Busted!

Oh how I wish I had had a camera in hand! A picture would be a perfect piece of evidence. Lucy is so busted!

Our dogs have never been allowed on the furniture—no chairs, no couches, no beds. I am allergic to dogs. Though I cannot live without them, I do need to guard their access to shared things, so furniture has been off limits. Now on occasion there has been evidence Lucy was on the bed in the basement. It took me an embarrassingly long time to discover this. I'd pass by it on my way to my car and notice the spread was just a tad rumpled and would straighten it out. Yet it took me three or four straightenings to realize a bed does not rumple itself and on closer inspection what was this dirt doing on the bed?

We discovered a mouse trap was a great deterrent to digging in the garden or getting on furniture. Snapping that little device in front of her was the only signal she needed. Just seeing said scary device was enough to dissuade her. So up the mousetrap went on the bed for a week or so and the problem was solved.

Enter "the couch." The last two times I've returned from work, she has been sleeping on the basement couch. Not just sleeping either, but totally passed out. The first time I thought (well actually, I knew) she had just slipped off and onto her bed on the floor. But today there was no stealth. I opened the basement door and entered the room before she picked her head and blinked, "Huh?" Oh my! BUSTED! One quick burst of "LUCY!" and she was back on her bed.

Now I could place the mouse trap on the couch. I should place the mouse trap on the couch. I will place the mouse trap on the couch, but not yet. She's an old girl. She trips and stumbles. The couch is comfortable on her old bones. And oh! Am I a sucker for her fuzzy face! She was cute and so sound asleep. How could I be truly mad. But I must stop this behavior...soon...

Neighborhood Alert System

We're slowly but surely growing our neighborhood alert system for dog walkers. Owner's phone number, email address, dog name and description have been disseminated. Most of our alerts are via email, though there are still some folks where the alert is word-of-mouth while passing them on a walk. Hopefully we can "grow" the list and increase our clout when it comes to dealing with bad owners, aggressive dogs and Animal Control.

We're using it for protection mostly. After the last two mastiff attacks, it really went into full swing alerting not only where the attack happened and the description of the offending dog, but what local animal control was doing about the situation. It really ignited us and with several calls in to AC, we got good results—the dog was removed.

Today the alert system was put into another good use. One of the local walkers was stopped by someone driving the neighborhood looking for their dog. They were in town visiting and their dog slipped his collar getting loose. The alert went out to everyone notifying them of the dog and the owner's phone number. Unfortunately, the walker who was stopped wasn't given the dog's name! Hopefully, the dog is friendly and found and returned.

Back & baths

I've been out of town for the past five days. I had a wonderful break in Corpus Christi where the extended family met to celebrate my nephews "winging"—military parlance for becoming a pilot. It wasn't a vacation as much as a gathering with all the aspects of family get togethers. Aborted conversations, waiting for the masses to assemble in order to do something, inside jokes, lots of hugs. Luckily my nephew and his wife have a beautiful young German Shepard, Daisy, so we weren't dogless.

The weather was a real break from what we get this time of year in the northwest. We stepped off the plane to warm and sunny. Ah-h-h! You could tell which of the family members weren't from Texas/Arizona...the minute we were outside we turned and faced the sun. Magnets. Amazing. The warmth!

Lucy was staying with our friends and because I lucked out and was able to get an early plane connection home, she was not here when I arrived. What a joy to see her when they brought her home. It was definitely a mutual admiration society gathering. She had a great time with them; they took her to work everyday leaving their dog at home. (Lucy has been known to jump their fence and although I think her legs aren't up to it anymore, you never know.) She also got to go on walks in different areas complete with new smells. An olfactory plus for her!

Quite awhile back when we were sitting their dog (3 weeks+), they gave us a gift certificate at a small local grooming shop. I'm taking Lucy in today for a bath and toenail clip. She'll look lovely for Floyd's return tomorrow.

P.S. The attacking dog has been picked up. It was a loose, aggressive, female mastiff. Because a series of complaints had been filed against the dog, the owners are responsible for not only the shelter boarding fees, but licensing, aggression and vet bills. My understanding is they stopped by the shelter to pick their dog up—actually they demanded the release of their dog, but AC refused to give it up until fines were paid. Additionally, if they do pay the fines, the dog must be removed from the county immediately. Should they get another dog and it is loose and or aggressive, they cannot get another dog for five years. Now I don't know how that could possibly be monitored. County Animal Control doesn't have the funds or personnel to monitor that, but it's nice to know they have the laws in place in case we should be faced with this again. Justice rules (somewhat)!

Leaving on a jet plane

We're heading to south Texas for four days. Our nephew is getting his "wings"—military parlance for becoming a pilot. It's very exciting. Even more exciting is he got top in his class and top pick for where he wanted to be stationed. There was only one opening at Miramar in San Diego and he got it keeping him close to his family and his wife's. How great is that?

Lucy will go to R&M's for the span. Though her back end is still weak since her surgery (eliminating the possibility of fence jumping), they will be taking her to their shop during the day. I have such a tough time leaving her and feelings are mutual, though she loves them.

The vet who did her surgery moved clinics and is now with Seattle Veterinary Specialists. If one can judge from their website, they look very complete. I hope it's a good facility—it's a lot closer than the one in Lynnwood!

Christmas & the manger

We introduced Stoli the Chihuahua to Lucy on Christmas Eve. We kept the dogs separated by a baby gate to get both used to seeing the other and avoid any fisticuffs. It worked well. Here's a picture of Lucy staring at Stoli behind the baby gate and Stoli looking out. Lucy weighs around 55#; Stolmeister hefts in at 3.5#.

The next day we went to L&P's and reversed the technique keeping Lucy sequestered. She was quite unhappy, but fair is fair. Stoli spent a lot of time visiting Lucy "in jail" as Lucy had laid watching Stoli behind the gate. Curious. No growls. L&P also have a cat, Lucky, which had both dogs curious and willing to chase. Of course, Lucky is about six times bigger than Stoli, so although Stoli was willing, she wasn't stupid. (What's a Chihuahua without its pack?)

Eventually we let Lucy out and she ignored Stoli. The only growls we heard were from Lucy warning Stoli not to approach her (Lucy's ) head when she was lying down. Stoli didn't quite get it, but we helped interpret.

Initially Lucy was quite taken with the cat, but didn't chase. The cat taunted her unmercifully! However, by the evening all the animals were so exhausted being around each other that they could walk within inches of one another and not even blink an eye. It was quite rewarding—and amusing!