Monday, November 9, 2009

Meet Skeeter

A few years ago, maybe three or so, I was at my local gas station when I saw a dog that just captured my heart. It was love at first sight. He was a little red Min Pin (Miniature Pincher) and he was so bright-eyed and perky that I immediately thought to myself, "that's my dog." He was following a man when he ran over to say hello. I knelt down to pet him and asked the man what kind of dog it was. He replied he didn't know, that it wasn't his dog. He said that it was a stray that, according to the girl inside, had been at the station for about three days. The station was on a busy road and there was no doubt that this dog wouldn't last long there so I took him with me. He had a collar, but no tag. A pretty sure sign of a dumped dog. After checking with all of the shelters and local veterinarians and driving the neighborhood for a week with an eye out for "lost dog" signs and drawing a blank, I again said to myself, with a smile in my eye, "That's my dog." I named him Scooter and I have never loved an animal as much in my life. He was my buddy and accompanied me everywhere. His winning personality made friends with everyone he met and he loved to play. Scooter didn't sleep on the bed, he slept "in" the bed. He would jump up on the bed and burrow his way down to your feet and curl up there. He truly brightened my life and made me laugh every day. As you can tell, this story is in the past tense, as Scooter was run over and killed, in his own yard, by the newspaper delivery boy. In this case, a woman in a pick-up. It really wasn't all her fault, it was dark, the drive is a long narrow lane, my wife had just let him out for his morning pee and, well, I could never break him of chasing cars, particularly ones that come down the drive, but dammit, she drives too fast and I had previously told her to slow down! That was about a year ago. I was devastated. He died in my arms. I cried for days. I still do, whenever I think of him. There are tears in my eyes as I write this. Then, a little while back brother Punch published a post about an abusive shelter and it made my heart ache. I have kind of had an eye out for another MinPin but wasn't sure the time was right. I didn't want to get one from a breeder so I've looked at MinPin rescue and at the local shelters, but the one I found at rescue was about 200 miles from me and they wanted $300 in fees, money I just don't have right now. I found a beautiful black and tan at the Humane Society but he was part of a matched pair and they wouldn't let just one go, you had to adopt them both. We already have another dog, my wife's Dalmatian, and I don't want three. That's just too much. But Punch's post pushed me over the edge. I went online to check Animal Rescue and found a perky looking Manchester Terrier mix-breed. I went to see him. It was a very emotional experience. Not the shelter, it was modern and clean and the staff spent time with each animal, I was really impressed, no, it was me. I had a deep sense of guilt that I was betraying Scooter, and I had to fight back the tears. I nearly turned around in the parking lot but forced myself on, almost as if I was driven. I guess I was driven. I needed a catharsis. Knowing I probably couldn't walk away from the dog once I saw him, I went in. I was right, although he didn't immediately capture my heart like Scooter. He wasn't nearly as perky and engaging, but he was sick. He had been a stray. Animal Control picked him up off the street. He was skinny and had a bad cough. He also has early-stage heart worms. I had to seriously ask myself if I was willing to take this on. But I did. The shelter staff could not have been more friendly or efficient. They had neutered the dog, wormed him and implanted a micro chip. Additionally, they paid for a free month of pet insurance and gave me a bag of good dog food. On the way home he perked up and stuck his head out of the window. But it was then that I noticed how bad his cough really was. I stopped at my Vet's office. She checked him out, gave him the once over like an objective appraiser... this is what you're dealing with. We've got to give him antibiotics for the cough, fatten him up, and then we can treat the heart worms at a cost of $599. The Vet was a little upset that the City had adopted out a dog with heart worms. She said that they should have treated the dog prior to adoption. However, the City will pay for the treatment and they feel that the dog would get much better care for this strenuous treatment in a loving home than at the shelter. The policy makes sense to me. I called my wife and we decided to keep him. I bought the drugs for the cough and went home to introduce the boy to his new family. After about a week of treatment, the cough went away and the boy perked up considerably. Three weeks on, he's put on some weight, his coat is shiny and his terrier personality is shinning through. Now, what to name him? After going through the usual routine of searching the internet for dog names, the garden variety of sophisticated famous person list, etc., I decided to name him the name I had as a toss-up for Scooter. A name that suits his personality. He buzzes around the house like a... Skeeter. I have begun taking him on hikes in the local preservation areas and he's turned out to be a great walking companion. He stays within sight and comes when I call him. He's really smart, he's house broken and already knows his name. This morning we went for a walk in the Cedar Point Preserve. I thought you might enjoy the pictures.

24 comments:

  1. Nice story, albeit tragic, Charleston. So sorry about Scooter. The new puppy looks like a charmer, though. Nice dog. And, as you know, loving the photos of home.

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  2. Heart felt story. Good to know that something positive came out of the hell in Forrest City.
    Keep us posted on his progress.

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  3. Wishing you much happiness and a long life with Skeeter. :)

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  4. Nice story, I have had some close animal friends over the years, most of them from the pound. I am a cat man myself, hard to take for a walk, nigh on impossible, but I love their independence as long as they have food, water and a clean litter box, they love you.

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  5. So sorry bout Scooter, that's awful. Ya know I used to think 3 dogs were too many and now I have four. If I had a HUGE piece of property I'd probably have a hundred.

    There's just something about the "right" dog or pet for that matter. They make your day better no matter what's going on.

    Your new lil buddy is adorable and I'm so happy for you. When I was a teenager in West Virginia I had a puppy named Skeeter but it ran away....sniffle. Very touching post. :)

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  6. There's something about dogs that no other pet can offer. We're about to get another. I have my heart set on a border collie but realistically, I'll fall in love with the first thing that looks at me.

    If you happen to be in my neck of the woods, there's something there for you to collect.

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  7. Thanks to all for comments. I don't usually wallow in public, but for some reason I was moved to on this post. I love all animals and especially feel for the wild ones who are slowly being pushed out of existence. I feed the birds and squirrels and raccoons and opossums and whatever else comes by and I put no poisons on my yard, most of which is overgrown and wild.
    Dogs and Cats... I love them both and have had both. The difference... Dogs become part of your family, you become part of a cat's family.

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  8. a beautiful story indeed, i could feel the emotions from beginning to end. i have a minpin, she was a gift from my daughter, she's about 2 1/2 years old, black and tan -- her name is Kiya (Egyptian meaning joyful) -- you can find a post i dedicated to her here: http://wordbin.blogspot.com/2009/10/lost.html (sorry I couldn't open the shortcut)

    your pic today looks like Margaritaville!!

    and i found you via Matthew at AbodeOneThree.

    smiles,

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  9. Dogs take your heart to unexpected places, places you did not know it could go. I'm glad that Scooter was in your life! And I can't help but think, in a way, he helped lead you to the path where you meet Skeeter. So... until the rainbow bridge. Mine are there too. xoxo-Diane

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  10. So glad you found a new companion in Skeeter; and glad for Skeeter, too!

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  11. Beautiful post. Maybe Scooter was urging you on that day, when you met Skeeter, knowing the best way for you to mend your heart was to push all that love you had out onto another friend.

    I found you through Matthew's blog, think I'll stick around for a while and read some more if you don't mind :)

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  12. Wow, took Skeeter for a walk and came back to find a bunch of new friends. Thanks to all for migrating from Matthew's place and welcome. Please don't be strangers, Mr. C likes to entertain. I'll be by to visit all of you soon.

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  13. Skeeter is adorable - I think I'm in love (in a pure, non sexual way)!

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  14. Found you over on Matthew's blog. Congrats on your award. I love your header. I can't believe you change it everyday. I alos love the cement texture wallpaper.

    Scooter was a gorgeous dog and I'm sorry you lost 'm but Skeeter is equally beautiful and I'm so glad you opened up heart for him.

    Please stop by the respite sometime...I'm following you..your story made me cry.

    much love

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  15. This is such a nice story and your love of Scooter. It sounds like enough time has passed that Skeeter is now a welcome addition. He's very cute and I'm sure will be your best new companion.

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  16. What a handsome boy. I got all teared up Mr Charleston.
    We rescued our dog a year ago from a shelter. He had a broken leg that the assholes that owned him before us let dangle till it formed a callous and now he limps.
    His name is Miles. He burrows too, we call it "root in" while IN the bed. He's a yellow lab-bassett hound mix.

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  17. It's such a heart breaker to lose an animal. I'm sorry. We just lost a kitten we got from the shelter, and it was awful.

    Also,
    Welcome Skeeter!

    (I want to touch your blog. Is that wrong? I'm a texture junkie :)

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  18. skeeter looks wonderful and maybe he will be perky and engaging enough to follow scooter when he is well

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  19. How great to hear from everyone and especially how many of you adopted shelter dogs and cats. I'm taking Skeeter to the Vet this Friday to see about his heart worm treatment. I'll keep you posted. He's really come alive and loves to chase a ball and play tug. He doesn't sleep in the bed. He just jumps up to visit for a minute and then gets down and goes to his favorite spot atop the couch cushions.

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  20. Yet another reason to get your news online...

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  21. You know, Skeeter resembles Scooter.
    A very heartwarming story, thank you for posting it. I live alone & lately have begun to think about adopting a pet but with some reservations. Caring for a dog in today's economy is expensive - the shots, etc. Also, if the dog ever got sick to its stomach; Id be up chucking too and then there's the walking at night. The area where I live is a nice residential one but there's much crime in the city in all cities really in the USA!

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  22. Ginx... ditto. Christina... try a cat or a bird.

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  23. Hey, since the dating thing isn't working for me, maybe I should just get another dog.

    Touched by your post -- thanks for sharing it.

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