!
No walks for him this weekend as we were sitting a 16 month old great-niece too. I did attempt a walk. I need a leash for her in order for this to work. We do take a long walk at the end of each work day and he is allowed to sniff out all of the downtown area. He's getting better on the leash which makes the walk so much more fun!
Things to remember this week are to get his shots and get her to check the ears...probable source of stench.
It's a dog's life and we should all take a cue from them. Greet everyone as though they are your best friends. If it smells bad, avoid it. Give love and you will get loved in return.
a. He's still here.
b. He's still petrefied at the thought of going into the
yard.
c. He still stinks, but at a more tolerable level.
d. He has become known at work. We have visitors who
ask for Riley as soon as they hit the door. We have
pedestrian traffic looking for him through the
window.
e. His elimination communication has not improved,
but I seem to be getting more outside activity these
days.
f. He's a leaner. You ask what is a leaner? Well we are
all familiar with the breeds known as pointers and the
breeds known as setters. They are so named because
of the method in which they indicate the presence of
prey. Riley leans. Whenever at rest he leans. Against
legs, walls, windows, pretty much wherever he stops
he finds a surface on which to lean. He's a leaner.
When we are home on weekends he stays outside most of the day. Thankfully our winter has not shown up yet providing some beautiful 70 degree days. He stays on the porch (leaning against the wall) unless tethered in the backyard within the invisbly fenced area. We made his tether out there in hopes he would become comfortable in the space and wander around. He doesn't. He sits to be leashed to the tether and does not move from that point. WEIRD DOG!
No walks for him this weekend as we were sitting a 16 month old great-niece too. I did attempt a walk. I need a leash for her in order for this to work. We do take a long walk at the end of each work day and he is allowed to sniff out all of the downtown area. He's getting better on the leash which makes the walk so much more fun!
Things to remember this week are to get his shots and get her to check the ears...probable source of stench.
It's a dog's life and we should all take a cue from them. Greet everyone as though they are your best friends. If it smells bad, avoid it. Give love and you will get loved in return.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Run Away Dog
He left the yard! This is an accomplishment that should not have gone unpunished. But after watching him become fearful of setting foot off the porch I didn't have the heart to scold him!
One morning this week I left him on the porch while we had breakfast. He had his beeper collar on but it was very lose. These days the beep alone is enough to send him running back to safety. I could hear a dog barking in the early dawn and watched Riley through the window. He seemed to be ignoring this greeting. I had returned to the kitchen when suddenly all hell broke loose. We heard a very excited bark that was moving quickly away from the house. By the time I opened the back door Riley was out of sight.
Across the street and 2 yards over was a large yellow lab with Riley doing his best imitation of that little dog in the cartoons we watched as kids. The one that kept jumping around the larger dog being a pest all the while. Does anyone know the names of those dogs? Help! I digress...
I called Riley and he ignored me. I started across the yards in my robe and slippers in the 25 degree air calling Riley. The lab took off and Riley disappeared into some shrubs. Then suddenly he was by my side, patiently sitting, waiting for me to leash him and off we trotted for home.
Oh yeah, the invisible fence, the one he ignored on the way out of the yard. Well he remembered it on the way back in. I drug him down the driveway, across the line of pain and into the house. He jumped for joy, ate some food and passed out. Too much adventure for an old fellow. Too early in the morning for this old girl!
One morning this week I left him on the porch while we had breakfast. He had his beeper collar on but it was very lose. These days the beep alone is enough to send him running back to safety. I could hear a dog barking in the early dawn and watched Riley through the window. He seemed to be ignoring this greeting. I had returned to the kitchen when suddenly all hell broke loose. We heard a very excited bark that was moving quickly away from the house. By the time I opened the back door Riley was out of sight.
Across the street and 2 yards over was a large yellow lab with Riley doing his best imitation of that little dog in the cartoons we watched as kids. The one that kept jumping around the larger dog being a pest all the while. Does anyone know the names of those dogs? Help! I digress...
I called Riley and he ignored me. I started across the yards in my robe and slippers in the 25 degree air calling Riley. The lab took off and Riley disappeared into some shrubs. Then suddenly he was by my side, patiently sitting, waiting for me to leash him and off we trotted for home.
Oh yeah, the invisible fence, the one he ignored on the way out of the yard. Well he remembered it on the way back in. I drug him down the driveway, across the line of pain and into the house. He jumped for joy, ate some food and passed out. Too much adventure for an old fellow. Too early in the morning for this old girl!
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Riley Comes Home
So for the past two weeks we have had a dog...we had no choice
He has been named Riley...we had no choice
He has ruled our lives...we had no choice
BUT he isn't the pack leader! NO HE ISN'T!!!
When I was at church Parker fired up the invisible fence. I found this out when I came home to dribbles up the steps and a dog that would not go outside. The same dog we had been trying so hard to keep inside.
It seems the beeping signal only increased his curiosity. He tried to find the source by digging. So he needed to realize what the beeping was warning him of. He found out. He didn't like it and he ran for the house. It's been 10 days and he still won't venture into the yard without a lot of bribing and tugging. We were so concerned that his headstrongness would be an issue, never expecting him to be such a softy. Any correction, be it verbal or physical really scares him. I shudder to think what his life was like pre-incarceration. He had been in lockup for 6 weeks when I first saw him. No one looked for him. No one cared.
Well he won't wander again, at least not from our home. We left him outside during the day this past weekend and he stayed on the porch all day with just the fear of being zapped keeping him home.
He rides to work with me each morning. This is not easy either. He doesn't mind riding, he just doesn't want to get into the increasingly smelly car. We have progressed though. At first I had to physically pick him up and put him in the back seat. After a few days I began to lift his front legs with my foot, placing them on the floor of the back seat. Then I would put my foot in his butt and shove him in the rest of the way. Today he actually climbed in on his own after being dragged to the door. Small steps! But progress non the less.
At work he pretty much sleeps. He moves around the building several times during the day, finding a new bed and collapsing again. When he is awake he gets nothing but loving from 90% of the people who come in. You can tell dog people. As soon as a dogger sees him they bend down and scratch an ear. They invite him to jump up on them and chuckle at his obvious joy. A non-dogger will either totally ignore his presence or make a snide remark such as "oh, you have a dog" or " can't you get that smell off of him?"
His favorite activity at work is looking out the large windows that frame the front of our building. As he watches the world go by he reacts differently to each person. A child will make him whine and scratch to be allowed out. Someone with dogs will get a "gruff" out of him. The ubiquitous train whistle makes him talk. We wonder if the whistle hurts his ears. He will raise his little round hound mouth to the sky and howl in tune with the train. If you have ever heard a beagle/hound talk you know what I mean. As soon as the whistle stops he stops.
Walking the dog has become an activity shared by myself, John & Parker. John loves the dog and would come to work just to care for him. They take frequent strolls around the building and down to a retention pond. The grassy area is full of sticker burrs and he often has to be rescued as his paw pads fill with them. Some days he refuses to go on the grass and I can't blame him. They hurt!
So begins our life with Riley. We wonder how long we will be his custodians. He sleeps so much and any activity tires him quickly. Tomorrow I take him for his second round of shots and to schedule the heart worm treatment. Maybe the vet can help with the smell problem too.
A pet asks so little of us. I realize if we treated the people we meet in our daily lives with the same caring as we do this little animal, then we might be just a little more Christ-like.
As I type, he snores and the day starts to pass me by. Gotta get to work.
Sleep on Riley!
He has been named Riley...we had no choice
He has ruled our lives...we had no choice
BUT he isn't the pack leader! NO HE ISN'T!!!
When I was at church Parker fired up the invisible fence. I found this out when I came home to dribbles up the steps and a dog that would not go outside. The same dog we had been trying so hard to keep inside.
It seems the beeping signal only increased his curiosity. He tried to find the source by digging. So he needed to realize what the beeping was warning him of. He found out. He didn't like it and he ran for the house. It's been 10 days and he still won't venture into the yard without a lot of bribing and tugging. We were so concerned that his headstrongness would be an issue, never expecting him to be such a softy. Any correction, be it verbal or physical really scares him. I shudder to think what his life was like pre-incarceration. He had been in lockup for 6 weeks when I first saw him. No one looked for him. No one cared.
Well he won't wander again, at least not from our home. We left him outside during the day this past weekend and he stayed on the porch all day with just the fear of being zapped keeping him home.
He rides to work with me each morning. This is not easy either. He doesn't mind riding, he just doesn't want to get into the increasingly smelly car. We have progressed though. At first I had to physically pick him up and put him in the back seat. After a few days I began to lift his front legs with my foot, placing them on the floor of the back seat. Then I would put my foot in his butt and shove him in the rest of the way. Today he actually climbed in on his own after being dragged to the door. Small steps! But progress non the less.
At work he pretty much sleeps. He moves around the building several times during the day, finding a new bed and collapsing again. When he is awake he gets nothing but loving from 90% of the people who come in. You can tell dog people. As soon as a dogger sees him they bend down and scratch an ear. They invite him to jump up on them and chuckle at his obvious joy. A non-dogger will either totally ignore his presence or make a snide remark such as "oh, you have a dog" or " can't you get that smell off of him?"
His favorite activity at work is looking out the large windows that frame the front of our building. As he watches the world go by he reacts differently to each person. A child will make him whine and scratch to be allowed out. Someone with dogs will get a "gruff" out of him. The ubiquitous train whistle makes him talk. We wonder if the whistle hurts his ears. He will raise his little round hound mouth to the sky and howl in tune with the train. If you have ever heard a beagle/hound talk you know what I mean. As soon as the whistle stops he stops.
Walking the dog has become an activity shared by myself, John & Parker. John loves the dog and would come to work just to care for him. They take frequent strolls around the building and down to a retention pond. The grassy area is full of sticker burrs and he often has to be rescued as his paw pads fill with them. Some days he refuses to go on the grass and I can't blame him. They hurt!
So begins our life with Riley. We wonder how long we will be his custodians. He sleeps so much and any activity tires him quickly. Tomorrow I take him for his second round of shots and to schedule the heart worm treatment. Maybe the vet can help with the smell problem too.
A pet asks so little of us. I realize if we treated the people we meet in our daily lives with the same caring as we do this little animal, then we might be just a little more Christ-like.
As I type, he snores and the day starts to pass me by. Gotta get to work.
Sleep on Riley!
The Gifting of the Dog
Another bath. Another trip in the not so clean car.
"Mama we brought on old gentleman for you to meet."
"Did you bring him for me?"
"If you want him he's yours"
(dog licks hand of future owner, lays down and asks for a belly rub. smart move dog!)
The introduction continued for a couple of hours. During which time he managed to steal some food off the kitchen table and tolerate a walk outside to water the azaleas. The final outcome was this...
"I would like to keep him but do you mind taking him home with you until I get things ready for him here?"
"No problem" we reply. We take dog home, still nameless at this time.
Bedtime, dog is in lockdown in our utility room, we are asleep. Phone rings.
"TAKE THE DAMN DOG BACK!"
"grunt, groan, what did you say?"
"Take him back to the shelter, she doesn't want him, blah blah blah..."
Nightmares can happen when you are awake! We go back to sleep, seems safer.
Because of the Christmas holiday and the weekend the animal shelter is closed for the next 5 days. Dog gets another bath. We buy dog food. We buy a red leash and collar. We walk the dog, but evidently not enough. Wet surprises are cleaned up and the scolding begins. We prepare for the homecoming of our only child, her husband and her chocolate lab.
2 A.M. they arrive. The dogs are introduced outside and love each other. Romping ensues.
We learn we are to be GRANDPARENTS!!!! YIPEEE!!!! Good news! What a gift!
"Wanna dog for the new baby?"
"No, you need him."
"No I don't."
"Yes you do."
Christmas comes and goes with all the usual bluster. Visiting, eating, gifting, and this year a new activity. RE-WRAPPING gifts. It seems that having a tree in the house with a not too indoor dog creates all kinds of issues. Luckily our guest are doggy people who laugh as they help clean up dog's mess.
The 5 days are up and the decision is made. WE DO NOT NEED TO KEEP THIS DOG. But I cannot take him back. For days I have been so critical of whoever abandoned this dog and here I am considering doing the same. Did I mention Santa left him a new leash and some treats? He doesn't seem to want the treats, nor does he require play. He sleeps, eats, eliminates and asks for belly rubs.
Parker had Dan get a battery for Pete's electric dog collar, he fixed the wire.
Riley gets a second chance.
"Mama we brought on old gentleman for you to meet."
"Did you bring him for me?"
"If you want him he's yours"
(dog licks hand of future owner, lays down and asks for a belly rub. smart move dog!)
The introduction continued for a couple of hours. During which time he managed to steal some food off the kitchen table and tolerate a walk outside to water the azaleas. The final outcome was this...
"I would like to keep him but do you mind taking him home with you until I get things ready for him here?"
"No problem" we reply. We take dog home, still nameless at this time.
Bedtime, dog is in lockdown in our utility room, we are asleep. Phone rings.
"TAKE THE DAMN DOG BACK!"
"grunt, groan, what did you say?"
"Take him back to the shelter, she doesn't want him, blah blah blah..."
Nightmares can happen when you are awake! We go back to sleep, seems safer.
Because of the Christmas holiday and the weekend the animal shelter is closed for the next 5 days. Dog gets another bath. We buy dog food. We buy a red leash and collar. We walk the dog, but evidently not enough. Wet surprises are cleaned up and the scolding begins. We prepare for the homecoming of our only child, her husband and her chocolate lab.
2 A.M. they arrive. The dogs are introduced outside and love each other. Romping ensues.
We learn we are to be GRANDPARENTS!!!! YIPEEE!!!! Good news! What a gift!
"Wanna dog for the new baby?"
"No, you need him."
"No I don't."
"Yes you do."
Christmas comes and goes with all the usual bluster. Visiting, eating, gifting, and this year a new activity. RE-WRAPPING gifts. It seems that having a tree in the house with a not too indoor dog creates all kinds of issues. Luckily our guest are doggy people who laugh as they help clean up dog's mess.
The 5 days are up and the decision is made. WE DO NOT NEED TO KEEP THIS DOG. But I cannot take him back. For days I have been so critical of whoever abandoned this dog and here I am considering doing the same. Did I mention Santa left him a new leash and some treats? He doesn't seem to want the treats, nor does he require play. He sleeps, eats, eliminates and asks for belly rubs.
Parker had Dan get a battery for Pete's electric dog collar, he fixed the wire.
Riley gets a second chance.
Monday, January 8, 2007
In The Beginning
In the beginning I feel like God must have placed a dog in the home of Adam & Eve. What sane human can live without the faithful, unconditional love offered by dogs? Here is the story of our dogs.
Our first dog arrived on Mother's Day 1978. The first holiday/gift giving event of our married life. Having been raised on farms and having always had the companionship of dogs, we felt the need to add to our new family. But not just any dog would do. We shopped the classified ads and drove 50 miles to a cocker spaniel breeder and adopted Beau. He was beautiful! Buff colored, with a rough coat and wild! We had no experience with a dog that required grooming or at the least housebreaking. All of our pets had been in some form of a hound and kept outdoors. So the fun began. He was our first baby.
We kept Beau until our daughter began to walk. Having the two of them bouncing around our 900 square foot home sometimes bordered on insanity. They fed off of each other! Like a jet engine the more they ran the harder they ran, creating energy into infinity. Something had to go and after a brief moment we decided it would be the dog.
Becky filled our lives with joy and we didn't miss having a pet so much. Then as she grew we decided it was time Becky had a dog. Christmas morning 1984 Santa left a tri-colored beagle pup with a big red bow around his neck. He was 6 weeks old and had the most adorable floppy ears and big sad brown eyes. This time we knew about house breaking and thankfully no major grooming was required. He was the perfect pet. His name was Pete. He was a smart cookie and this brought on his demise. One day when we were all at work and school he opened the gate and let himself out of the backyard, probably in search of small game. For days we searched. No Pete. Then a friend called to say he had found Pete on the side of a busy road. He was alive but pretty broken up. A victim of hit and run by an uncaring person. The vet declared him fixable for about a grand but with no guarantee that he would be able to run and play again. We made a hard decision, but with that prognosis it seemed the only solution. I held him close. He snuggled against my chest, whimpering and slowly relaxed and was a peace. Through tears I drove him home and Parker buried him in our back yard.
Broken hearted and feeling very lost without a wet nose to nuzzle our hands, we called the same breeder and when his next litter of beagles was ready we adopted again. Becky was only 5 years old and the dogs looked so similar that she just began calling him Pete. It was as though the first beagle had never left home. So we followed her lead and he became Pete. When he made his initial vet visit Dr. Irving said that he couldn't have the same name and dubbed him Re-Pete. At home he was always Pete but at the vet's office he was Re-Pete. Thankfully we never had to explain this to the dog. He just accepted it as fact and went on with his happy dog life.
His happiest moments were snuffling around in the yard tracking squirrels and rabbits into the woods behind our house. Parker's dad called him Nose to the Ground! He was a really sweet fella and as much our child as Becky. She often referred to him as her brother!
When we moved in 1989 the new street was so busy that we felt it would be unsafe to keep Pete outside. He loved the outdoors and with no fencing the yard was off limits unless he was leashed. That nose would lead him astray without so much as a glance our way. So he went to live with his Aunt Sue in the country. He hunted and roamed at will. He sported injuries and toughened up. He became a dog's dog. After about a year we realized it was time to bring him home and with the new invisible fencing available we thought we would give it a shot.
He quickly learned his boundries and lived his days outside with access to the garage for shelter. A newly installed doggie door gave him direct entry into the house too. Life was good for Pete until we found he had heart worms. This time we felt a responsibility to fix the problem and he went through life threatening arsenic treatment for the nasty stuff. He lived another 9 years! Thanks Dr. Wanda!
We moved twice more and with each move we re-installed the fence wire and Pete would venture carefully into the new yard, finding the invisible lines that kept him safe.
In 1999 Becky left for college. Pete became our baby again, filling a void we had dreaded for so long. However the empty nest was soon filled with worries about a flood that wiped out much of our downtown including our office & shop. We worked out of home for 3 months and Pete enjoyed all the attention from us, our workers, family and delivery people. His health was failing and with meds we were able to make life good for him.
In February 2000, just after we moved back into our building downtown, my mother passed away. Once again that warm puppy with wet nose comforted me.
As the summer came it became more and more obvious that his time with us was coming to an end. One late August morning we woke before dawn to check on him. He was snuggled in his bed, peaceful, we liked to think he was chasing rabbits in heaven and maybe God would let him catch one or two. He was buried in our back yard with his favorite toys and blanket.
We wept.
Our first dog arrived on Mother's Day 1978. The first holiday/gift giving event of our married life. Having been raised on farms and having always had the companionship of dogs, we felt the need to add to our new family. But not just any dog would do. We shopped the classified ads and drove 50 miles to a cocker spaniel breeder and adopted Beau. He was beautiful! Buff colored, with a rough coat and wild! We had no experience with a dog that required grooming or at the least housebreaking. All of our pets had been in some form of a hound and kept outdoors. So the fun began. He was our first baby.
We kept Beau until our daughter began to walk. Having the two of them bouncing around our 900 square foot home sometimes bordered on insanity. They fed off of each other! Like a jet engine the more they ran the harder they ran, creating energy into infinity. Something had to go and after a brief moment we decided it would be the dog.
Becky filled our lives with joy and we didn't miss having a pet so much. Then as she grew we decided it was time Becky had a dog. Christmas morning 1984 Santa left a tri-colored beagle pup with a big red bow around his neck. He was 6 weeks old and had the most adorable floppy ears and big sad brown eyes. This time we knew about house breaking and thankfully no major grooming was required. He was the perfect pet. His name was Pete. He was a smart cookie and this brought on his demise. One day when we were all at work and school he opened the gate and let himself out of the backyard, probably in search of small game. For days we searched. No Pete. Then a friend called to say he had found Pete on the side of a busy road. He was alive but pretty broken up. A victim of hit and run by an uncaring person. The vet declared him fixable for about a grand but with no guarantee that he would be able to run and play again. We made a hard decision, but with that prognosis it seemed the only solution. I held him close. He snuggled against my chest, whimpering and slowly relaxed and was a peace. Through tears I drove him home and Parker buried him in our back yard.
Broken hearted and feeling very lost without a wet nose to nuzzle our hands, we called the same breeder and when his next litter of beagles was ready we adopted again. Becky was only 5 years old and the dogs looked so similar that she just began calling him Pete. It was as though the first beagle had never left home. So we followed her lead and he became Pete. When he made his initial vet visit Dr. Irving said that he couldn't have the same name and dubbed him Re-Pete. At home he was always Pete but at the vet's office he was Re-Pete. Thankfully we never had to explain this to the dog. He just accepted it as fact and went on with his happy dog life.
His happiest moments were snuffling around in the yard tracking squirrels and rabbits into the woods behind our house. Parker's dad called him Nose to the Ground! He was a really sweet fella and as much our child as Becky. She often referred to him as her brother!
When we moved in 1989 the new street was so busy that we felt it would be unsafe to keep Pete outside. He loved the outdoors and with no fencing the yard was off limits unless he was leashed. That nose would lead him astray without so much as a glance our way. So he went to live with his Aunt Sue in the country. He hunted and roamed at will. He sported injuries and toughened up. He became a dog's dog. After about a year we realized it was time to bring him home and with the new invisible fencing available we thought we would give it a shot.
He quickly learned his boundries and lived his days outside with access to the garage for shelter. A newly installed doggie door gave him direct entry into the house too. Life was good for Pete until we found he had heart worms. This time we felt a responsibility to fix the problem and he went through life threatening arsenic treatment for the nasty stuff. He lived another 9 years! Thanks Dr. Wanda!
We moved twice more and with each move we re-installed the fence wire and Pete would venture carefully into the new yard, finding the invisible lines that kept him safe.
In 1999 Becky left for college. Pete became our baby again, filling a void we had dreaded for so long. However the empty nest was soon filled with worries about a flood that wiped out much of our downtown including our office & shop. We worked out of home for 3 months and Pete enjoyed all the attention from us, our workers, family and delivery people. His health was failing and with meds we were able to make life good for him.
In February 2000, just after we moved back into our building downtown, my mother passed away. Once again that warm puppy with wet nose comforted me.
As the summer came it became more and more obvious that his time with us was coming to an end. One late August morning we woke before dawn to check on him. He was snuggled in his bed, peaceful, we liked to think he was chasing rabbits in heaven and maybe God would let him catch one or two. He was buried in our back yard with his favorite toys and blanket.
We wept.
Why Not To Give Dogs As Gifts
I have been harping on the fact that we are dogless for the past couple of years. "Wait until we retire" is all I ever get from my other half. That and "we aren't home enough to take care of a dog". So we have been dogless since 2000. I have enjoyed other people's dogs and watched dog shows and looked at adoption sites on line. But to actually seek out canine companionship was not in the cards.
Then this past Christmas it became an issue. Not for myself mind you, but as a gift to my mother-in-law. She also has wished aloud for a dog. So this year her daughter declared it the year to get her a dog. I was to search the local shelter and she would get the accessories necessary such as bedding and dishes.
Well after several calls to our Animal Control Officer I was finally able to meet him at the shelter. We have a small shelter and there were only 4 possible choices. The 1st was a pair of black lab/chow siblings that he wanted to adopt out together. Not an option for us. The 2nd was a yellow lab that was very rambunctious. Also not an option. The 3 pits were on death row. REALLY not an option. And the final choice was "Fat Boy", a beagle/spaniel mix with some age on him. And some funk on him too! He was black and white and very sausage-like, I believe he could be described as portly. But he was gentle. An "old gentleman" Parker would later call him.
So phone calls were made, the dog was put in my clean car with his pink leash and smelly blanket and off we went to my office. Oh yeah, the last person that took him home brought him back because he threw up in their truck.
First order of business was the smell. We have a laundry tub in the shop. I ran some warm water, found the Joy dishwashing liquid and said a prayer. This fella still had all his goods and I was a stranger to him. But on a mission I was. Into the sink he went. All 37 pounds of him. And he let me wash him! It still amazes me. From little spaniel head to his curiously shortened tail I scrubbed every inch with hopes he would soon be lemon fresh.
Well the first layer came off with a cup or two of his black and white coat. Rinsed and rubbed down with an old towel he was allowed back on ground level and out on the leash to shake. Apparantly I did not use enough Joy. As the men came in from work all I heard was "good gosh what is that smell?". Then they would see the dog and understand. At home that night he was scrubbed again. After he christened my living room rug. hmmmm dogs...
The next morning we went to the vet. He was examined and declared to be wonderful with one exception. Heart Worms. $300.00 worth of heart worms. But worth fixing according to the vet. She confided in him that he was about to have the "life of Riley!". He revelled in her attention, his stubby tail had to be doing 1725 wpm (wags per minute). He tolerated having his shots and we were on the way back to town. After discussions with all parties involved it was decided that one does not give a dog with heart worms as a gift. Seems kinda tacky doesn't it?
Back to the shelter we went. Afterall no one else wanted him either. I turned him over to Roy and left with a very guilty conscience. What would become of an older dog with heart worms? Do you really need me to tell you?
As I headed back to the office my cell rang. "Let's go ahead and let Mom meet him. If she likes him we can all help with the vet bills. He's so sweet."
Back to the shelter! Quick! Before he gets re-funked! What a greeting he gave me! Jumping up and offering kisses as though I were his long lost friend.
Back to the office. Back to work. Back to stinky dog smells. Teach elimination communication!
Then this past Christmas it became an issue. Not for myself mind you, but as a gift to my mother-in-law. She also has wished aloud for a dog. So this year her daughter declared it the year to get her a dog. I was to search the local shelter and she would get the accessories necessary such as bedding and dishes.
Well after several calls to our Animal Control Officer I was finally able to meet him at the shelter. We have a small shelter and there were only 4 possible choices. The 1st was a pair of black lab/chow siblings that he wanted to adopt out together. Not an option for us. The 2nd was a yellow lab that was very rambunctious. Also not an option. The 3 pits were on death row. REALLY not an option. And the final choice was "Fat Boy", a beagle/spaniel mix with some age on him. And some funk on him too! He was black and white and very sausage-like, I believe he could be described as portly. But he was gentle. An "old gentleman" Parker would later call him.
So phone calls were made, the dog was put in my clean car with his pink leash and smelly blanket and off we went to my office. Oh yeah, the last person that took him home brought him back because he threw up in their truck.
First order of business was the smell. We have a laundry tub in the shop. I ran some warm water, found the Joy dishwashing liquid and said a prayer. This fella still had all his goods and I was a stranger to him. But on a mission I was. Into the sink he went. All 37 pounds of him. And he let me wash him! It still amazes me. From little spaniel head to his curiously shortened tail I scrubbed every inch with hopes he would soon be lemon fresh.
Well the first layer came off with a cup or two of his black and white coat. Rinsed and rubbed down with an old towel he was allowed back on ground level and out on the leash to shake. Apparantly I did not use enough Joy. As the men came in from work all I heard was "good gosh what is that smell?". Then they would see the dog and understand. At home that night he was scrubbed again. After he christened my living room rug. hmmmm dogs...
The next morning we went to the vet. He was examined and declared to be wonderful with one exception. Heart Worms. $300.00 worth of heart worms. But worth fixing according to the vet. She confided in him that he was about to have the "life of Riley!". He revelled in her attention, his stubby tail had to be doing 1725 wpm (wags per minute). He tolerated having his shots and we were on the way back to town. After discussions with all parties involved it was decided that one does not give a dog with heart worms as a gift. Seems kinda tacky doesn't it?
Back to the shelter we went. Afterall no one else wanted him either. I turned him over to Roy and left with a very guilty conscience. What would become of an older dog with heart worms? Do you really need me to tell you?
As I headed back to the office my cell rang. "Let's go ahead and let Mom meet him. If she likes him we can all help with the vet bills. He's so sweet."
Back to the shelter! Quick! Before he gets re-funked! What a greeting he gave me! Jumping up and offering kisses as though I were his long lost friend.
Back to the office. Back to work. Back to stinky dog smells. Teach elimination communication!
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