Puppies

While our dog turned seven years old, friends’ dog died over the holidays and they said they’d never get another. Wrong! After years of living with an older, well-trained dog this week they got a pup from a local shelter.

He’d just been neutered and they brought him home the same evening. The next morning I got a call saying “Help!” He’s running around like crazy and has peed over the entire house!

When I arrived he was settled down to a 1/2 hour nap and didn’t even come to the door. They were watching him like hawks and worried that he was running a fever. I told the pup he’d never get so much attention as he did his first day at home!

I remember wanting a pup once in my life so we got Zoe and she’s had some problems but now at age seven (we got her at six weeks, AFTER she’d been spayed, too early for me) she has always been part of our family and is probably sleeping on my pillow as I write this. But puppyhood is an exercise in compassion, control of one’s emotions and making sure the dog is walked 8 times a day! Plus housebreaking and training.

Perhaps I’ll re-create the lentil loaf I made for my first dog, who now has a tree in California with a great view, provided to the City by neighbors and other friends. She had equal parts lentil loaf, rice and kibble with no meat by-products or corn. A wonderful dog that endeared herself to nearly everyone in the community, she is missed to this day. Cheers, Dee