Jake
Our little man...
It was the first nice day of spring, the kind of day that you look forward to going down to the waterfront or for a walk in the park. Since I have a trowel for a left foot (meaning I am an avid gardener) thats where I was-knee deep in the garden when the phone rang. I had actually just walked in the back door when the phone rang and it was my local Pug Rescue calling to see if I could help. I volunteered a few months back and transported little ones that came from my area to foster homes or the puggy hospital. I had gotten attached to a little black male pug at the local shelter-that Pug had found it's way back home to his forever parents, but I still felt a little sad that he wasn't coming home with me-but there was another chance to help...
It was 3:30 on that Saturday afternoon, the call was to tell me that there was a little black male at the Kent shelter (about 30 minute drive). We had gotten the call from the shelter not too much earlier, but if he wasn't picked up by 5pm he was going to be euthanized. Everyone that our director knew that was close to the little guy was out, being the first nice day of Spring, so she was desperate to have someone go rescue him! Our director told me that from what she knew he was NOT in good health at all and that I needed to get him to the rescue's vet as soon as possible... if I could go. So, I ran out of the house to go get him-muddy shoes and all. I managed to get there just in time-without getting lost!!
The doors opened to the shelter and out walked this stout woman carrying a tiny little kennel, you know the ones that you think hold a bunny or maybe 3 gerbels. She held out a bunch of pill bottles and told me that they didn't really know what he had, but that these pills should kill just about anything he has. I still hadn't seen him until the moment I went to walk out the door with him. I opened up the little kennel and reached in to grab a crusty little soul. Despite his desperate features, his little tail was still wagging so fast I could have powered a sailboat! He looked at me with such love, I was suckered right there!!
I felt that his condition looked worse than I really ever imagined, and since it was after 5 on a Saturday I didn't think that making the additional hour drive north to the rescue's vet was the right decision at the time, so I drove to the 24 hour vet near my home instead. I still remember sitting in the waiting room. I had some cookies in my pocket and was playing with the little guy-he knew sit, stay, no, up and fetch (I later figured out he was housebroken too!). When we were called in to the room, the look at that vet's face said it all...he was facing a big hill to climb and we were going to have to do it together.
1) mange on over 85% of his body
2) severe allergies causing skin cracking and scales on top of the mange (that were all cracked and open wounds)
3) Kennel cough
4) worms
5) blind right eye from being squeezed too hard and having had his retina "popped"
6) nails never been cut and an infection from one being cracked off
7) ear mites feasting on the cracks...
8) underweight...actually half of what his bodyweight should be
9) severe flea bites on top of the mange and allergies
So, I look at the vet and ask, "How old do you think he is?"...probably about 3 months old. 3 months old!!!
The pictures above were taken about a week after he came to live with us and they truly do not show the severity of his condition to the extend that it was. When I finally brought him home that night, my babysitter (aka-Mom) took one look at him and said, "Oh honey, *insert sad face* you should have just let them put him out of his misery!" Boy, has she come to regret ever saying that!
Within a week he had most of the little stuff completely under control. Within a month, he was a totally different dog! His diet was completely changed and with a large dose of some pretty vicious, round-the-clock medications his mange had started to clear up, skin was healing (thank you bag balm!) and he was getting to learn a little about...sisters!!!!
If you were to look at that dog now you would have never known him to be the same dog as before. He is now my Mom's dog in mind and spirit and when she is here (she has a garden here next to mine) he is never more than a half step behind her. He chases the rabbits and squirrels for us like a good ol' farm dog, but will still want to crawl in your lap everynight and cuddle. He has made us laugh so many times, his joy is overwhelming. I don't know if he is more jovial because of his beginnings or because he is just a happy dog-but he has shown me that you can overcome anything if you just have the love and support around you...and he does!
Updates and Babies!!
Ever since little Jakey was a pup he has had the full run of the kiddie pool in the backyard. On hot days, my Mom fills it in the morning (she comes over to water the garden in the morning) and it's like bathwater by noon. Jakey knows this and waits for the perfect temperature. As soon as he is let out after lunch he runs as fast as he can to the back and takes a running leap into the pool (having it seen filled earlier) and splashes and plays around and drinks it when he is thirsty. Well, soon the weather got really hot so I got Luci in her 'kini' and headed to the backyard and the fresh kiddie pool...just as I was setting her in the pool for the first time here comes Jake. Running at full speed- he took one look at that "thing" I was putting in HIS pool and stopped so fast his rear-end practically popped over his head! If he could have cried, he would have. He stood there with his jaw openwide and looked at me and then my Mom and then me again and looked as if to say, "HEY, I thought that was MINE!!!!"
He stood there the whole time she was in the pool. She played and splashed and jumped out and back in...she had a ball. Jake didn't move. He sat there, starring her down...which she ignored. He did not want water on his ears, so the splashing annoyed him, but he didn't move. As soon as I got the towel he knew his time was close. When I reached in to get Lu out...he was in the pool. Staking his claim by lifting a leg...I could almost see him mouth the phrase,
"HAA! Wanna play now...lit-TLE girrrrl?!" *enter evil laugh*
Hey, anyone notice the garden?
Gee, I thought the girls were wusses when it came to going out in the rain but apparantly over the summer my little boy went wuss on me. He won't set foot outside the door if it's wet. He even resorted to SNUGGLING with the baby to prevent me from forcing him to go out and take care of business. Now, if you really knew Jakers you would know that he doesn't go within 10 feet of that "pool stealer" but desperate times counts for desperate measures! Luci thinks it's great! Finally the pugs are letting down their guards and snuggling with her...but, suddenly she thinks this gives her special rights as a snuggler. If a pug is sleeping peacefully in a cozy spot this means: must go squeeze something to get pug awake to play. If a pug is running around couch to escape before mentioned "squeeze" this means: AH HA, we ARE playing! If pug tries to hide under chair this means: we are playing hide and seek! If pug jumps on to Momma's lap this means: it's WWF night! "HI-ya!" (think Miss Piggy!)