New Year, Same Old Issues

It is a brand new year and I am faced with an issue we have had multiple times in the past.

Nico has escaped, yet again.  Back in 2010, Nico ran away.  Which led to us to finding someone else's dog and also rescuing Bella.  You can click on all of the links and read those stories.  But today, I find myself once again printing Lost Dog posters with this face on them

I've lost track how many times Nico has gotten out.  He is a runner, that is all I can say.  But this time, I have to admit it was my fault.  We left for dinner, and I completely forgot the dogs were in the dog pen.  Not sure where my head was.  Certainly not with the dogs.  When we came home, Nico had dug out.  Don't know when, other than somewhere between 7:15 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. 

Keep us and him in your thoughts and lets keep our fingers crossed that we find him, again.

Some Things Happen For a Reason

If you read the post of how we found Nico, or even what was happening when he was lost, I mentioned that I had been looking all over for him.  This required me to visit shelters and animal control service.  The Humane Society was wonderful as always, animal control was depressing.  I volunteered at The Humane Society way back when.  Jeff made me stop due to my weakness in saying "No".  During my few months there, we added a dog and a cat to our family.

While walking through Animal Control, the second to the last cage I thought was empty.  Which I found strange, since the place was packed. (For those of you who have dogs, please keep them under close monitoring during the 4th of July.  It is the busiest time for Animal Control.)  As I turned around and came by the cage again, I realized that there was a dog in that cage.  Two eyes were looking at me from under a mountain of hair.  I quickly realized that she was a Labradoodle.  One of the two breeds we had been considering looking at in the future.  The WAY future. 

After finding Nico, I had to notify every one of the places I had contacted to place a report of a lost dog.  The last one was animal control.  After giving Nico's information, I had to ask about the Labradoodle.  Her answer?  "That dog is not able to be adopted out to the public."  When I asked her why, she said that she had tested low positive for heart worms, and because of this, she could only go to a rescue group or she would be euthanized within the week. 

My response?  "Whoa, wait a minute".  I then discussed with her that low positive was treatable and although the cost can be all over the place, why would they put down a dog that has a treatable disease.  That is the process, was the reply. 

Of course, my mouth sometimes works without my brain being attached, so my next question? 

"What if my husband and I take her and agree to pay for all of her treatments?" 

As my mind was trying to figure out if I really did say that out loud, her reply came back.  "No.  Only a rescue group, or she will be euthanized." 

So, I hung up the phone, completely deflated with how the whole process works.  I didn't understand the need for all of these rescue groups until talking with them.  Now, I get it.  So, I text Jeff and informed him of what our conversation had consisted of and how the process worked. 

By the time I got home, I was really frustrated.  I then remembered that the person who had called me about the white Shiba Inu, was from a rescue group.  So I frantically searched through my phone, found their website and shot off an email.  Telling them about the dog and that we would foster her if needed.

2 hours later I took a phone call from The Safe Haven Animal Rescue of Florida.  They had been looking at this dog, but could not find a foster home for her.  If Jeff and were willing, they would pick her up the next day, have her cleaned and bring her to us.  The rescue group would cover her medical expenses.  In the end, after all of her treatments, if we want to keep her, we can, or they will try to adopt her out. 

They picked her up and had to shave off all of her hair since she was so dirty and covered in fleas.  Her heartworm treatment will start Wednesday, and that will last for one month. 

So, we now have a new addition to the family, and her name is Bella.  She really is a good dog.  She sits, gives you her paw, and gets along with everyone.  Well, everyone but the cats.  That is a work in progress. 

Bella, already at home on my furniture

TGIF

Thank Goodness It's Friday!

This week has been long.  With everything that happened with Nico, we didn't get much accomplished other than finding him.  Well, there is a little surprise, but I will wait to show you all that until I get a few photos.

Today will be hectic at home, glad I am working!  We are having our pool heater replaced.  No, we don't need it now, but it hasn't worked in a year.  Not much fun having a hot tub that never got HOT!  This requires the gas guy to be there along with the person installing the pool heater. 

Then, our air conditioning guys will be coming for our maintenance.  Which causes mayhem with a stranger in the house with the dogs.

There is one other thing, but that would give away the surprise.  So, until tomorrow, Happy Friday!

Know Someone, Who Knows Someone

Know someone, who knows someone, who may just know someone else that drives a Dodge extended cab, green, Dooley pick up? 

After days of placing ads, going to every shelter and animal place I can think of, putting posters up around the neighborhood, only to have to do it again after torrential rains, we had someone call with some information.

This person called to inform us that they saw someone pull over and pick up Nico along Morgan Johnson Rd, about a 1/2 mile from our house.  He was just trotting down the sidewalk. After speaking with them a bit longer, we realized how close we came to finding Nico ourselves. 

You see, when we realized he was gone, everyone that was here, jumped in a car and drove.  A few people stayed back, standing in our driveway, outside the gate, just in case they saw him.  When these people saw Nico being picked up, the were heading down Morgan Johnson and passed our house.  They mentioned the people standing outside.  They just didn't know why we were standing outside the gate at the time.  It wasn't until the next day when they saw the flyer's.

 Now, don't get me wrong, when this person called us on Monday, I was relieved.  That meant Nico wasn't out wandering around alone somewhere.  Most of the animal shelters were closed, so I was looking forward to Tuesday. 

Unless you haven't noticed, it is now Wednesday.  Not one phone call to any of the shelters or animal control, or us for that matter.

I'm not sure how someone can pick up a dog that is obviously well cared for and think to keep it.  I am really trying to keep my faith on this, but who ever picked up Nico picked him up on Sunday.  SUNDAY!  As I was laying in bed last night I realized that there is a possibility that they won't give him back.  We have had Nico for 7 years and to not know where he is or what will happen to him, really gets me.

The ad hit the newspapers today.  I am praying, hands in the air, knees on the ground praying, that people see the ad, the flyer, the craigslist ad, the facebook page, this blog or anything else that I have done and call us. 

Rain

Rain, Rain and more Rain.  This is what the weather has been since returning from vacation.  I have made a few discoveries about my feelings towards all of this rain.

1.  I snack all day when it rains.

2.  All the lost dog posters you put up the day before, now need to be redone.

3.  I eat ice cream when it rains.

4.  My pool is now cold.  Yes, for those of you up North, that means it has fallen below 80 degrees.

5.  I just want to read all day when it rains.  This means I don't do the house work I should be doing.

6.  I snack on pretzel M&M's all day.  (If you haven't tried these, YOU MUST!)

7.  Bugs try to escape the water by moving in with you.

8.  You try not to think about the dog you lost and how he hates rain, the sound and the feel of it. 

9.  Mowing cannot be accomplished when it is this wet.  I'm afraid we will lose our other dog soon because  we won't be able to find her when we let her out to do her thing.

10. I made pulled pork last night, and then ordered pizza for dinner anyway.

If this rain does not go away I will not fit into any of my clothes.

If You Must

If you must have a lost dog, don't even think of losing one on a holiday weekend! 

No one is open, not the animal shelters, animal control or newspapers for you to place your ad.

This morning was spent printing pictures, collages and posters to put up around the neighborhood.

Posters and flyers are made.  Jeff and Mike are out currently placing these up in the neighborhood and local stores.  Our other two dogs seem a little out of sorts.  Gracie, especially.  Gracie and Nico have always shared a bed.  Even though they each had their own, they chose to sleep together. 

Hopefully someone found him and will see our posters.