Freckles - Tons of Pics

I had received an email about a pit bull mix that needed to get from a South LA shelter to Valencia, less than an hour round trip.  Initially he was supposed to be neutered first, but he couldn't have surgery because the shelter had diagnosed him with kennel cough (sick dog=no surgery).  He was red-listed, and the transport couldn't happen until Tuesday, so I offered to pick him and overnight him until then.
 
Hi Helene and Riki,

Thought you might enjoy some pics of Freckles.  He really is quite a great dog.  His paperwork says he was caught as a stray, which if that is the case and he's never been in a home, he's done quite well in my opinion.  He was a little antsy in the car, first trying to sit on the passenger floor while his head and front half of his body was on my lap, next by finally sitting in the seat but every now and again trying to get into the back seat.  I found out what he wanted back there was a rolled up travel blanket to chew on, not food or toys--just the blanket.

It's easy to know when he's about to get mischievous because his tail wags, giving him away.  I keep wanting to call him Mr. Waggles.  When he finds something especially fun, his tail wags not just back and forth, but in every which direction in a chaotic semi-circular motion.  He loves to hear laughter; it makes him wag even harder so his whole body wags.  He also just wags contently as he wanders about.  And my favorite:  he was lying on the floor sleeping when out of nowhere, I heard two THWACK-THWACK's on the floor...he even wags his tail when he dreams.

He doesn't know Sit or Stay, but gets the concept of Come, and responds to a quick "Eh!" to stop him from something.

As for his health, he drank a LOT of water when he got here...almost all of which ended up on the potted plant outside two hours later; the rest he saved for the neighborhood.  He ate dinner, and eats a little quickly.  I don't think he always chews.  I've given him a treat and his mouth opens, it goes in, and it's gone--not chewed, just swallowed.  He is panting a lot, but now only in bursts as evening as turned into night.  I think some of it is just anxiety.  He tends to starts panting when he gets up to see where I'm going.  As he sleeps now, he's not panting, but the rhythm of his breathing is still a pant--rapid shallow breaths--but his mouth is closed.  So I do think some of it may be from the cough, but some of it is just stress.  He does whine too, although I haven't figured out why--except when I went into the bathroom and he couldn't come:  that got a whine, and a pounce on the door actually.

Oh, he's a bit of a drooler.  No Hooch from Turner and Hooch, but he really hasn't any clue when a thin seven inch drool is hanging from the left side of his mouth.

(Salvador Dali Perspective)

I think he's going to make somebody one very happy person.  He's a cuddler, but can't seem to get comfortable.  It's like he wants to be close to you, but not sure how to go about it.  So he ends up with his face in my boobs, then his ass in my armpit, then leaning with the side of his body into my leg, then stretching his legs into my thigh, and all sorts of strange positions that don't look very comfortable.  He's quite limber, and sits way back on his haunches so his back legs are straight, and has no issue showing you his goods. Anyway, I realize I've gone on and on about him--I can't help it.  He's a good dog.  Here are some pics.  I do think perhaps he should get back on his meds, just so he doesn't relapse.  He's been on Baytril 68 since April 26th.

 

I look forward to hanging out with him for the next couple of days.  Riki, just let me know when and where you want to meet whomever on Tuesday and I'll be there!

stephanie.

Cosmic and Cozmo

I had seen a posting on a transport board about two dogs that needed a lift from a boarding facility in South Los Angeles to Sunland to catch a transport in progress.  I offered to take one at a time, since I had never dealt with two large dogs at once and felt it was impossible.  However, when there was no way to get the other one picked up, I decided to give it a whirl.  It was after all, only a half hour drive.

I didn't know the exact size of the dogs, but since they were a bonded pair, I hoped I could handle TWO dogs in my truck at he same time.  One sat in the front bucket seat, the other in the extended cab portion.  It was quite a harrowing ride through the foothills as the one in the back freaked out almost the whole way.  I had him tethered & harnessed behind me, but he kept trying to pace, tangling the seatbelts, panting, drooling, nose running.   To this day the seatbelt is still broken, having been yanked so far out it can't go back in.  So, needless to say, no visual aids on this ride; I had to concentrate on just getting there safely.


But it was quite cool to see what "real transports" are like.  Cosmo and Cozmic were to hop into a van taking ten, yes TEN, greyhounds from Arizona to Nevada City.  Someone volunteered their fenced in yard, and in gender-segregated rounds, the greyhounds all got out of their crates for a five minute potty break, and then were wrangled back up and put back into their crates.  Cosmo and Cozmic got settled in, and in less than half an hour from the time the van pulled up, they hit the road.  

Below is my follow-up email to the coordinators and rescuers after I returned home. 



Cosmo and Cozmic are on their way!  They are definitely a bonded pair.  I don't know if "german shepherd dog" is the default at the animal shelter to call these dogs, but they really aren't german shepherds.  The pictures didn't come through on the email, but their paperwork had their names on it.  (by the way, the paperwork says they're both intact and unaltered.  I didn't get a look under Cosmo, so I can't be certain)

The female (Cozmic I think) is the smaller, white with some tan markings, very sweet and stable.  She could be part cattle dog or german shepherd.

The male, Cosmo, is rather large, might have some rhodesian ridgeback in him (all tan with a few black markings around the muzzle), but he's stocky like a very small version of a mastiff with a wide head.

Cosmo was more frantic, panting heavily, drinking a lot of water, and constantly needing to move around.  i asked Cozmic to help me calm him (since she was serenely lying down in the front seat) and she licked his face and he tried to lie right on her (and she didn't mind at all).  They shared one very small water bowl and both their faces were in it at the same time with no issues.  I think they just might love each other. :)

I passed along their paperwork, and they both had collars when I picked them up from boarding.

I hope they get a home together somewhere.  She may not need him, but she likes him and he definitely needs her. 

And thank you Judy for being there when I arrived.  Even though I got them both in the vehicle, I couldn't have taken them out and gotten them settled without assistance.

Stephanie.