Straydog UPDATE posted SATURDAY 4/19/03 at ~10:21 p.m. CT

Pat's Daily Dog Log

SATURDAY APRIL 19 2003

No dogs adopted today

      It was a super slow day at both Canine Commissary Pet Supply Store adoption sites, and there were no adoptions today. Six puppies plus Puppy-Dog Brigitte made the round trip.

Kathy and Tommy came to meet and visit with Cassie and Blind Chubs

      Even though it was a rather gray, drizzly (and at times very rainy) day, the wet weather didn't stop this young couple, Kathy and Tommy, from coming to visit Cassie and Chubs this afternoon. The couple admitted they had fallen in love with the big pups after reading about them on our website, and they were really looking forward to meeting these two fast-growing puppy-dogs.

      We took the pups to the big play yard to introduce them to the couple, and as always when the pups meet someone new, they eagerly gave the new people slurpy puppy-dog kisses and happily climbed in Kathy and Tommy's lap for hugs and pets. The couple thought the pups were just wonderful--so loving and gentle and sweet.

      Kathy jogged slowly around the yard calling to the pups, and Chubs and Cassie happily trotted along close behind her. This is their favorite game! They "jog" with Caregiver Joel everyday when he takes them to the big yard to play. (See the Tuesday, April 8 edition of Pat's Daily Dog Log for a photo and video of Joel "jogging" with the pups.)

The couple's two cats may nix the possibility of this adoption

      The Only reason this adoption may not take place would be because of the couples' two cats. One cat is quite "aggressive," the couple said, and takes swipes at people the cat doesn't like. For a dog who has sight, this adoption would probably work out okay, because a sighted dog would be able to watch out for the cat. I'm sure one swipe from the cat that reached its target would keep any dog or pup from ever chasing the cat again.

      But putting a dog (or pup) who cannot see in this type of family situation is entirely another story. Chubs is (and has been since the day he was born) a happy-go-lucky puppy, and he is not afraid of anything. We don't want to allow him to be put into a situation where a cat could "attack" him. Chubs can't defend himself. He wouldn't be able to see the cat approach, and sharp cat claws could cause wounds to his face along with the even more harm to his psyche. Being attacked by a cat would petrify Chubs, and he would become frightened of this unknown, possibly for the rest of his life.

      When we rescued Blind Dog Stevie (see an update on Stevie in yesterday's entry below), he was already eight months old and must have gone through some horrific experiences, which caused Stevie to be very, very afraid of almost any new experience. It took the Nicholsons a number of visits to Straydog to slowly get acquainted with Stevie, and then it took many home visits with Stevie and Pete to the Nicholson's before Stevie finally felt at ease there and was finally ready to become part of the Nicholson family. We're being very careful with Chubs to shield him from the kinds of experiences Stevie must have gone through during his early weeks and months of life.

      Putting this trusting little pup into a situation in which he could be harmed by an aggressive cat is something that we just will not let happen to Chubs, and the couple agrees that there is some risk with their cat, so it seems a mutual understanding between all of us that Chubs most probably won't be able to be adopted by Kathy and Tommy. And we understand totally their not wanting to separate the cats and the dogs. They want to have one big happy family as everyone who has multiple pets wants.

Elaine and Mel Munch came to visit and donated a riding lawn mower!

      Elaine and Mel are also rescuers of dogs and puppies (probably cats and kittens too), and Elaine has even been in on several of the rescue missions of the family of dogs at the golf course in Dallas where Jesse and his mother, Laura, were rescued. The Munches wanted to come today to see our shelter and visit with the dogs and to bring us their big riding lawn mower, which they have no use for now that they're living in a place with a small yard. (Nina and her husband donated a big riding lawn mower a few weeks ago, so now we'll be able to get the mowing done in half the time!)

Mel and Elaine Munch, standing between Julie and Jed's kennel and Angel and Pup's kennel with Rocky and Ginger's kennel behind them.

Tomorrow is Billy the Border Collie's big day

      Billy will be going to his new home tomorrow afternoon. We are all so happy for this sweet fellow. He will soon be herding cattle with his new dad--a dream Billy has probably been hoping would come true for a very long time.

Heather has her possible new mom coming to look at her tomorrow too

      We'll report more on these adoption stories tomorrow!