Straydog UPDATE posted SUNDAY 4/1/03 at ~9:47 p.m. CT

Pat's Daily Dog Log

SUNDAY APRIL 13 2003

Border Collie Billy is adopted and will be going to his new home next Sunday!

      This week I've been in touch with a young man, a rancher whose first name is Wheeler, who saw Border Collie Billy on our "Dogs for Adoption" links and was interested in adopting Billy to become his sidekick, and helper as they would be working three ranches together. The young man scheduled an appointment to come out this morning around 10:00 to meet Billy, and this sounded like such a perfect home for Billy. We were hoping the introduction would go well.

      When Wheeler arrived, I took Billy to the big play yard to meet his prospective new dad. Billy accepted a few pats from Wheeler, but as always when Billy comes to the play yard, he was interested in doing "his work" right away, and immediately off he trotted to find his ball and bring it to me. He laid the ball in front of me, waiting for his work commands: "Sit," "Down," "Stay," "Wait," and finally I threw the ball with the command to "Get it!" and off Billy went to fetch the ball and bring it back, ready to run through the routine all over again.

      Billy's new dad thinks Billy is a beautiful, very smart fellow, and would be the perfect pet for him. The adoption papers were filled out, and Billy has been officially adopted! His new dad will come back for him next Sunday. Only one week to wait and Billy will become a very special companion to Wheeler and will also have the kind of "working" life he has been dreaming about.

Ricky's new mom calls

      Ricky is one of Rosie's seven-week-old puppies, who was adopted yesterday, and today Ricky's new mom called because she was concerned that Ricky wouldn't eat. I assured her that this is normal for puppies (and adopted adult dogs too) when they go to their new homes, because it's a whole new experience for them--new surroundings, new people they have never met before, and they are new at being a house pet with all the new sights, sounds and smells of their new home. Also Ricky is missing his siblings and his mother. The little fellow is going through a transition period that could take a few days or a week (sometimes longer) while he adjusts to his new life.

      I thought (and reported yesterday that) Ricky had a companion dog at his new home, but his mom said the "other" dog belongs their friend, and Ricky will be visiting the dog on occasion so that the two dogs will become buddies. The new mom and dad know Ricky would be much happier if they had also adopted one of his siblings, but one pet is the limit for them right now. And, with either the mom or the dad being with him most of the time during the day and night it won't take long before he settles in.

      She'll call again in a few days to tell us how the little tyke is doing.

New arrivals, Puppies Jack and Jill, are lively little fellas!

      These little puppies are as playful as any other rolly-poly pups we've ever cared for! They are bouncy, happy, playful puppies, and they enjoy their special little world to the fullest (being mostly blind and totally deaf). And I guess I already mentioned what huge holes Jack can did! (See photos of Jack and Jill in the Saturday UPDATE.)