Greta's Haven Pet Rescue

I like to spend a lot of my time on the front porch, looking off into the distance of the sky, while summer sings around me.

I meditate on the passing of seasons, the scent of flowers and the aging of children. I've become a familiar sight to some. Mothers and children wave to me as they walk by on the sidewalk. I've been with my family four years now. Some of the children walking by now were mere babies in the carriage when their mothers first waved to me. Some of those children still hang off of the same carriage, holding tight while a parent pushes the new sibling around the block. A summer stroll... One of those simple gifts of childhood; of family-hood.

The sky is ever changing and ever the same. Fluffy sheep clouds, wispy horse tails, fishy scales. Sometimes the clouds pile and tumble until they rumble, turning all grey and blue in their toil. Time passes. Things always change and yet they are seldom different. Sometimes we forget to reflect on the treasure of each day.

I'm not the deepest dog; I'm no Ralph Waldo Emerson of canine-dom, no Confucius of the animal kingdom. Yet, even I can see that time is passing and, although I have years and years before me, I should never decline to enjoy my NOW.

Oh, hey, it's me - Eva.

So today I was all like, "Dad let's do something fun; we never do anything fuuuuuuun!" And then Dad was all "Okay, we'll go see your cousins."

Well that isn't fun! My cousins are ginormous dogs and I don't like them. No! Not at all! Link is this big German guy who is all muscle-bound and paranoid. And Homer? Well he is like an angry hippopotamus - grey and toothy!

But we went there despite my protests and Dad booted me out of the truck right into the gaping maw of Homer-hippo.

Guess what? Homer tilted his head. Link even play-bowed!  I had FUN! People, I had fun.

So, I guess I was wrong about those guys. They and my awesome auntie even let me come inside the house to play. I guess I just didn't like them before because I thought they looked mean. They aren't mean - they're FUN!!!

What the heck is with this heat wave?!?! My husky fur does me a grave dis-service at times like this. I just can't seem to cool down!

Dad and Mom finally bought an air conditioner unit for the bedroom but, you know, I can't spend 24/7 in bed. Maybe 23/7, though...

And there is no rain! I love a good rain shower. It washes the dust from the plants, the dirt from the air, and leaves everything smelling brand new! Alas, there doesn't appear to be much chance for rain for the next several days either.

Yet, we all manage, don't we? How do I survive these scorching days? What do I do when the sun makes the world a conflagration of crisped grass and drooping birds? I have one simple solution.

Shall I share it with you?

Here goes...


ICE CREAM

Mom buys it at the grocery store. Lovely little cups of heavenly vanilla. Eva and I are only allowed to have it when it is extra hot since all of that sugar isn't good for us. But I would gladly live through several weeks of these desert-like conditions for a creamy dessert!

Recently a friend of my Mom's asked her to take a kitten. This little kitten of unknown origin found a place with some wonderful, good-hearted people that just haven't the ability to keep it. Mom said, "Yes, I will take the kitten." then she came home and told me about it.

Well, it has been over a week and the kitten is being elusive! Although it lives indoors it continues to give Mom's friend the slip every time capture is imminent!

What the heck! I was so excited about having a kitten again! (Those of you who read my post about being annoyed by our last kittens will kindly disregard.) I wanted a fur-ball that would snuggle me and purr. One that would attack my tail. A kitten to love.

A new foster of any kind always enlivens the house but a kitten - well a kitten is a force all of its own. Unless the family decides to keep the kitty, I sure hope it makes it to our rescue. I'll be the best foster-dog-brother it could ever want!

Mom is a little stressed out today. Her car, which is practically new, died at an intersection when she was driving to work! When she finally made it home she told me about how she waited over an hour for a tow truck, all the while watching her disabled car be nearly hit by drivers who, for whatever reason, didn't notice the hazard lights. She says her favourite guy was the fellow in the big Ford pick-up truck who was texting. That was a close one! Then, she says, by the time a large gravel-hauler almost plowed into the car she was ready to just let it get totaled.

Here's the thing - why is she stressed now?!?! I don't think she has grasped the concept that we now have an ENTIRE DAY to snuggle. I mean, really, what could be better than that? Eva, Adina and I stand at the ready to help all that stress melt away by showering Mom with love. And dog drool. It has healing properties, you know.

So, as Mom putters around the house, I place myself strategically in her path. She pats me absently for now but, before long, she'll realize this is a pretty good day after all.

I think I'll try my paw at poetry...

Adina - pretty kitty cat
Your eyes are huge, your body fat
When I bow inviting play
You merely tell me "go away"

With stripes of spots and eyes of green
You really do not look so mean
But when I sniff your derriere
You turn about and bite me there!

Your silver coat of burnished hue
Inspires my admiration - true
But when I try to kiss your face
You really put me in my place!

Adina have I tried in vain
To win your love now and again?
You snuggle up against my fur
I know you love me from your purr

Yeah, I don't know if anyone knows this, but I'd make an AWESOME service dog. Like, my mom, who is temporarily disabled, could not get along without me.

For instance, I notify her when Bowser the hedgehog is hungry. I stand next to his habitat and whine and whine AND WHINE until Mom feeds him.

I can also let her know when she needs to water the plants (or tell someone else to do it since she can't climb the ladder). I stand at her side and ever so gently stand on one of her surgeried feet until she realizes I am trying to direct her attention to the plants.

The best thing I do is fetch things. I love to fetch books because the paper feels so good in my teeth! Lately mom has been reading many things on her kindle. Carrying her electronic book is not quite as satisfying when she almost hyperventilates until it is in her hands.

Mom had a couple of weeks off of work after surgery and I'm not looking forward to her going back. But maybe since I am such a great service dog I can go with her! My customer service skills are amazing although my typing could use some work...

My mom recently got surgery on her feet because her feet hurt. I think she just needed to grow some hair between her toes, really.

She has these silly booties that are supposed to keep her feet safe and they SUCK!!! I like to sleep with my head on mom's toes and those booties don't feel good at all.

Today the Doctor said that mom only has to stay in the booties for another week. That is a good thing! She stumbles around the house like a drunken sailor and dad, being the funny guy he is, calls her Stampy. I laugh a little when he says it but only when mom isn't looking.

It has been nice to have her home but she can't take me for a walk or chase a ball with me. I think it will be better when "Stampy" (LOL!!!) can go back to work because then it will not be long before she can take me jogging or supervise me at the dog park again.

Aaaaaaaaght!!!! Tail! Imma get you!!! Imma get you, tail!!!! Rawr rawr rawr!!! Bad tail!

So, okay. I lamented a little over the tardiness of the crocuses, but once they bloomed on St. Paddy's day I was content to finally see them.

St. Paddy's day was beautiful - almost balmy - a bounty of sun and warm air. At nearly 70 degrees F, it was the day I gave my winter coat it's marching orders. "Ciao, furs!", I exclaimed. Sure, it may grow cold and dreary a few more times... but all that will be interspersed with other such glorious days, right?

WRONG!!! The ice came and coated everything! And now we've plunged into a freezy sort of psuedo-spring. The crocuses have turned from wide-open, fragrant blooms to little, ice-covered, alien pods. The tulips that had begun to emerge now whisper discontentedly about going home to Holland just as soon as their plane can be de-iced.

Mom says I am only four years old so I cannot know that a Spring of slow beginnings will suddenly burst into a cacophony of colours, scents and sounds I will never forget. I kind of have to believe her since she is over 30. I mean, in dog years she'd be, like, 220 almost, so she must know something.

But I'm running out of patience. Don't make me wait too long, you splendid Spring.