Nellie

Where Are They?

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Nellie

I’m deaf but I’m happy. Why wouldn’t I be happy?  I was supposed to die two months ago at the shelter. Nobody thought I was worth saving except for Old Dog Haven.

Okay, so I can’t hear and I can only see when I look straight ahead. I lose track of my people and pack all the time. If somebody moves right or left I can’t see them. I look all around until I see mom then I run to her. If I don’t see her I take myself back to the house and wait for someone to come find me.

People feel sorry for me when they first meet me. Deaf, limited sight, tilted head, stumble when I walk. Who cares? I’m alive! What else matters?

Now here’s the part you won’t believe. We get home cooked meals at Asherpark!  I know. It’s crazy. Mom cooks for us all the time. This morning I had slop with leftover salmon, turkey and yummy apples. Sometimes mom tries to slip some vegetables in my bowl. Yuck! I spit them out like they were poison. One time I spit all over the floor and mom had to get the mop. I thought she would be mad but she was laughing so hard she could hardly talk.

Sometimes mom feels bad when she sees me all alone in the pasture. The rest of the pack knew it was time to go back to the house, but I missed it. Then I’m all alone looking for a familiar face. I get this kinda forlorn look on my face that says “Where is everybody?” But then I see mom and my eyes light up. I start prancing towards her and everybody feels better.

I lose mom in the house all the time. She turns one way and I turn the other way and petty soon I’m all confused. Sometimes I see mom in the mirror. I try to walk through the mirror so I can get to her, but she always ends up behind me. One time I saw Ash in the mirror and I tried to nip him cause he was right in my face. But all I got was a taste of glass and a bump on my nose. Turns out Ash was behind me the whole time.

I’m learning some things aren’t always what they seem. But some things never change. Mom is always happy to see me when I find her. How do I know that? Cause she tells me so! That’s the only thing that matters to me. I may be wondering where everybody went, but when they find me they tell me I’m special and I’m loved. Doesn’t get much better than that.

 

 

 

Tess

Wicked Wanda

by  • 

Tess

I try to be good. I so want to please my dad. I watch his every move and follow him like his shadow.

But I am part border collie and I do have red hair. And sometimes my bad self just takes over. That’s why people call me Wicked Wanda or Wanda for short.

Frieda, the elderly golden retriever, is spending her summer vacation with us. I am trying very hard to be nice to her because Ash wants me to.

But Frieda is soooo annoying. Frieda is the THIRD deaf dog in the household. Jack, Nellie and Frieda have formed their own little band and conveniently pretend not to hear any commands. Unlike me and Ash, they pretty much get to do what they want.

Yesterday Frieda discovered the groundhog toy. It had been missing for several months after the guest Labradors left it in the weeds. Mom found it and put it back in the toy box.

I guess Frieda can’t help that she’s a retriever and likes to carry stuff around in her mouth. Ever since she discovered the groundhog she constantly walks around the house making it talk.

I don’t know what real groundhogs say, but this one makes the most disgusting grunting sound. It’s something between a grouse and a pig. Ash finds it intriguing. I can’t stand it.

Last night I had enough of the groundhog and Frieda. I gave her the stink eye and she moved away from me. Just as I suspected. The old retriever could be easily moved by my devil eye.

When no one was looking I crept up on her and put my head over her neck. She knew instantly not to mess with me. Glorious silence fell on the room as Frieda was afraid to take a step or squeak the stupid groundhog.

With a slow deep growl I encouraged her to drop the offending object. I was just about to take the groundhog away from her when mom saw what was happening. Damn!

“On the couch, Wanda!” mom barked at me. Not so fast, I thought. I would get on the couch when I had the groundhog.

My hesitation allowed Frieda to scoot off with the hideous toy in her mouth. I showed my disdain by ignoring the command. By now mom and dad were both after me. I gave them the stink eye and continued glaring at Frieda. She left the room dejected but taking the groundhog with her.

Just then the old mop Nellie staggered in the room. Nellie has trouble walking upright after a nap. She wobbles like a hard boiled egg on a counter top.

While Mom steadied Nellie I made one last pass at Frieda. I raised my tail like a sword and stood over her. Of course the weak kneed Frieda dropped the grunting groundhog and scurried off like a wounded beetle.

Bad choice. Just as I grabbed the groundhog to take to my spot on the couch, mom caught me from behind. “Oh no you don’t!” she said. “Bad behavior won’t get you what you want in this house.”

I was scolded severely and made to go through all my stupid pet tricks. The groundhog was placed in quarantine. Ha! At least Frieda can’t have it either. Mom gave me her worst stink eye until I looked away.

Then goodie two shoes Asher sauntered in the room. That silly boy can do no wrong. Mom thinks he is mister perfect. Poor Ash. He knew there was trouble in the pack but he didn’t know why. He’d been out running the fence line and missed the whole sorry episode.

I flopped myself on the couch and turned my back on everyone. Ash settled in for his weekly brushing. Nellie tripped and fell into mom’s lap where she was sitting on the floor. Jack slept through the whole thing. Frieda was no where to be seen.

I sank into a deep sleep dreaming of the day when I can destroy the groundhog. In the meantime I’ll have to work on my stink eye. That’s all for now. Respectfully, Tess.

 

 

 

 

 

Uncategorized

4th of July

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Tess

Everybody loves a party and the 4th of July is a big party for the United States. Mom says it’s a day when people celebrate what’s good about being an American.

I’m as patriotic as the next mutt, even though my breed is named after Australia. I’m not sure how that happened, but I’m okay with it.

Tess is patriotic too. She’s really glad to live in a country where dogs are valued.

For Tess and thousands like her, the 4th of July is a time of terror. Tess is one of those unlucky dogs that’s scared of loud noises, and the 4th of July is all about loud.

When we lived in the city we were ten blocks away from a huge fireworks party. Thousands of people walked past our house to get to the fireworks. Sometimes they brought their own firecrackers and tossed them in our yard.

Codie was terrified by fireworks and thunder. When the popping started she’d shake like a leaf and drool. Then she’d go crazy. One time she heard a pop real close. She bolted right through the screen door and would have kept on going if mom hadn’t tackled her. After that we always left town and hid out in the mountains where people weren’t so crazy.

We know Tess was picked up as a stray on July 5th. We’re pretty sure she freaked out and ran off from her first family. That’s why we watch her so close this time of year.

Last night our idiot neighbors were shooting off really loud bangers. Tess started shaking and crawled up on mom’s head. We quick gave her some herbal stuff that helps her stay calm, but it was too late. Tess had already lost her mind. Mom held her tight and put her anxiety vest on but Tess was in her own kind of hell.

Tess finally squeezed herself under the bed and shook for hours. Even when the poppers stopped she wouldn’t come out. Tess is going for a ride in the truck today to get her out of the neighborhood. We put her on a leash in the truck so if she tries to bolt she can’t go anywhere.

I’m sure glad this big party will be over soon. It makes me sad to see Tess all freaked out and know so many other dogs are scared to death. And what about the birds and rabbits and the deer. They must wonder if the people have all gone nuts.

Lucky for me I’m not scared by loud noises. The fireworks make me mad but they don’t scare me. Jack and Nellie are deaf and can’t hear the fireworks so they’re fine.

Next time you want to toss a cherry bomb, think about some poor mutt hiding under a bed. Maybe there is some other way you could celebrate the 4th of July. It’s quiet now so I’m gonna run the fence with Tess. See ya!