BarkingProse

It must be a special time. They put up colored lights and my lady is in the kitchen more than usual. That’s fine with me because I have an urgent need to know where she is at all times, and when she is in the kitchen I do not have to get up and down to follow her around the house.

She laughs at me and tells me that I look too serious. I’m not sure what she means. I have always been an introspective dog. I often had too much time to myself and learned at an early age to develop a life of the mind. Having been in and out of shelters in my early years, I allowed myself few expectations. A warm place to sleep,something to eat, the kindness of strangers was all I could hope for.

When my lady took possession of me in November, I prepared myself for the worst. As old and fragile as I was, I had to learn to live a new life. The Aussie twins perplex me. They race around the yard barking at imaginary sounds. They play tug with a dirty old rope. Tess uses her feminine wiles shamelessly. She always wants to go for a ride with anyone who will take her. I prefer to stay with my lady.

I mastered the routine of the household after several weeks. Breakfast is served at 6am; the evening meal is usually around 5pm. The twins pester my lady relentlessly for their evening meal. How she puts up with them, I don’t know. I am required to take six short walks each day. Sometimes when I see the leash I run to my bed. But in the end I go for my walk because it pleases my people. The twins race out ahead while I walk sedately in search of a suitable spot for toilet.

At bedtime I move deliberately to my assigned spot. My lady makes sure I am comfortable in my soft bed and then she tells me stories to help me sleep. On Christmas night the man told me that he loved me and I would stay with him and my lady forever. He said that was my Christmas present and we would work out the details of my adoption in the new year. I was so overcome with joy I could not respond. I had just received the most wonderful gift – the gift of love and a forever home.

People come and go from the house. The older son left and was replaced by his two younger brothers. They were both very nice to me. At first they joked about my weight, but soon they were taken with my personality and began to see my value. At night I was allowed to sleep with one son in the garage apartment. He is a heavy sleeper and my snoring does not disturb him.

I had another bath today, this time in the tub instead of the shower. The man washed my rear end and my lady washed my face and ears. She said I hardly smell anymore and my skin seems a little better. She feels so sad that I have scabs and scars from the many years of skin problems, but I’m not concerned. I feel much more comfortable. I hardly scratch or chew myself anymore. Perhaps when my coat grows back I will be more attractive to the lovely Tess.

Asher was wild all weekend. He loves the sons and constantly brought them toys. He steals dirty laundry and shoes. When the people weren’t looking he swiped the remote for the TV. He jumps the fence to hang out with the goats. He never sleeps during the day. Tess sleeps on the couch. I sleep on one of the dog beds in the main room. I am beginning to feel more secure about my circumstances.

The lady tells me I have no bad habits. I don’t jump on people or scratch them with my paws. I don’t pull on my leash. I will sit for a biscuit or my food bowl. I don’t bark at anyone who comes to the house. They think I am nearly deaf. Perhaps I am, but it really doesn’t bother me. I do admit to having difficulty seeing in the dark, so the lady always brings a flashlight when we take our evening walk.

I’ve heard my next bath will take place during the Monday night football game. Perhaps that is significant. I just try my best to cause no one any trouble. I will do whatever is asked of me. After all, I am a guest in a new home and I wish to be accepted.

They told me I was going to see the vet. I didn’t believe them. She put the leash on me and started to lead me towards the car.  Where was I going? I didn’t want to go to a new place where I would be afraid all over again. Had I done something wrong? I panicked and pulled as hard as I could. I sat down and went limp. They struggled to lift me into the station wagon. We’re they sending me away because they didn’t want me?

We drove for about twenty minutes. I could hardly catch my breath. Then the car stopped. They left me in the car alone for a few minutes. Soon they returned and I was walked into an office. It smelled of dogs and cats and medicine. They put me on the scale. I was so embarrassed. I wouldn’t look. Eighty two and one half pounds, the receptionist announced to the entire waiting room. Everyone gasped in disbelief.

Oh I must look like some hideous thing. Obese, hairless over much of my body, with skin lesions and bumps everywhere. Maybe they would put me out of my misery. Surely no one would want me in this condition. I felt faint. I sat down. I expected the worst.

Next came the vet tech. She asked me to pee into a plastic dish. I refused. They violated me by sticking things in my private places. After amusing themselves by looking under my tail and in my ears, I heard the tech say everything was normal.

I was just starting to relax when the doctor entered the room. He had a pleasant way about him. My lady told him I was a mess. The vet agreed but said I could probably be saved. They took my blood. I was very brave, they said. I did everything asked of me. They said they wished all the dogs were as good as I.

Then they all stood up. I held my breath and closed my eyes. I so wanted to go home to the lovely Tess. The man took my leash. Come on big boy, I think he said. It’s time to go home. I could hardly believe my ears and feared my weak hearing had deceived me. Home? He said home… Did I really have a home? Was I really going back to Asherpark, to the beautiful Tess?

We walked out of the office together. The man holding my leash, my lady with a collection of antibiotics, anti-fungals, ear drops, and medicated shampoo. I didn’t care how many pills I had to swallow. They could put drops in my ears forever, and three baths a week or once a day. I would do anything to have a home.

I tried to help them get me into the car but my legs were weak and I collapsed like a sack of potatoes. They carefully lifted me into the car and arranged me so I would be comfortable. I fell asleep during the drive, and when I awoke I was indeed at Asherpark. There was Tess to greet me. I was home to stay.