David was introduced to a “family dog” through my family. Gerry was the first dog he ever got to know in a home, and he liked Gerry, and then he Loved him. Since Dave is home most days, he and Boo have their own time together. I love this photo of them I took today, Saturday. They are both asleep (now) as I type this. We’re having a James Bond Film Fest for Christmas 2018. The expression on Boo’s face always shows how she feels…safe, feisty, mellow or sleepy.
David took this on her first morning here. He put it on Facebook, which I don’t ‘do’. She does a lot of staring in an upward position.
Well it’s raining like crazy outside, and it hasn’t turned icy thankfully. Big surprise, Boo wasn’t interested in the rain, but did go down the stairs and do her business. She’s getting used to them well. I say, “Step,” each time there is one (two, turn right, “wait'” four more, “good girl'”. She has gotten to know the door, front steps, the grass to her immediate right, or across the driveway. She’s walked the ‘loop’ around the house, and met one of her dog walkers on Friday. Believe me when I say, she’s been sleeping on the inbetweens. So many things to learn! She has grown to like certain toys better than other and was playing by herself this morning, which was very heartening to see. She doesn’t seem lonely, and she LOVES the sound of David coming into the room. It’s adorable. Gerry was much more mellow. He’d thump the tail, but no body shakes!
SO! Thank goodness for free shipping and good sales! I washed the cotton liner of Gerry’s toy box, and put it back in. MAN did he have a lot of antlers he didn’t card much for. (They’re in the “to the shelter” box of items I’ve wanted to donate for a year, but could never bring myself to part with. His toy box is still in the same spot, because, well, it fits!
I did online research this weekend and discovered this COOL new water bottle that has a lid that flips over to dispense water on walks. (No more Tupperware and water bottle in my walking pack!) Blind dogs apparently like crinkly noised toys. The lamb is also supposed to have a lavender scent to it, but I have essential oils to help with that as well. Poop bags are ready, and tonight we set up the crate. Today I buy her food and tomorrow I take a personal day and pick her up in the morning so we can have a day in the house together. I have a hammock style back seat cover on order, as well as a collar from Orvis with the phrase “I”M BIND (my phone #) BOO” on it. It glows in the dark as does the leash. Believe me when I say I tried to only get the basics. The foster mom is going to let me borrow her harness until I can find one that is similar….and….and I’ll be looking for a coat as it is cold, and WILL get colder. I want to get a new dog stand for her eating bowls…I have the bowls, but threw away the stand as it was duct taped fixed once, and wasn’t so difficult to get rid of last fall. Blankets are washed, and YOU know that once she’s here, I’ll think, “Why didn’t I get that,” in response to some other obvious thing I’m overlooking. Breathe….just breathe.
This September, not surprisingly near the day Gerry’s got his wings, although never leaving me. I saw a dog in a large No-Kill shelter on Long Island, and was very curious about two older dogs. No one ever got back to me, and I started thinking about how far away I was to “the Island”. I emailed another person, and finally a manager called me.
Long story short, the only thing that got accomplished was that I’ve since diverted my monthly donation to Perfect Pets Rescue They were a group my dog walkers recommended to me, and I made sure my walkers still had availability open to include another dog. It wasn’t until Kathleen told me that they did, that I let myself go and meet this adorable dog.
This fall I saw a pet possibilities, but by then it was mid-October and as the weather was getting colder, so were my feet. I assured the manager of a group of foster families that I would stay in touch. My application was now approved, and for a year I would have the benefit for first consideration to spontaneous phone calls.
I’ve spent the day moving boxes from the floor where they had no business being, but were THERE regardless…for at least a year or more…I’ve bought a crate, washed a liner, (made an inadvertent mess with water in the basement while I RUSHED around, did laundry and tried to clean out door furniture, just FINALLY coming indoors!
I’ve done an ample amount of research, tips,and experience related stories, and have been NON-Stop thinking ever since. (Have I mentioned I’m in heaven?)
~Danielle
