Friday, August 05, 2005
Dog Days of Summer
Bailey the Chesapeake Bay Retriever and Casey the Golden Retriever lived at my Dad's house while I lived at my mom's. They made visiting my Dad's house easier. My brother Kevin would call me a porker, tears would stream and Casey would come up and comfort me. (He was a fat puppy). I'd go into the backyard upset after Shane teased me and watch Bailey wrestle rocks to pass the time as my tears dried. Dogs are wonderful creatures, truly man's best friend. I always wanted my own dog since I was a kid. My mother never allowed it. Another mouth to feed would be too much. I came close once. I always asked to go into pet stores just to look. And one time my mom started asking the store clerk about a cock-a-poo. "Oh they don't shed?" "Below average exercise? One meal a day?" My mom said she'd think about it. I'm still waiting for her answer.
But that chapter is over. Now I’m an unemployed adult who can make her own decisions. So last weekend AVM & I went to adopt a dog. First stop was the ASPCA. They didn't have any that would work for me. They only had about 10-15 even available for adoption. They said to try back in a week.
We then headed up to the CACC on 110th street. This is a kill shelter. It was awful. A skinny old toothless man was in charge of taking the dogs out of their cages for you. The cages were full, and the barking was loud. Sad eyes gazed at me. Tears started rolling. I took one 7-year-old Terrier out of his cage. He went nuts. They didn't have any quiet areas to get to know the dogs. The terrier was skin and bones, but full of piss. He splashed it all over the floor. I imagine it still hasn't been cleaned up. I put the terrier back, walked out of the building sobbing.
Too many unwanted animals. People are more than welcome to be irresponsible with their own lives. Leave the animals alone.
I checked the ASPCA website the next few days. Nobody new was popping up. Last night I decided to check out the North Shore Animal League. AVM was at work, and was not going to be able to go with me, I said I'd just check it out.
He caught my eyes immediately. Curled up, smooth black coat & my new best friend. I didn't want to jump the gun, so I walked around. I took a collie named Chester into the meeting room. He was too much for me. Just out of puppyhood and I don't have a backyard which a collie deserves. So I took Satch out of his cage. Satch is a 6 year old Rat Terrier Mix. He was adopted out once and returned because he did not get along with another dog at the home. As soon as I took the leash I knew he would come home with me that night.
And he did. I got him home around 10pm. As I put his crate together he found his spot on the couch. We've bonded.
I'm starting to learn some of his quirks. Today we went for a few walks. He covers up his shit and piss like a cat. He kicks back dirt/grass/dust with his adorable paws. He also likes to poop on trees. I thought he was lifting his leg to pee on a small tree/shrub when next thing I knew he was backing up and shitting on top of the tree. He tried it again on some overgrown ivy. Satch is weird just like me!
But that chapter is over. Now I’m an unemployed adult who can make her own decisions. So last weekend AVM & I went to adopt a dog. First stop was the ASPCA. They didn't have any that would work for me. They only had about 10-15 even available for adoption. They said to try back in a week.
We then headed up to the CACC on 110th street. This is a kill shelter. It was awful. A skinny old toothless man was in charge of taking the dogs out of their cages for you. The cages were full, and the barking was loud. Sad eyes gazed at me. Tears started rolling. I took one 7-year-old Terrier out of his cage. He went nuts. They didn't have any quiet areas to get to know the dogs. The terrier was skin and bones, but full of piss. He splashed it all over the floor. I imagine it still hasn't been cleaned up. I put the terrier back, walked out of the building sobbing.
Too many unwanted animals. People are more than welcome to be irresponsible with their own lives. Leave the animals alone.
I checked the ASPCA website the next few days. Nobody new was popping up. Last night I decided to check out the North Shore Animal League. AVM was at work, and was not going to be able to go with me, I said I'd just check it out.
He caught my eyes immediately. Curled up, smooth black coat & my new best friend. I didn't want to jump the gun, so I walked around. I took a collie named Chester into the meeting room. He was too much for me. Just out of puppyhood and I don't have a backyard which a collie deserves. So I took Satch out of his cage. Satch is a 6 year old Rat Terrier Mix. He was adopted out once and returned because he did not get along with another dog at the home. As soon as I took the leash I knew he would come home with me that night.
And he did. I got him home around 10pm. As I put his crate together he found his spot on the couch. We've bonded.
I'm starting to learn some of his quirks. Today we went for a few walks. He covers up his shit and piss like a cat. He kicks back dirt/grass/dust with his adorable paws. He also likes to poop on trees. I thought he was lifting his leg to pee on a small tree/shrub when next thing I knew he was backing up and shitting on top of the tree. He tried it again on some overgrown ivy. Satch is weird just like me!
