June 14, 2005

• CANINE SUNSHINE

  Let me introduce you to my little floppy mop ray of canine sunshine, Muffin. She is the last in a long line of rejects that have found a safe haven under our roof. (I am a real softie for the underdog, underprivileged, and mistreated ~ be it mankind or beast.) She is a Shih Tzu/Terrier mix. Our vet says it is anybody's guess which of the toy terriers it might be - maybe Miniature Schnauzer or Yorkie....

  
  

  Her story began about a year-and-a- half ago. It was the autumn rainy season. (We have thunderstorms here in central Arkansas pretty much every spring and fall, and that year was no exception.) It was a stormy night with lightning cracking, and thunder booming ~ a real "toad strangler," hubby would say, when my daughter found her standing bewildered in the middle of the state highway near our house, drenched to the skin and trembling like a leaf. She loves most anything furry with four legs too, so she stopped her car, and rescued her from certain death. I bathed her and picked the ticks off of her, and she slept upstairs with Em that night.

  
  

  Over the next few days, she stole our hearts. She seemed to be afraid of almost every thing ~ loud noises, quick movements, brooms, feet, our cat, men and doorways. She would freeze in the doorway of any room inside, or out. It was as if she wasn't sure what to do. She ate very little. I finally got her to eat from my hand a bit at a time. After 3 days we were all in love with this little hobo dog, and she was becoming part of  the family. (During this time no one came through our neighborhood looking for a lost pet.)

  
  

  The following Friday I was weeding my flower garden and she was outdoors with me, when a man came walking up our street. When he saw her he whistled for her. She 'cowed down'  and slowly walked his direction. I heard him swear at her under his breath. When I asked, he told me she was his wife's blankety-blank dog, and that she had been missing for two weeks. So he scooped her up and she disappeared our of our lives. I was shocked and angered to see him take her just across the street and down a few doors! When Em got home that evening from work I told her what had happened. We both cried. 

  
  

  Several times over the next few weeks she returned as I was weeding the back flower bed wiggling, and squirming, and licking me in the face. Each time I took her home with a heavy heart. Finally I worked up the courage to ask them if they would consider letting us have her. I even offered to pay for her. The hubby was more than willing, but the wife was not. I told them if they ever changed their minds, or couldn't take care of her to please let me know. About six months later, the first Tuesday of March,  in 2004, I came home from work to find this message on my answering machine, "Do you still want the dog? if so,call  me at -------. " I called and told them I would be right over to get her.

  
  

  Once again I gave her a bath and picked the ticks off of her. We had to have her shaved to get rid of all the mats in her fur. She weighed  about 7 1/2 pounds and was 2 1/2 years old. We had much to overcome. She had never been potty trained, didn't trust men, and had absolutely no idea what to do with a toy.

  
  

  We have had her for 15 months now. She weighs almost 10 pounds and has unlearned most of her nervous ways, although she is still scared of thunderstorms and cats. She is crate trained and has learned to trust hubby. She expects him to 'rough her up' each evening when he gets home. They play a game where she helps him take off his socks. It is really funny to watch this apple shaped man chasing her. The groomer says she doesn't hide anymore. But she still has major separation anxiety issues. She is a great traveler! She gets very excited whenever I put on my tennies shoes, or get out her harness and leash, cuz she loves to go.  I take her with me to run errands. She goes in when we shop at Lowe's. She has made 3 trips to West Texas with us. When I take her to my parent's house, she seems to understand that she is there to sit in Moma's lap. Her only downfall is she is a licker. Boy, does she love to nail you right on the mouth!  Doggie sugar   I could rattle on and on. If  I were only half as wonderful as she thinks I am! Let's just say I'm glad we found each other.

  
  

  If you want to read another Muffin story see my "Secret Sin" post.

  • 5:50 pm
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