Confessions of a First Time Foster

Message from Kristen:

Einstein is lost!!!!! Our yard backs up to a cattle ranch (several acres away)- anyway a cow escaped and was in our front yard, Einstein got scared and bolted through the fence where the cow had destroyed. He has a bratpack tag on [with the phone number] if anyone should call.

(later)

We see [Einstein] but can’t get close. Every time he hears a cow moo he darts back into the woods. I am surrounded by ranches so he has thousands of wooded acres to run. I did call the vet and got a “kick-butt” tranquilizer and placed in some food. We are watching it to make sure nothing else gets the food. He will not let us get near him- I have taken Glory out in hopes that he will come to me. This dog is soooo fast it isn’t even funny.

Papa has been hand-feeding Angel. It keeps her from going nuts at being confined in the kitchen, and hopefully will lead to the two of them bonding, or at least Angel overcoming her general fear of men. I really like her, and hope that she ends up being the dog that Papa genuinely needs to have. Papa says he mostly feeds Angel by tossing bits of sausage (and now kibble!) on the floor, while humming Tom Lehrer’s Poisoning Pigeons in the Park to himself. ::sniff!:: She does take some of the bits from his hand now.The other big news is that Angel tore off her diaper this morning. She may have been trying to give Cognac better access. Those sticky tabs are no match for a bitch in heat! I called Lynn, who recommended cloth diapers cut for dogs that we can get at Petsmart. So I called Papa, and asked him to rush us one at lunchtime. He thought he got the right size, but it looks really big. At least it’s reinforced denim sealed with Velcro, so it will stay on Angel!

I’d claim to feel better about the ecological footprint of using cloth diapers instead of disposables, but these take a disposable pad like the liners that women use. And we’re going to have to wash them a lot. I’m calling Papa to ask him to buy another one a size smaller when he comes home from work.

P.S. The small one barely fits, like a bikini fits a teenage girl on the strut. We’ll need another one of the slightly-too-big size. [Added note from Papa: Mama called me at work to make this request. Actually, no, that wasn’t the request. The request was for two new diapers, which I balked at, citing the $17.00 price each. We compromised on one.]

You might recall, in an earlier post, where I talked about Jackson’s hero worship of Brother and his ability to pee whilst lifting one leg.

I’ll admit, I wasn’t really watching closely today. I was chatting on my cell and walking Jackson on a loose leash. He was, once again, mesmerized by this amazing ability of Brother’s…edging closer…closer for a better look…closer still…until he was standing directly in the stream, getting soaked.

But the thing that really made me laugh (causing the person I had on the phone to think I’d suddenly lost it) was the expression on Jackson’s face as he was getting his…uh…shower. He stood absolutely still, looking very intent and studious, tilting his head from side to side as if he was registering a myriad of intriguing observations. Registering angles and trajectories. Drawing little schematics in his head. Yes. Hmmm. I see. Fascinating.

Brother must have been daydreaming too, as he was surprised to put his foot down right on top of the puppy. Who he promptly growfed.

Jackson’s shower was immediately followed by a bath, and I don’t want to have to do that again.