Straydog UPDATE posted TUESDAY 2/25/03 at ~10:34 p.m. CT

Pat Arnold's Daily Dog Log

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 25 2003

Ice storm hits Straydog during the night

      We knew the weather was going to be bitter cold today, but I had almost forgotten all about yesterday's weather report of the ice storm that was headed our way. When I got up to Betsy's barking to take her outside at 3:00 this morning, I quickly saw that the storm had passed through quietly during the night, leaving behind a thick blanket of snow and ice.

      "Easy does it, Betsy," I said to her as we half slid, half walked down the slippery ramp making our way into the crispy-cold dark morning to take Betsy to the play yard so she could take care of business.

      As we passed by Chubs and Cassie's kennel, the three-month-old Lab pups heard the crunching sound of my feet in the icy snow, and they came running from their heated shelter to check out the new sound. They soon discovered a new game: Slipping and Sliding on the ice covered ground! What fun they had as they chased each other playfully, slipping and sliding all around their kennel. It was a hilarious sight and a fun new game for them!

New arrival, "Bear" (now renamed "Jesse" because Straydog already has a fella named Bear) is the first of the four, Tenison Golf Course dogs to be rescued, and he appears to be okay

       Last evening Guy and I went to Dallas to get Jesse (aka Bear) from the Dallas dog pound, and we took him directly to our vet in Athens, about 90 miles from Dallas. Because it was so late by the time we arrived at the clinic, we left Jesse there for the night to be examined this morning by the doctor.

      This morning we also had to take Betsy for a re-check on her broken leg, and Misty was due for her scheduled allergy injection, and I especially wanted to go to the clinic to be able to spend time with new arrival, Jesse. He was so frightened when we picked him up from the pound late yesterday afternoon that I worried about him all night.

Misty and Betsy see the doctor first

      The thick ice had completely covered the ground but luckily the roads weren't too bad, at least in our area, and Guy drove the van while I sat in the back on the floor of the van with Betsy beside me while Misty rode in a the crate.

      Misty received her allergy injection, and then the doctor examined Betsy's leg and took x-rays to see how the broken bone was healing. Everything looks good, Dr. Morton explained as he showed us the films.

      After Betsy's examination the doctor needed to take a phone call, so Guy took Betsy to the waiting room while I went back to visit Jesse until Dr. Morton was ready to see us. As I made my way along the long row of kennels, the dogs there jumped up on their kennel gates, happy to see the "new person," and others barked with excitement as I walked by. Then I came to Jesse. He was lying on a thick flowered quilt looking quite peaceful and content as he lay on his stomach with his two front paws crossed over each other.

      When I knelt down outside Jesse's kennel and talked to him, he stood up and moved to the back of his kennel and turned away from me, putting his head down as if trying to hide. The poor fellow was still very frightened. I went into Jesse's kennel and sat down beside him and began talking to him quietly. Finally I moved close to him and began to pet him. I wanted to give Jesse all the attention I could during the short time I had to spend with him today, and I can only imagine what my hand on his body must have felt like to this big pup who has always shied away from people and had never been touched by humans (from what I was told) for his whole life. He had, up until he was rescued, always been able to stay a "safe" distance away from the kind-hearted people who had been trying so hard to rescue him. Now, here was this person, me, sitting right beside him, gently stroking his long thick fur.

      When the doctor was ready to see us, I slipped the soft cloth leash around Jesse's neck to see if he'd walk with me to the examining room, but he melted into the floor, so I scooped the big, furry fellow up and carried him to the examining room.

Jesse (formerly Bear) gets a checkup

      The examination shows Jesse to be in pretty good health, the doctor said, adding that Jesse is Chow/Rottie mix, approximately 10 months to a year old, and he weighs 48 pounds. The fecal shows he has hookworms (as most all stray dogs do), and the preliminary heartworm test came out negative. Jesse was covered with big ticks, for which he'll be treated, and his long thick fur was very matted and dirty, so this fellow will also be getting a nice, warm bath. He is scheduled to be neutered today, and while he is sedated, they will take x-rays of his hips to make sure there are no problems there. Pam thought he might have been hit by a car at one time, so we want to make sure his hips and legs are okay. Then tomorrow he'll receive his needed vaccinations.

      We want to bring him to our Happy Home for Strays just as soon as possible, but spending these next two days at the nice warm clinic is probably the best thing for Jesse right now. Jesse's kennel is all ready for him here. The shelter in his kennel has two dog houses in it, both filled with lots of fresh hay, so Jesse along with whichever member of his family is rescued next will be able to "room" together, and their fenced kennel yard is roomy enough for running around fun.

      We know that it will take Jesse a long time to warm up to people, but once he is here, Jesse will be showered with love and attention, which does wonders for all frightened dogs and pups, and hopefully it won't be long before Jesse comes running up to us for hugs and petting just like all the other rescued fellas (who were once just as frightened as Jesse is now).

We would like to thank Mr. Kent Robertson and Mr. Ada Williams of Dallas Animal Control for working hard to handle the rescue of the Tenison Golf Course dog family. They say they will continue with the rescue mission as soon as weather permits, and we all hope the rest of the family will be in our care soon.

      We thank all of you who have called or emailed messages showing your concern about the family of strays. We know that Pam thanks you very much too.