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Status: going to pet therapy class!
status/mood updated 62 days ago
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My Blog
The Pitter-Patter of Little Claws
It is time.
The planets have aligned to provide the perfect opportunity to add a new face to this family.
Maxx, whether he likes it or not, will be a big brother.
But to what? To whom? A fox red Labrador retriever? A black and tan German Shepherd? A slothful English Mastiff? A lovable boxer?
Yeah...I don't know either...and it's tough. Perhaps we play the field and a totally different mutt will capture our hearts...
I just know I want to hear the pitter-patter of little claws hitting the floor...
I remember holding little baby, junior Maxx in my arms on a 3 hour long car trip. The wrapping a ticking clock in a towel and placing it, along with him in the crate. Then, spending hours upon end outside with a leash, building his trust. Getting him to follow me...watch me...bond with me. I even tought him his first commands in German...then confused the heck out of him by not being consistent and reverting back to "come," sit" and "fetch!"
The seeing his fat, rolly belly turned up heavenward from his little bed as he slept with his eyes half open and his lip hanging down toward the floor, revealing puny, pin-sharp canines.
That was nearly 6 years ago...and you get that nurturing urge once again...almost as if you dog-biological clock is ticking...
But who will it be? We already have names picked out...heck, we already have a metal engraved dogtag we purchased from Sally Harrell along with Maxx's.
Do we fit the puppy to the name? Since getting Maxx, I'm pretty sworn on shepherds. I've had chow chows, lived with a Golden and a Yorkie...and God knows I don't want a Yorkie...I feel like I may break the poor thing just by touching it. It's gotta be outstanding with children, which all the above listed breeds are. And I dig a smart dog...so Maxx drew the short stick when it comes to nobility, but he kinda is pretty smart...or, retentive rather!
But I think those are the three we're looking at...I'm not crazy about the possibility of a Marley...and I've never raised a lab, and most that I see seem to be pretty docile in their adult years...but Maxx is 6 and can be riled easily...My family raised Mastiffs and Shepherd before I was born...I love big dogs with gentle tempraments, which brings us to the Mastiff...but are they too big. A Mastiff and a 100-pound German shepherd might be bulls in my quaint American Foursquare china shop!
I don't know who will warm our hearts, but we all shall find out soon. Because, as I mentioned, my clock is ticking.
Uncle Elephant, You Could've Killed Him
It's been a while, I know...things have been pretty crazy with the move and getting the house in order. Maxx is pretty well adjusted to his new home, but still insists on chasing the little black and white neighborhood cat the the property line.
We had another scare over the weekend. Maxx started gulping and licking the floor to try to make himself throw up...what set off his whole unecessary surgery in the beginning. It also happened about a month ago, but I filled his Kong with peanut butter and after polishing that off, the gulping stopped. But this was about 9 at night...on a Friday...and I was out of peanut butter...and he looked pretty serious. So I called the emergency vat...NOT the one that suggested the most invasive and expensive and useless treatments first, but another one not far from home. I explained his history and his actions and they had me bring him in. I was scared, this poor dog...and on the day before the local Pet Walk (we had a booth for dog photography)...I took him in and they did an Xray. HIs stomach was the size of a basketball, expanded so much he was unable to throw up. So they drugged him and passed a tube to release some of the gas. They gave me some doggy Maalox and told me give little water and food several times through out the day. He's pretty much back to normal (he looked like FloJo chasing that cat, so I'd say so). But he started gulping last night...I distracted him with his Booda Loofa and I guess he forgot about his digestive woes and retreated to chew on it on his bed. Oh, did I mentioned that our sweet neighbors across the street gave Maxx an adorable squeeking elephant for a housewarming gift? We, we hadto shoot a wedding on the Cape the weekend beforelast, and I get him a room at the dog resortup the street, where I usually take him, and brought along some toys, which I usually do not do...well...When I picked him up, I asked where "Uncle Elephant" was, the guy returned a moment later and informed me that mydog ate him. Poor thing...we'd never see Uncle Elephant again... *sniff* Until the next day...when he gradually started coming out of mydog...and the next day...and the day after that. Until, eventually, nothing started coming out of Maxx...So...needless to say, Uncle Elephant was the causeof this whole ordeal. Pity, too...he really oved that toy...and I don't have the heart to tell my neighbors.
I've added a few more pictures! Enjoy!
The FInal Countdown
The metal arch, painted by the colored lights of the Saint Louis skyline, was at my back. Before me lay the asphault vanishing where the horizon meets the cerulean sky.
It would be another hour before the soft glow of dawn appeared. I sit up as straight as I can, which I wouldn't have to do if only I'd worked a little harder on my posture during childhood, but I didn't, so there I was...sitting up a little straighter so that I could see the glowing eyes in my rearview mirror. They'd been staring at me non-stop. Afraid? Not likely. Confused? Perhaps a little. I'd say anxious. Or curious. Probably asking the same question all of you are at this point: "What are we doing in this car and where are we going?"
Let me answer that question by painting a little bit of a flashback for you. Those of you who've been following my blogs know that my dog Maxx and I have been separated for about a year and a half now and that he'd been living with my brother in St. Louis since February, after my mother died. I'd left my apartment and we bought a home...with a yard, near a park, and all that was missing was someone happy to see us when we come through the door and the unconditional love and companionship that Maxx gives day in and day out. So I was going to fly, get him and fly back...so I thought.
I've never been nervous about flying, but a few Novembers ago, on the way to Washington DC from Providence, RI, the plane honestly almost crashed. I'm not talking bad turbulance, I mean, people were screaming and I almost turned my cellphone on, thinking I could tell my mother that I loved her before we hit the ground...so I've been kinda nervous, but I wanted my boy home and this was a sacrifice I had to make, and not a bad fear to overcome anyway. The flight was smooth, a little plane, two seats on each side...one of those that you had to walk out on the tarmac and take the steps up to like Jackie Kennedy. Once I get to St. Louis (I flew on Delta)I went to the Continental desk (I booked through Expedia and they had me coming back Continental) to reserve a spot for Maxx in Cargo.
Nope. The planes that go from St. Louis to Providence are almost ALL the little tarmac, Jackie Kennedy planes. And definately too small for a 100-lb shepherd and his kennel. American? Nope. Too big. Delta? Same gig, although they did have one normal sized plane, but they already had a dog on that flight...um...it's not like they're gonna be playing poker down there, they're in kennels! Why can't two dogs be on the same flight? Whatever. My brother and I make calls...To ship himwould be $1600...I could by a whole row for him on the airplane forthat much money. So my brother decides to rent a car for me (I'm 24) and we pack up the burgundy Jeep Comander, fold the seats down and summon Maxx into his new home for the next 18 and a half hours.
It was about a 1200 mile drive, from Missouri into Illinois...then that ticket I got in Indiana...I should really slow down, but the impromtu roadtrip and hard motel beds had me antsy and eager to be back home and on my own comfortable mattress with sheets with a thred count higher than 16. From Illinois, we treked across Ohio, stopping for gas, pee breaks, cold water and Slim Jims about every two hours or so. Once we entered Pennsylvania, I figured we should pull over. We stop in a town called Barkeyville, coincidently enough, and check into a Super 8 Motel at about 3 pm. I was so tired, but amped up on Coffee and Red Bulls that I couldn't fall asleep until about 7...I bounced up a little after 2 am, and Maxx and I checked out and hopped back into our chariot. I had to pull over a few moretimes to take naps, maybe for 20 minutes or so, but for the most part we were homeward bound.
We arrived at about noon yesterday, he pretty much stared at me or looked bored the whole time, until we pulled in the driveway. I took him for a quick walk before giving him the grand tour of his new home. After the walk, we let him off the leash once we're on our property and he B-lines to the car.
You cannot be serious. He looks at me, then the car, then at me, sneezes and dances around on his front legs anxiously. I guess he wasn't bored after all!
The Countdown
T minus 7 days...and counting
I am so weak! So I couldn't wait until the third and got my ticket for the 1st of August to go to St. Louis.This time next week, I'll be with my boy, then it's back home for good.
I'm eager to begin training with him and fulfilling his needs. I can't wait to take long walks with him to get all of that energy out. He still acts a bit like a puppy...I guess I can't be mad at him for not growing up...I haven't.
The Countdown
T Minus 11 Days...And Counting
I'm buying my ticket today. Auguest 3rd, I'll be on a plane to St. Louis to bring Maxx home. It'll be a new home for all of us. Our first home. No more apartment-life for Maxx. No more landlords refusing to rent to me because I have a "vicious" breed. Our own space, our rules, our freedom.
I'll get there on the third and spend that day and the next hanging out with my brother, his family, Maxx and their two new puppies, Sir Maxx and Doc Berry. Then on the 5th, Maxx and I will board a plane and return to Rhode Island andto our new house. It's right next to a huge park, for long walks and swims in the pond. I can't wait to have him home.
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