Long story short. A dog tale, so stick with me. Princess and pauper. City dog and country dog. In her seven years on this earth my husband and I have wished for a companion for our purebred Mini Aussie Principessa Lucia (heretofore known as Lulu or Lu). He wanted a laid-back lover (think Golden Retriever) and I, someone to give this whip-smart pup a run for her money (another Aussie or cattle dog). We couldn’t agree. But Lu had tons of friends, especially when COVID hit and I devised a system whereby all the dogs in the building got to visit each other at their homes even though their humans could not socialize with each other.
Now we find ourselves guests on a cattle ranch with no other dogs for at least a mile. They don’t socialize and would think I was nuts if I brought up the term “play date.” As it is when I stopped by a mechanic he wanted to know what kind of strange contraption I had in the back of my old SUV. Turns out it’s a cargo net protecting a 4″ thick orthopedic mattress with a tie down so Lu can safely go on road trips, even to the grocery store. He laughed out loud.
So, Lu is smart, transactional, drop-dead gorgeous with blue eyes and a black tri coat and believes the earth revolves around her. The first week we were here an emaciated pup was dumped on us (I swear the illegal droppers must have known I, The Dog Lady, was visiting). She had been terribly abused, wouldn’t get close to humans and was skin and bones to boot. Out here they shoot stray dogs so I set about not finding the owner (because they abused her) but getting Animal Control or a local humane society to find her a home. No luck.
She gained weight, was chased by one small neighbor dog when she came into heat (so we had her spayed) and I spent a lot of time socializing her. Just as her stitches dissolved, she was attacked by a large local dog and almost killed. She was bitten many times from behind, meaning as she was running away. Infection set in and we thought she would die, then when the infection healed that she would never walk again. So, Sara’s remained an outdoor somewhat gimpy dog except she sleeps and eats in the outdoor pantry to stay away from extreme weather and predators. She only comes inside for a bath every few weeks.
Lu’s an indoor dog in a ranching society where indoor dogs are not de rigeur. But Lu’s allowed in because she was an apartment dog since we flew out to Phoenix to get her at eight weeks of age. Sara, the dumpee, was named by me for the Hall & Oates song because she looked so happy jumping up in the tall pasture grass with a huge grin on her face when she knew she had secured herself a new family.
Lu will do anything to go outside. Sara will do anything to come inside. If it’s thunder or shotgun blasts, Lu wants to hunker down behind the toilet. Other than that the worst thing in the world to happen is the smoke alarm. It has to hurt sensitive ears something awful so she really freaks out.
The other night the smoke alarm sounded and Lu was desperate to get out. We opened all the doors to circulate air and I fanned the smoke detector because it was set off only because of a burnt slice of toast. My husband put Lu on a leash and went out immediately. Sara burst in. I can almost see the movie in my head. I’m IN!!!!! God, this sound hurts my ears but I’M IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, they just opened the doors and I’m in the inner sanctum! Where the heck is Lu? I’m IN!!!!!!!!!! GOD THIS HURTS LIKE HELL! Finally she ran outside because her buddy Lu was out there, which is what they both wanted anyway, to be with each other.
It is clear that when we leave here it’ll be with two dogs and Sara will just have to be content with being an indoor dog most of the time. My husband and I no longer have an issue as to what kind of companion Lu will have as she ages. We all have Sara now. Neuter and spay, the kindest way! Dee
Cooking with Dee 