Flashback August 2005

The wind was unbelieveable. The trees were cracking in half. The hotel management were running back and forth securing our room (kennel runs in humanspeak). Gruffin and I were pacing. The rain was beating down and then everything went dark--no lights, no airconditioning, no phones. Nothing but wind and rain. Was it days or weeks that passed? A stranger came and put us in his truck. The hotel management waved goodbye. An hour and a half later we were brought to a house with more strangers and small noisy people. We were put in a tiny room, given food and water and then the door closed. We slept a restless uncertain sleep. I looked to Gruffin for any sign of familiarity with this situation, but he showed nothing. Then daybreak. The door to the tiny room opened. I could not believe my eyes. It was my person. He was there looking at us, talking, smiling, But where was my lady?

He put us in another truck. Our person and his friend chatted and all I could hear was blah blah blah Pip, blah Gruffin blah blah Katrina. It was music to my pointed ears. We drove 5 hours. We turned down a country road. There at the end of the road was a metal house and in front was my lady. The car door opened and I flew into her arms, licked and piddled all over her.

What fun the country was--cats, dogs, swamp, metal house with my people and their friends. Reunited.

My NewYear's Resolution and then some...

I was taken with Gruffin to what the management referred to as the Doggie Hotel. Let me say that the accommodations though adequate were not as sumptuous as my new home. Gruffin and I bunked and barked together for over ten days. Then magically the management appeared with big smiles and happy faces. I was not as cool as Gruffin. At the sight of Madame, I leapt up into her arms and peed all over her. From now on I will be on the lookout for those boxes they put clothes into before my stay at Doggie Hotel.

You would think they were gone for years the way attention was being heaped on me. Gruffin and I even got a postcard from Paris (in French!) saying we were tres beau and plus super than all the dogs in France. Happiness.

I am on my new natural diet of hamburger,cottage cheese, peas and rice. I guess having faulty kidneys has its plus side. I've filled out a bit. I weigh five more pounds than when I was found. Madame will be taking new pictures of me for my pals to see.

Gruffin is learning to skateboard in his clicker trick class.He is such a showoff. Well, I can do that too!

I thought long and hard and I resolve to do a better job of controlling bladder and then some.

One thing leads to another...

I am all better. My special diet has cleared up my renal infection and my blood count is good. It seems I will have to stay on this diet for life. But I have my ways of snagging some forbidden goodies from Gruffin when he is not guarding his raw meaty bones. The management promised to make me a special natural diet with hamburger! Whatever that is, I can't wait because I know it will be good judging from the happy voice when the word is mentioned in the kitchen.

After a week of good health and running and jumping with Gruffin, I got little bumps all over and felt weak. I took to my crate. The management was alarmed at this and the next morning I was taken for a car ride with Gruffin in tow. It wasn't to the park.

Now I am back on medication for a staff infection. The drops are orange flavored which is great because I love oranges. I know my coat doesn't look as beautiful as it did, but the management has been assured I will return to my shiney satiny look in ten days.

Strange things have been going on in the household. There are two big zippered boxes that the management keep adding clothes to. They seem involved with this. I have no idea what they are doing and Gruffin isn't saying.

Oh, one good thing. The management let me in the bed when I was feeling poorly.

Bad News

I have been living my new life for about a month. Everything was grand.I gained 3 lbs. Gruffin let me know he is the Man and I agreed. I had no choice, really. I was given my own crate to sleep in. It's so warm and comfortable. I even have my own pillow and blanket. I would have liked to sleep with the management or even with Gruffin, but I was not going to push my luck just yet.

It was decided that I should be neutered. I had a blood test. I honestly can say that I have not felt sick, but the test showed I had a renal infection. The first round of medication did nothing. Now I am on stronger meds and a special diet. I really miss my raw meaty bones. The management seems very concerned about my infection. It is so nice to be so cared for but I hope my next blood test shows me to be all better.

I can sit, stay, lie down, and grab food. The management acts so happy when I do something they ask me to do. I try hard because it seems that it pleases them beyond belief. I still get overexcited and piddle, but I am trying really hard not to.

In a week, I have another blood test. I hope the management is happy with the results.

My new life begins

I was lying down at night at the base of a hundred year old Live Oak resting my injured paw. A kind human from the restaurant across the broad street put down a tablecloth with a bit of food for me. It was ll pm and I was sleepy and still hungry. The frayed blue cloth collar around my neck was too wide and uncomfortable. The cut twisted nylon rope was itchy and the hoop that once held my tags seemed like a heavy weight on my little body. I dozed.

A fragrance alerted me to a dog and humans approaching. I huddled closer to the tree. A woman and man walking their dog! What a handsome dog, very aristocratic and aloof, not like me at all. The man noticed me. "What is that?" The woman exclaimed, "ohhh look a little dog." The woman came closer. I back away. She spoke again. "We can't leave him" she said. I really had no idea of their language, but there was something in the tone that seemed ok to me. She noticed my sore paw and made a soft and comforting sound. Suddenly the woman swooped me up in her arms. She held me high and said "intact". I was overwhelmed, overcome, overexcited. I could not stop myself from licking and kissing.

The aristocratic one barked at me till we got to their vehicle. I was put in the back, but no way. I jumped to the front to give another kiss or two. The drive was short. I was put in in a pen with a dogloo, given food and water, looked at, photographed, cooed and talked to and something comfy was put down for me to sleep on. I ate and ate and went to sleep with my belly full.

The next morning I woke up to the barking of Gruffin.That is what they called him. He was everything I was not. Breed and born of champions, priviledged from birth, trained, confident and manly. The the management appeared and fed me again.

Soon to my sheer delight, I was brought into their home. Babygated in the big kitchen with Gruffin, I was nervous and peed and pooed and upset the nice family. But thanks to a bottle of enzyme pet odor remover no one seemed too upset. They gave me raw meaty bones and toys. Gruffin and I chased the cats and played tug o war. The management smiled at me. Life suddenly seemed glorious.