Heart Like a Dog

The Good, the Bad, and the Oh My God of living with dogs!

Ouch THAT Bit Me!

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Friday evening I was walking the dogs along a path we don’t take too frequently.  Sampson had run ahead and Delilah was close on the end of her leash investigating a bush.

All of a sudden Delilah jumped straight up and backed away from where she was sniffing. I called her to me my side and stroked her head in an effort to comfort her.

Since I know we have garter snakes in the woods, I stopped and listened but I didn’t hear the distinct rustle of a snake through brush.  None-the-less I cautiously approached the area and looked around (without poking,) but couldn’t see anything.

I called Delilah indicating it was alright to follow me.  I know she was still spooked because as she approached that particular area she jumped over that portion of the trail.

The rest of our walk continued without incident.

Yesterday while we were walking Delilah jumped and twisted her head around to look at her back.  I noticed a fly on her and I swatted it away but I’m pretty sure it was a deer fly and I’m pretty sure it bit her.  I say that because as we were readying for our walk this morning, she kept turning around again and looking at her back.

I had no idea there were such a thing as deer flies until last year when I got bit by one.  At the time I thought it was a horse fly but the deer fly is actually much smaller, oh and did I mention they bite.

After the attack of the bugs last year I went out and bought one of those electric rackets, you know the one I mean.

Photo courtesy of Gottahaveitforless.com

I’m siriusly thinking of bringing it with me on my walk tomorrow.  I will swing that racket and I will smote those bugs like Lord Voldemort smote the Death Eaters and Goblins after the Huffle Puff Horcrux was stolen from Gringotts.

So if you happen to be in my area tomorrow and hear someone screaming “Avada Kedavra,” make sure you maintain a safe distance. 🙂

Happy Gotcha Day Delilah!

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It was Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and exactly five years ago today, when you joined our family.  Quite honestly I had no idea what we were in for.

We had agreed to a two-week foster-to-adopt contract, just to make sure you were the right fit for our family.

That first day was horrific, you were wild, crazy and out of control.  I cried on and off the entire day, and was fairly certain you weren’t the right dog for us.

What we wanted was a companion for Sampson, someone to keep him company and play with him while we were at work.  But most of that first day Sampson wanted nothing to do with you, which made me cry harder.  Of course when you two finally started to play, you guessed it.  I cried some more.

That first day I don’t think I really liked you.  In fact, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to keep you.  But after dinner you sat in the kitchen and your eyes would close, but you wouldn’t give in to sleep.  It was almost as if you felt like if you fell asleep you would wake up and it would all be a dream.   It was at that moment my heart melted.

I felt so bad for you.  I looked at the harsh scars on your feet and wondered how many humans had failed you already in your short life and vowed then and there that I wouldn’t be another one.  I called you to me and coaxed you to lie down and finally you slept.

You’ve given me a run for my money these past five years,  but along the way I’ve learned a lot from you.

I’ve learned that giving up is not an option.

There is more than one way to get what you want.

Embrace life, live it to the fullest and do it with enthusiasm and joy.

Meet your challenges head on, no shying away.

If you have a bad day it’s OK, tomorrow is a new day, you can start it with a clean slate.

I’ve learned that even if you are afraid, come out fighting.  If you look and act like the biggest and baddest most everyone believes you are.

Almost every problem can be solved with a piece of dried liver.

We’ve been through a lot these past five years, sometimes when I think about how far you’ve come, I’m overwhelmed with your progress.  You really are pretty amazing and I wouldn’t trade you for anything in the world.

Happy Gotcha Day Delilah, I’m sure glad we did.

You and me on your first day. Notice my red rimmed eyes.

Follow-Up Friday

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For those new to the blog, my follow-up Friday provides me with an opportunity to update or revise a post from the previous week.

You know sometimes you post about something and you need an update but it doesn’t warrant a whole blog.  Or sometimes someone made a comment that really resonated with you.  Yup, Follow-Up Friday baby! :-)

What Happens On Sunday – Author’s Thought

There are times when like Sampson, I’d like to lie in my drink.  I’m thinking a gigantic Margarita.  I imagine it this way: rimming the pool with salt and just sitting or floating around with a gigantic straw in my mouth, licking the sides of the pool. LOL

Now that’s a cool and refreshing beverage!

Aliens Took My Dog – Author’s Note:

Since that day whenever Delilah is in the bathroom I put her in a down stay on the rug.  Some days she does better than others, but that’s ok.  She and I are both trying.

WTF Wednesday (A Day Late) – Author’s Note

Sorry for the snafu with this post.  Like I said, I wrote it, I tweaked it, I published it and then something didn’t feel right.  So I took it down, and I used the Whoo Hoo piece and made it the post.

After I took it down and read your comments I realized you all are right, it is my blog and I need to publish what I want, if you don’t want to read it that is your choice.  Besides we all know, “Well behaved women rarely make history.” 🙂

When I tried to repost it, it ended up posting behind Whoo Hoo Wednesday, so I trashed it yet again and apparently I trashed it correctly this time because I lost the one comment I had, which was from Frankie and Ernie verifying that yes, that is a Robin’s egg.

So on to the post itself, first I want to say, I was incorrect in saying the puppy died after 17 days.  The article did not specify the time frame, it said the puppy died days later.  I’m not sure where I got that 17 from.

If I’m being truthful here (which I strive to always be) I think the puppy story really did me in.  It’s so horrific and disgusting and 2 Brown Dawgs is right, the puppy shouldn’t have needed to suffer.

There are times even in the work of rescue where we have to realize we cannot save every single one.  It’s sad and it sucks, but it’s the truth.

I’ve been really sad the last couple of days and can’t quite put my finger on it.

More than likely it’s probably the damn menopause. Honest to God, I’ve been through a divorce, lost my father in an accident at 13, lost all of my grandparents by the time I was 25, raised three girls on a one income salary, went to college while raising three girls and I can’t handle menopause.

I hate being emotional and that puppy story made me emotional.  I’m not a person prone to violence, but I want to hurt that man.  My one thought is that when he gets to prison, which I’m pretty certain he will at some point, that he gets what he deserves because God knows the legal system in this country isn’t going to give it to him.

Whew, I’m done and climbing down from the soap box now.

I hope you had a great week.  Stay safe and have an enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend.

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