Diversions

When we lost our beloved lab of fourteen two years ago in the middle of Pete's second round of Pca treatments and surgeries, etc..he was devastated, and to him it seemed as if just one more thing was leaving him. It became easier without a dog to worry about , but we fell into a quiet routine of sunrise, sunset and night and then all over again..mixed in with Pete doing crossword puzzles or watching the History channel or waiting for cocktail time.......Every day....then last October, when I was visiting a friend, she asked about Pete.

"He is very depressed." I said..."Well, she said, "he needs another dog!" "NO, That is not what we need", I said....She ignored me and went to the computer and looked up Lab Rescue.....She found a number and dialed it and handed me the phone. "We are just doing research!", she said.

I was pinned down talking to the Lab Rescue person about us and what we wanted. I said we might be interested in a Very Calm, older, sweet, well behaved Lab....He said: "Yes, I have one that was picked up last week with two other labs. He is a real gentleman.... They were thrown out onto the road from a local puppy mill. The owner just threw them out because they were old and sick, and he didn’t want to take care of them....They were breeder dogs, and they are in terrible shape...The pound called us because they are full blood labs...We have to take them to the vet before they can be seen.. .

To make a long story short, the next week, we picked up Don Juan, aka(Donnie). He had been to the vet and discovered he had a heart problem, lyme disease, all sorts of infections, ticks and he was skin and bones...He was so grateful to come with us and we were so happy to have another focus other than cancer, that we all just fell in love! Pete immediately perked up and started laughing and talking. Donnie is flourishing and healthy. He has become the light of our lives...I walk him every morning and every evening. It has perked me up so much...just the walks alone. Pete sits on the porch reading the paper now and smoking his cigar with his beloved dog at his feet.... He is so sweet and does nothing wrong. I got him registered as a Therapy Dog and we visit nursing homes and hospitals. He also goes to school and listens to the children who are learning to read. Of course he never corrects them!

This little angel in a fur coat is what we call him. His favorite time is when he sits between us both and we talk to him..He has given us unconditional love and put some fun back into our lives...I'm not suggesting that this dog has made everything grand....but it has sure energized our lives..! I’m sure that some of you must feel the same way about your dogs and other diversions that help keep us upbeat and happy.....I'd like to hear what others do to have fun... Di

Yes

We know how animals can get to us. Shortly after we first got here to the RV park we noticed a female cat in very bad shape. It was obvious she was nursing kittens. She stayed in the woods or snuck around the RVs staying well away from us. 

After a few days of seeing her and realizing that she was wild (feral), we thought about the possibility of rabies. We even thought about saying something to management so they could possibly have animal control trap her. This I know would be the easy task.  Finding where she had her babies hidden would be another thing.  Animals, even tame that revert back to feral have an instinct to keep their babies safe.

Well we decided to buy cat food and feed her while we were here.  Finally, after about 4 weeks, we noticed small kittens back in the edge of the woods but they would not come out.

Well last week they finally ventured to the food bowl and you could imagine the yum yum they omitted when they tasted the morsels of cat food offered. Even so, they are more cautious than momma.  She will now allow us to get within about 2-3 feet while she waits for food. They see you approaching and they are off to the woods.

While sitting for long periods of time over the last 6 weeks or so watching her and looking for kittens has help us spend time together and forget why we are here. 

Now we face the question of what to do. I know she is still wild enough to make it in the wild and we have not provided enough time for the kittens to become accustomed to being fed. Do we pack up and leave on Friday without saying anything to anyone or do we inform management of what we have done as this will make it much easier to trap her and her kittens.  They are conditioned to coming to the food bowl every evening.

I know that once feral it is vertually impossible to retame an animal and even if possible, few have the patience or time to try to accomplish the task. I know also the threat they pose for carrying rabies.

As they say about people coming into your life for a TIME, A SEASON, or a REASON so can an animal.

Richard

Bumping this to the top hoping others will share what helps them keep busy. We all need a diversion at times!

Di, I loved your story. What a happy outcome for Donnie and help for yourselves in the process. We have three cats and two dogs who brighten our darkest days. Our "senior" dog recently came to my rescue when a wild turkey approached me aggressively while on a walk. (Weird, I know, that's a whole nother story!)

They do seem to pick up on when we are feeling down or ill.

Really great stories about man (and woman's) best friends. It really is amazing that dogs can sense when we are feeling blue or not well. It is a well known fact, that patting a dog can lower blood pressure, and also bring a smile to your face. That alone can lower the stress levels in your body which can only help on all fronts...Di

Roger, It is time....Di