Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
And now...the REST of the story...
DD#2 got her dream job at a vet's office. The doctor also has a no-kill pet shelter, and she naturally helps take care of them. The employees are allowed to foster the homeless dogs (they have about 15 I think) for a couple of days to get the animals out of the kennels, so they can run around outside, interact with humans, etc. This dog (below), Shaggy, was DD's favorite. At first I was totally against fostering a dog because of the four cats that live with us. The last time we tried having a dog, they disappeared and we didn't see them for the entire time the dog was in the house. We wound up having to find a home for the dog, who was a wonderful animal: very intelligent, sweet natured but rambunctious. She terrorized the cats who, after all, were here first. I hated giving her up, but we did find a nice family who really wanted her.
But, after much negotiating I caved, with the conditions that she would clean up after him, walk him, and if it didn't work out, no more dogs.
Well.
Five minutes after meeting this dog, I was ready to adopt him.
I know. I'm a wuss.
He was being treated for heart worm, so DH and I agreed that we'd see how things went and if the cats could tolerate him, we'd talk to the vet about adoption once his heartworms were cleared up.
It never occurred to any of us that they would put him up for adoption before he was over the heartworms. That very night, DD got a call from the vet's office saying she had to bring him back the next morning because he'd been adopted!
We were all so disappointed that DH called the vet to see if anything could be reversed but a contract had been signed. We had to take Shaggy back.
It was pretty sad for all of us, even though we'd only had him a matter of hours. I rarely meet an animal that I do not like, and I have to control my impulse to adopt every one I see (nearly adopted a Greyhound a few weeks ago!) But we all really connected with Shaggy, maybe because he was so gentle and calm, he was sick, somebody had abandoned him....but the good thing is, where nobody wanted him a short while ago, now two families were fighting over him. He got a good home, and that's what counts.
Unfortunately, there will always be homeless dogs, I'm afraid, so we'll see if another one comes along that we like as well and that fits into this cat menagerie.
I'd like to find one that could be trained as a search and rescue dog like the ones I see at the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk. That is a huge committment but must be so rewarding, and the dog would get excellent training.
I'll keep you posted.
But, after much negotiating I caved, with the conditions that she would clean up after him, walk him, and if it didn't work out, no more dogs.
Well.
Five minutes after meeting this dog, I was ready to adopt him.
I know. I'm a wuss.
He was being treated for heart worm, so DH and I agreed that we'd see how things went and if the cats could tolerate him, we'd talk to the vet about adoption once his heartworms were cleared up.
It never occurred to any of us that they would put him up for adoption before he was over the heartworms. That very night, DD got a call from the vet's office saying she had to bring him back the next morning because he'd been adopted!
We were all so disappointed that DH called the vet to see if anything could be reversed but a contract had been signed. We had to take Shaggy back.
It was pretty sad for all of us, even though we'd only had him a matter of hours. I rarely meet an animal that I do not like, and I have to control my impulse to adopt every one I see (nearly adopted a Greyhound a few weeks ago!) But we all really connected with Shaggy, maybe because he was so gentle and calm, he was sick, somebody had abandoned him....but the good thing is, where nobody wanted him a short while ago, now two families were fighting over him. He got a good home, and that's what counts.
Unfortunately, there will always be homeless dogs, I'm afraid, so we'll see if another one comes along that we like as well and that fits into this cat menagerie.
I'd like to find one that could be trained as a search and rescue dog like the ones I see at the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk. That is a huge committment but must be so rewarding, and the dog would get excellent training.
I'll keep you posted.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Doctor Visit
The Dog We Almost AdoptedI was happy to get the yearly physical over with last week. Happy also to get my blood test results and see that everything is pretty much the same as last year, a little better, even. Cholesteral and triglycerides are in good shape as are LDL and HDL. BP 120/70. Weight is holding steady. Not bad for a 60 year old (almost).
I just have to get the exercise mojo going again. I have a bike and I love to ride but transporting the thing is a nuisance without a bike rack which I cannot bring myself to buy. They cost more than the bike.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Around the Blogs in Eighty (not necessarily consecutive) Days
The King of New York Hacks
I am a died in the wool Southerner, born and raised in Atlanta.
But I Love New York.
So I was thrilled beyond measure when this blogger commented here in the Siberia of blogland.
You must visit his blog and take in the sights and sounds of the Big Apple (does anybody in NYC call it that, or is it just us hicks out here in the rest of the mundane world?) and his engaging posts on life as a New York City taxi driver!
Thanks, Hack, for stopping by!
[edited: DYED. Thanks Norma]
I am a died in the wool Southerner, born and raised in Atlanta.
But I Love New York.
So I was thrilled beyond measure when this blogger commented here in the Siberia of blogland.
You must visit his blog and take in the sights and sounds of the Big Apple (does anybody in NYC call it that, or is it just us hicks out here in the rest of the mundane world?) and his engaging posts on life as a New York City taxi driver!
Thanks, Hack, for stopping by!
[edited: DYED. Thanks Norma]
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