For Hugo, a new beginning

Hugo was dealt an unfortunate hand of genetic traits. He is beautiful to the the human eye and that's almost always an advantage in a dog's life, and especially for a dog who ends up in rescue, but Hugo would have been better off with a little less pretty and a lot more stability. 

He had nipped someone in a former foster home with another rescue and was about to be euthanized. Green Dogs took a chance with him but it soon became clear that he was a special needs dog just as much as one who was blind or deaf. Hugo's drive was off the charts, but his impulse control was virtually non-existent. He was managed around here much like Max, with a very consistent routine, exercise, and minimal contact.

Eventually an applicant came along, sort of an oddity herself, but she took an interest in Hugo's plight and seemed potentially well-suited to make it work. We had two meetings prior to adoption, and he went home with her today. There's a hundred reasons it may not work, but if we all have threaded the needle just right, in preparing dog and adopter, setting expectations, and providing for his needs, then there's a good chance that it will. 

I was anticipating possible bloodshed and disaster in trying to give Hugo a bath, but was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. He actually got into the tub on his own. He loves water so getting soaked didn't concern him at all. I was also surprised how not dirty he actually was. His coat picks up plenty of dirt and mud, but as it dries, the mud comes off. His bath water was never really dirty.  

I did the bath Friday evening and kept him indoors and crated most of the time until he went home today so he would stay clean.

Look at that floof. I wish I had the chance to brush it out and get some pictures of him running, but the weather wasn't ideal for that and it was more important to keep him clean and get him adopted.

I put a new collar on him and threw the old one into the wash.

This is Hugo's "sit" - butt on the ground, both front legs up.

In other news: River didn't eat the plain rice I cooked for him last night. This morning I gave him about half his usual serving of dog food and he ate it all. Now we wait and see if he keeps it down.

Serena is limping around this morning. It seems that she hurt her left front leg getting up from a bed. I gave her some carprofen and she's taking it easy today. 

I'd like to do something completely non-dog related today. The movies playing in town didn't interest me. I may opt for day drinking.