|
I pulled into the
Southside Animal Shelter on Edgewood around 3:45 Friday, in hand a collar with
a shiny new Red Rover DeWeese tag, and leash. I had jotted a couple of
questions down - what does Red like and dislike, do you have his vet records;
that list along with my adoption fee check, clipped together with a pen for any
other notes I might need to make were in my hand. |
|
Red and
Rosie at the Southside Animal Shelter
|
And, I also had my camera.
The paperwork took a bit.
All of the women that make this shelter click were busily engaged in their
tasks, focused and serious. One woman carrying a towering bundle of neatly
folded towels, blankets and rugs proudly announced the laundry was caught up. I
rubbed on a sweet kitty with a cast in the top crate of a column as Robin
filled in the various forms' blanks. Will Red be an inside or outside dog -
he'll be in my bed…I mean inside. Do you have a fenced yard or not -
not…he'll be walked every day. On and on. Rosie pulled in to the drive
with vet records in hand for all of previous weekend's PetFest attendees, of
which Red's was one. Robin completed the paperwork with the specific dates of
shots and neutering. I was presented with the adoption paperwork and two vet
folders - one for Red, one for 'Slugo' (his puppyhood name).
It was now time to retrieve
Red for the journey to his new home. He was poised in front of a doghouse along
the side property line, a respite from his shelter pack, maybe a thoughtful
strategy for the impending transition. Rosie took the collar and leash from me
and walked across the yard. Red greeted her happily and together they returned
to the area near my car. I wanted a photo of Red with one of his caretakers,
and Rosie obliged. |
|
We were ready for Red to
get in the car but he fearfully resisted. Rosie and Robin picked him up in
tandem and pushed him into the crate in the back seat. He stood inside in an
unconfident, rounded stance. I got the air conditioning blowing and pulled
away.
On the drive I tried to
give Red lots of encouraging words incorporating his name a lot. He remained in
an anxious trance despite all attempts to calm and assure him. The trip around
465 seemed to take forever. Traffic was horrendous and very stressful. I
imagined how Red must have felt...where am I going now, what is next in this
life of mine.
Finally in the driveway
Red on leash unloaded like a bullet. There was thick drool and foam all over
his mouth. I tried to assure him and welcome him to his new house. The kitties
couldn't believe it. We made three clockwise trips around my house. Red was
extremely curious and sniffed like crazy, occasionally leaning against the
leash to reach the rest of an area he needed to more fully sniff.
Each pass around Pie and
Luna watched more and more intently with owl-like control. After the 3rd loop
Red and I 'made it' past the cats and headed into the house. Red remained on
leash and we made several passes through the house. Red's tail was long and low
as was his head as he sniffed everything he could.
During one pass he sniffed
under one of the side chairs on the sun porch and there was a fast hiss and
snap (it was Pie) that must have connected with Red's nose. He didn't yelp or
make any sound, only dashed around behind me. I didn't find any blood and tried
to comfort this shy dog. |
|
After about the 3rd pass
inside the house I changed out of my work clothes, sat down on the floor in the
second bedroom and leaned against the red chair. Red nuzzled on me and snuggled
up next to my leg. We sat there a while. I petted and assured him this was his
home. We moved out to the living room, again sat on the floor and leaned up
against the couch this time. This was close to Red's dog bed that he climbed
onto and laid down on. We hung out there, again me petting him and trying to
assure him the best I could. |
 |
|
Marg and Bear-Bear arrived
with dinner around 8. She wisely called and suggested I bring Red out for the
greeting. Yes it was wise as Red proceeded to sprinkle everywhere while getting
reacquainted with Marg and Bear since the shelter visit a week before.
|
 |
All went well - Bear only
had to grunt once for Red to back off. The whole first evening Red's attitude
was demure and his carriage matched. He remained on the leash and with me
wherever I went. He did not touch his puppy dinner. After our dinner when all
of us were in the living room, Red and Bear arranged themselves on the couch
and collapsed into sleep, providing several photo opportunities. 'Last outs'
was successful. The night-night crating was resisted by Red, but not long after
loading up Red was sound asleep. |
|
Red Rover coming into
himself - Day 2
Red Rover stirred as soon
as we did. I opened the crate door and he shot out. Bear and Red Rover shared
the back yard morning potty then came in for breakfast and the 'cat can' (the
almost empty Friskies can after dividing between the three cat stations each
morning). There's now a line up of 3 for the morning 'cat can' ritual. The
pecking order was properly followed. Red also was interested in some of his
puppy dinner-breakfast. After dog breakfast we all went back to bed. This time
Red laid on his pillow on my side of the bed (on leash so I knew if he tried to
roam). He happily stretched out and slept another 2 hours. This was a big day
for Red Rover. He learned to be patient for the breakfast dishes. He learned
more about stuffed animal toys. He spent less time in the house on his leash
and received a little more independence 'moving about the cabin'.
A morning stroll around
the yard yielded a nice visit with the 2-year-old neighbor twins. Red Rover was
a star gentle boy.
A car trip to meet Grandpa
was a stressful lesson. After two attempts to get Red Rover to load in the car,
he was taken for a calming lap around the house before being wrapped in a towel
and picked up. I held him as I sat down into the back seat and he remained very
nervous the whole one-mile trip. Grandpa made over him and Red Rover took
Bear's lead in enjoying the front yard. We loaded up in the car again from
Grandma and Grandpa's house, back to home base. Red Rover's first social car
trip complete. |
|
Next we leashed both dogs
and walked downtown to Main Street for the annual Country Market art fair. Red
Rover has lots to learn about walking on a leash. He weaved in front of us back
and forth.
Bear as always was quite the
attraction, and Red Rover seemed to warm up to the attention. Lots of adults,
kids and dogs socialized with them. |
 |
 |
To home base again after the
market and we had a little lunch and rest on the screened porch. Both dogs
lounged enjoying the solitude after the crowds.
Red for an entire day had
not made a noise. He didn't squeal when he was swiped by Pie. He didn't growl
or cry when Eddie the dog snarled at him as we returned home from the market.
Not one peep. So as we are lunching on the porch we hear Zig the Mig (neighbor
dog) out squeaking and yapping. All of a sudden these two loud barks came from
in front of us - it was Red Rover! He barked a couple of more times to prove to
us it was he. Marg and I sat looking at each other in surprise.
|
|
Now another car training
trip, this time to the dog store. For this trip, we once again wrapped Red
Rover in a towel to which he was much less resistant. Once at the dog store he
seemed to take much pleasure in Grandmother Bear showing him the ropes. His
sniffer was going like crazy again. Okay, this Red Rover is a smart one. We
finished at the dog store and Marg said, let's see if we can get him to hop in
the car. Sure enough he did! And fairly confidently sat between Bear barking
out the window and me at the other window, definitely more engaged.
At some point this day
Marg noticed that Red Rover's tail was curly! So for the rest of the day we
watched his tail. When he got nervous, his tail would droop. When he reverted
to his new confident dog self, Red's tail would curl back up! More photo
opportunities, a nap, some people and dog dinner. Again Red Rover did not eat.
We lounged with popcorn while watching the Adoption Dog video presented by the
shelter. |
|
Another 'this Red Rover is a
smart dog' moment. At the dog store both Bear and Red got a chew bone. During
our nap Red had his in his crate. So at one point when Red was pacing a bit
Marg says to him - Red go get your boney chew chew. He looked at Marg, turned
and went back to his crate, retrieved the bone from inside, and returned to his
dog pillow where he happily chewed away.
Wow. |
 |
|
Red and I faded and went
back to bed. Crating was much smoother. He did not like when I turned on the
ceiling fan and started running in circles in the crate. The fan didn't stay
on. |
|
