Honey Home

     A fine, fancy dog. Okay not so fine, not so fancy. More cute in an ugly sort of way (hey, it's how Oliver describes me too). Ollie and I went in to the Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter to look into volunteering about two months ago, in the cat space.  As we attempted to locate the cat room, which is in a room surrounded by all the dogs we saw one little pathetic dog who just sat up and looked at us. She didn't bark, wasn't manic or needing our attention.  We thought if somehow she was still here after we had the season and travels behind us, we'd consider taking her on.

 
    Let alone having a home, I've never considered the possibility of having a dog. In SF, unless you have a tiny turd of an animal, a dog in an apartment is not really a kind choice (for anyone).  Now that our season of travelling has quieted, and we are settled into our home, this has become a possibility. Maria has grown up with dogs and cats and while there was once a dog in my first year of existence, mostly I have known fish and reptiles but in my time with Maria been introduced to the wonderful world of independent cats.

Honey and Thunder

        A deal breaker would be that any dog would need to be able to get along with our cats, and that it would be a shelter/rescue dog and not large.  The largeness has nothing to do with any issues about the size of teeth and poop, no matter what everyone will tell you about me. I have gotten over the tendency after a dog we are watching, poops, myself standing about as a dumbsel in distress hoping that some heroic person will come in and save the day.  A consideration: anyone wishing to do public service, committing acts of kindness might think about walking around and offering to pick up random animal poop immediately after it has occurred.  Please start at my house. I'll be looking for you and will sincerely be thankful but I might not shake your hand, okay?

     Honey, as she has been named at the (no kill) shelter is about five years old, was abandoned and has been at there since November.  Everyone at FAAS seems very fond of her and surprised that she is still in residence, although certainly not the most glamorous of choices.  She is fine with cats, but perhaps not with other dogs or aggressive children, and weird -protective? around her food.

     With a temporary trade of a drivers license, they allowed us to walk her twice (the first time just Oliver and I) and on Sunday 4/3, Maria, O and I went along.  She was sufficiently goofy and playful around Maria, and for a little one, can sprint fast and sustain her speeding.

meeting Dexter

cats react, "Are you kidding!?"

     So far so good.  A little problem trying to put back her harness- we think relieved of it finally that she didn't want it back on so we got a collar of which she's been fine with.  Mostly she goes outside although this morning she did pee inside, but in the middle of the night I think she tried to wake us up.  She can get manic as she finally took an interest in a chew toy, and in the progress of shredding it went crazed in giving it up. She likes sitting in the sun, walks and affection.  Only seems to really eat once in the late afternoon although might eat bags of dog treats if given the opportunity.

Singing together

 

she's a funny looking one!

she suckles after walks, any nervous moments. we think she may have been weaned at a very young age

The shelter provides an excellent dog trainer who stopped by yesterday 4/17, named Barbara Gallardo,"Ask Flora" and she's provided a lot of helpful tips. Their grant provides for six? more visits if we want. We want!

1/17 update: Honey is settled as a member of our household; yet another oddball. Her buddy is Oliver. For the most part she is sweet and often playful. Sometimes she acts like an old pathetic creature and other times when it is warmer, she plays with her food (tapping it around before eating), runs and hops. She howls for her tribe, begs for our human food, sleeps under sheets and blankets, and is pretty good about waiting to pee outside.  Her priorities seem to be 1. survival  2. food  3. love.  Still has a wild side that we keep an eye on but is more accepting of noise and our play around her.  Does not talk to herself as often (she has us) and has the continual odd habit of humping her bed when nervous.  She was friendly with Lightning and does not seem to mind Thunder.  People from the shelter remember her fondly and a few will do their facial impression of her under bite.