National Rescue Dog Day

There's a saying in the rescue community, something like "don't overlook the difficult dogs, because they can teach things you never knew you needed." Going through the boxes of cremains from our former dogs I'm struck by how many of them fit this description. Max was the poster boy for this slogan. Nero, a black shepherd had an untreatable MRSA infection, but was still a sweetheart. Trooper, with his stranger aggression was a real snuggler. Maya, the escape artist, who became my little girl. Gypsy, who viewed any female as an unwelcome competitor for her role. 

Compared to many we've had, Woody's issues pale by comparison. And yet, they have so far prevented him from being successfully adopted. He's an easy foster, but he doesn't transition well. Another GDU foster home and shepherd loving home has been watching Woody and yesterday he went to their house for the day and night, just for transitioning practice. And it went really very well. We learned some new things about him. He's scared of children (not unusual for many dogs, they like like humans and yet they are tiny, very confusing). He spent the evening on a sofa with kids in the room, was around other dogs, and spent a quiet night in his crate before coming back here this morning. It was a very good experience and one that we hope to repeat, just to get him used to new things, people, and places. 

(The pictures are repeats, it's a rainy day so I haven't been out to take any new ones.)

Scattering

Today I started something that needs to be accomplished before we leave - scattering the remains of all the dogs that have been euthanized in our care. We had a columbarium in the dining room, a cabinet containing boxes and pots holding the ashes. I don't have an exact count on the number of containers, but when we emptied the cabinet they filled six boxes that have been stacked in the dining room. 

I had decided to take them on hikes with me and scatter the remains along the trails and the river bank where we've hiked. It seemed like a fitting place. I went out on hike with Bailey today and had intended to make a start by taking one package with me. However, with my right arm in a sling and holding Bailey's leash in my left, I wasn't sure I could carry anything else. Also, some of these dogs never went hiking with me. 

The one that I randomly picked to start with was a German Shepherd named Klaus. I have only vague memories of Klaus and it seems that he predated my blog, but I did a search and found one mention of him, on his last day. It was from a post titled "The canine chorus" from May 19, 2013, in which I was discussing the group howl phenomenon: 

"The most poignant howl I remember was when an old foster, Klaus, died. Everyone knew he was gone or going and as I got him lifted into the van for the final trip to the vet, the howl started up. It was a most beautiful and fitting send off."  

Anyway, I never walked Klaus at Pleasant Grove, but he probably did use our pasture, so I decided to scatter this remains out there this afternoon. I did several others as well, including Lady, Arby, Vito (who moved with us into this house 25 years ago), our cat Shooz, and the cremains from one other vessel that I couldn't identify. It was just a start and I'll need to keep at it over the coming weeks. 

I did get out for a hike with Bailey and then she accompanied me on my scatter walks out to the pasture once we got home. In many ways Bailey is the embodiment of all the dogs that have gone before her. I learned something from them all and she is the recipient of all that experience, for better or for worse. 

We spotted these two young guys in the woods. 

Candace joined us on the pasture walks this afternoon too.

This is just one of three sections of our columbarium.

 I count 16 containers here, so there may be 40 or more total. 

Arby

Lady

Vito

The Woody test

We tend to look at dog adoption from the wrong perspective. I guess it's natural to ask if the dog can pass the tests we throw at them, can they conform to human expectations of what a dog should be. But consider it from the dog's perspective. Can this prospective human give me the same degree of loyalty and devotion, through thick and thin, that I am prepare to give as a German Shepherd Dog?

I know he was a major pain in the butt in the beginning, and he's still an OCD shepherd, constantly wanting to play fetch with either a stick or a ball, but really Woody is pretty easy to live with these days. You never have to worry about him running off. I walk outside and whistle and he's always the first to come running. He will willingly go into the dog yard or to Daneland when I want to leave him outdoors. I have to leash Bailey to take her out to Daneland and she just sails over the dog yard fence without even exerting herself. He does like to play ball if anyone gives even the slightest indication of willingness to engage, but indoors he settles down quickly and quietly, sometimes having a chew session on a bone, or just snoozing on his bed. He goes willingly into his crate when I ask. 

He's a good playmate for Bailey and all things considered he's become a pretty easy foster, but he can't stay here forever and he will be a pain in the butt when he relocates unless someone gives him enough time to settle in. He's not an off-the-shelf, ready to go right out of the package dog. He's one that will test any adopter's patience, but will give back so much more to anyone who passes the test.

My shoulder seems to be healing. I've been going to physical therapy twice a week but can't begin any strengthening exercises until it's been six weeks past the surgery. Right now it's just range of motion stuff. But I'm back to sleeping in bed again instead of in the recliner. Bailey is good company and hasn't complained about our lack of walking but we need to get back to that. We also need for this damn rain to stop. 

Monday morning

It's Monday morning and everything feels a little weird. Maze is back home and my sister is on her way back to Montana after a few busy days here. We got a lot done, we had some fun, and it was very good to have her here. Her car is loaded up with stuff. I had my third physical therapy appointment this morning. The shoulder is doing fine but we can't really begin to do much exercise with it until week six (tomorrow is just three weeks from the surgery). Tomorrow morning we have a meeting in D.C. about our visa application so we're going up to spend the night in northern Virginia tonight, meeting a cousin who take some Jacques family items off our hands. When we get back I'll start another big push trying to move stuff out of here and then start on getting some repairs done to the house. 

The pictures are of Bailey, Woody, and Maze playing in the yard one evening.

I don't have many flowers this spring, but this yellow iris around my ponds is very pretty.

This is Maze back at home on her new bed, which she inherited from Della. 

The last few days

My sister is here from Montana for a few days and we've been busy. She's been helping me sort through stuff and decide what to do with it. Even better, she's taking as much as we can fit into her car for the trip home. She's probably the first house guest we've had since having Bailey. Bailey still barks when she hears her moving around the house but she's been very friendly with her and seems to like her. Maze has been here too, and Woody, and those three dogs have a great time playing together.

The first day we worked outdoors and the dogs were with us all the time. Maze finally got exhausted and wanted to go inside for a nice nap. Bailey was tired too but wouldn't ever quit. She refuses to miss out on anything. Woody seems to have endless energy but he slept solidly and quietly that night. Their most active play is first thing in the morning so I hate to break it up by feeding them because always seems to bring the active play to an end (except for Woody, of course). 

We've been to Patch and to Decipher for food and beers. We're making a big trip to the dump Saturday morning and going to a concert Saturday afternoon. 

The dog fountain headed to his new home at Green Dogs. 

My sister Paula cleaning up some garden things while Bailey tries to play with the water as it comes out of the hose.

Woody has found more balls than I knew we had.

Bailey playing the water game, it's her favorite.

Maze having a roll in the grass in the shade.

Maze taking a break.

Bailey waiting for the water game to resume.

Maze finally had to come in for an afternoon nap.

Bailey at Decipher