Well, we really like potato chips! Yup, today our family grew. We now have two people and five dogs in 150 square feet of living space. And I'm sure there is room for just one more! We NEED another little border terrier - at least Boogie and I think so. Although I must say, I think Boogie has forgotten about that for now.
Today started off with a quick trip to the Fiesta Cluster as Boogie was signed up for one run. He ran great! But he looked up at Mike once, barking of course, and just barely went by the entrance to the weaves. Penalty. But he entered the weaves then, did them perfectly and finished the course beautifully. So it didn't count for anything but he had a blast. Mike really thinks Boogie thought he did something wrong today as he looked very sad and subdued when Mike just packed everything up and left. Poor Boogie - he thinks this one run a day stuff is for the birds.
But Mike had to hurry home today as he was anxious to make the trip to go pick up 2iggie. Yup, that's her new name. I'll explain in a bit. Let me tell you a little about her.
She was pulled out of a shelter in Bowie, Texas, when she was about 6 - 8 months old, in early Dec 2008 by Sharon Nelson, the founder/owner of NADAC. We have no idea what the dogs story was before being left at the shelter. At the time of her rescue, Sharon named her Iggy since she was part Italian Greyhound. We believe the other part of her is Border Collie. Sharon kept her and worked with her until February of 2009 when another NADAC member adopted her and changed her name to KC.
Just a short time later, Mike saw the dog and immediately went over and said he wanted to adopt that dog. He was told that she had just been adopted. Mike never stopped talking about KC. Every time he would see her at a trial he would tell me how he wanted that dog. The yearning in his heart only became stronger and stronger even though he knew he would never get her as she had a home.
Then just last month, we got an email out of the blue, saying that KC was being put back in to the NADAC Rescue placement program. But before announcing that, Sharon emailed Mike right away to see if he was still interested.
Oh, Mike was in such a quandary. He paced the floor for hours repeating: "We don't have room for another dog. But I want that dog so bad. We don't have room for another dog. But I want that dog so bad." I knew he would come to the conclusion that we couldn't get the dog because every time I mentioned getting another dog, Mike would tell me, "We can't get another dog until one of the current batch is gone." So I just let him stew about this on his own knowing what the outcome would be.
But a few hours later he came back to the bedroom and told him he'd informed Sharon that if KC was indeed available that he would like to have her. What?! What about the rules! Mike said he'd given it a lot of thought and that I could be the one to go. He said I was more work than all four dogs combined. Hmph.
So after many emails between Mike, Sharon, and the current owner, it was decided that we really couldn't take the dog now but that we could take her on March 16. But before we could commit we needed to have a meeting to make sure KC and all our dogs would get along. And, of course, we needed to visit with her to make sure she was okay with us.
We set up a meeting and went to meet KC. She was very timid and shy around us. But we were careful not to make eye contact and we threw little bits of food to her having the food land a little closer to us all the time. After about 20-30 minutes she would sometimes take a bite of food from us....before backing right up again.
So we brought out our dogs one at a time starting with Wazzu. Once she saw that Wazzu thought we were okay then suddenly she thought we were okay too. She met each dog one at a time and was fine with each one of them. We let them be off leash together except for Slugger as he was just too excited. Even so, KC wasn't intimidated by him in the least.
We were going to be doing a lot of traveling the next month so we wanted to wait until the middle of March and get her when we'd be parked in one place for two weeks. That seemed to work for all involved so we were set. Mike was so excited he just couldn't stand it. Each passing day was an eternity for him.
But then we got a phone call asking if we could please take KC right away. Oh, the person loved KC very much but just didn't want her around anymore as she said KC had run into one of her other dogs and injured it. Mike didn't want to take a chance that the dog would be given to someone else so Mike said he could take her on March 7th after we finished showing Boogie at the Fiesta Cluster.
Mike went by himself to pick up KC....or 2iggie as she'll be called the moment she gets in the car. Now I'll explain the name. We wanted to honor Sharon by using the name she had originally given the dog. But we didn't really care for the name Iggy. So since our home would be her second NADAC rescue home, I decided to put the number 2 (my favorite number) in front of Iggy. This becomes two-iggie. And if you say it fast it becomes twiggy. For those of you old enough to remember, there was a really thin model back in the early to mid-60's named Twiggy. Well 2iggie is really thin so this seemed like the perfect name for her! So, 2iggie it is!
After Mike picked her up, they started making their way home. She was a little spooked in the car. So after just a few minutes, Mike pulled over to let her rest and settle down. When the rain slowed down they took a little walk. Then more driving....and more stopping and walking. By the time they got home three hours later (if you just drove they were about 35 minutes from home), Mike and 2iggie were best friends and she was very comfortable in the car.
(This picture was not taken in the car.)
Look again....that isn't Sparkie!One by one, Mike took each of the dogs on a walk with 2iggie. This was a great strategy as both dogs would be so busy sniffing that they didn't really pay much attention to each other. After all the walking was done, we put the three big dogs in the back and let 2iggie investigate the RV with Boogie as a chaperon. Those two couldn't stop playing.
Eventually we had to put Boogie in his crate so that 2iggie could rest. But all she did was go to the crate and say "what are you doing in there....why don't you come out and play." So out he came.
After a lot of different pairings of dogs here and there, Mike finally got to relax with 2iggie. Now all is right with the world.
2iggie is doing her best to fit in with all of us. She is very respecting of the other dogs and is very cuddly. Like we have said with all our dogs, they are very grateful to have been rescued and just want to fit in. A huge thank you to 2iggie's former owner for allowing us to have KC and a huge thank you to Sharon for rescuing 2iggie to begin with and for thinking of us when KC needed a new home.
2iggie has now found her "forever home".
I'll leave you with this:
Why own a dog? There's a danger you know
You can't own just one, for the craving will grow.
There's no doubt they're addictive, wherein lies the danger
While living with lots, you'll grow poorer and stranger.
One dog is no trouble, and two are so funny,
The third one is easy, the fourth one's a honey.
The fifth is delightful, the sixth one's a breeze (see Mike I told you so, let's go for six!)
You find you can live with a house full, with ease.
So how 'bout another? Would you really dare?
They're really quite easy, but Oh Lord, the hair!
With dogs on the sofa, and dogs on the bed,
And crates in the kitchen, it's no bother, you said.
They're really no trouble, their manners are great.
What's just one more dog and one more little crate?
The sofa is hairy, the windows are crusty.
The floor is all footprints, the furniture's dusty.
The housekeeping suffers, but what do you care?
Who minds a few noseprints and a little more hair?
So let's keep a puppy, you can always find room.
And a little more time for the dust cloth and broom.
There's hardly a limit to the dogs you can add.
The thought of a cutback, sure makes you feel sad.
Each one is so special, so useful, so funny.
The food bill grows larger, you owe the vet money.
Your folks never visit, few friends come to stay,
Except other dog folks who live the same way.
Your lawn has now died and your shrubs are dead too,
Your weekends are busy, you're off with your crew.
There's dog food and vitamins, training and shots
And entries and travel, and motels cost lots.
Is it worth it, you wonder? Are you caught in a trap?
Then that favorite comes up and climbs in your lap.
Her look says you're special and you know that you will
Keep all the critters in spite of the bill.
Some just for showing, and just to breed,
And some just for loving, they all fill a need.
Winter is a hassle, but the dogs love it true,
And they must have their walks though you and numb and blue.
Late evening is awful, you scream and you shout
At the dogs on the sofa, who refuse to go out.
The dogs and the dog shows, the travel, the thrills
The work and the worry, the pleasure, the bills.
The whole thing seems worth it, the dogs are you life.
They're charming and funny and offset the strife.
Your lifestyle has changed, things just won't be the same.
Yes, those dogs are addictive and so is the dog game.
(Author unknown)
Debbie
3/7/10
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