invisibleninja
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- Nov 9, 2010
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Is it weird that I cried when I read that you are keeping him? Because I totally did. I'm just so happy, for Romi, for you, for Gracie.. for the whole crew.
Penelope, how could it be pressure when I asked for your opinions? LOL, bless your heart.
And the Cox situation is why I decided to post last night. I know not everyone follows this thread (and not even most), but I thought I should post up and let you know one story's ending...and hoped it would bring a little goodness into a few days of horridness.
I am glad he's home.
And Steely, "Newfus Dufus?" Seriously? Me and da Booger Boy have got to talk.
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Herding Cats
No, Kali, closer to Los Angeles. And thanks - between him and Gracie and the cats, it's always amazing that I sleep at all. LOL.
And yes, R&R, I have to say, I really, really took my time and watched them; I let them tell me what they wanted. It was so apparent...so clear. So obvious. And of course I knew that, but...still, I had to pay some serious attention to recognize it if that makes sense.
Sorry to have scared you. I'm just trying to do right by this guy, and wasn't sure until yesterday/this morning that this was his home. I am now, and it's good.
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Herding Cats
Herding Cats -- Hooray! I am delighted by your decision!
I had been meaning to post here to tell you that I am sorry for "pressuring" you to make Romi's permanent home with you. I thought I was being unfair to you to impose my judgments and desires upon you.
Unfortunately, it has been a really difficult 2 days at Websleuths, having to deal with the murder of the 2 Cox boys at the hands of their evil father, Josh. Your news this morning brings a ray of happiness and the hope that, yes, stories can have happy endings -- and sweet little tortured dogs can be rescued by white knights and go and live forever with princesses in fairy tale castles! (Oops-- I am getting a bit carried away).
I think your reasoning is sound. It's not so much about us humans, but about the dogs. To pull such good friends away from each other is not a kindness -- and we need to be kind to each other and all of Creation.
Thank you for lifting my heart. I will let my four-legged friends know the great news!
You're gonna make me cry. :tears:
Somebody said that the lady from the Animal Rescue was knocked out by how much progress he's made. Do you have more on that conversation for us. I heard somewhere, I forget where, that Romeo put his paws on Gracie's back and gave you some smooches. What did she have to say about that?
Do I remember correctly that he was the one in the group they were most concerned about? I also can't remember where I heard this, but I heard he and Gracie run in the yard chasing each other in circles and playing with each other. Does he still run up and hit her and then runaway? More specifics would be nice.
:great:
Putting his paws on Gracie to reach me is something he's done for a while. What he does is that if Gracie gets between me and him, or if I'm giving Gracie some ear rubs or a chest rub (she stands there for these...loves them!), and he wants to get to me but not close enough to get grabbed, he'll go onto his hinds, brace himself on her back or shoulders, and reach his nose out and give me kisses. And then he runs away, terribly excited at his feat, and often comes running back to do it again. She's like his stepstool sometimes, and a good safe place to initiate contact if he's feeling a bit insecure (for whatever reason) about getting too close to me outside. And he'll do it inside, too, but not nearly as often.
The lady from the rescue came by yesterday, as you know, and watched him in the back yard. It was terribly cute. He wasn't hiding at the back of the yard, and while he definitely kept his distance, it wasn't as far away as he could get. Rather, he'd close in on us, and then sit down, and watch. His ears were forward, his tail was in constant motion, and he and Gracie demonstrated the patrol they do - Gracie goes to the fence, sniffs, walks to the next spot...and Romi goes to the first spot, sniffs, and then follows Grace around the yard, sniffing all the spots she's sniffed. It's like she's showing him what to smell for, how to smell for it, and what to worry about or not. And of course he and Gracie were also running around in their big circles, just playing and goofing off.
She called him confident, aware, and relaxed but cautious.
Yes, he was the one that they were most concerned about being able to be rehabbed into a home. He was one of the oldest, had been at least two different labs, and would not leave the kennel(s) he was in unless someone took him out. He would then promptly try to return to the kennel, or, failing in that, would go find something to hide under. He never raised his tail, his ears were never up and forward (indicating curiosity/interest), he never walked fully upright (cringed, was the word they used...) and he'd never make any eye contact. If left alone, he would find the farthest place from humans, and lay there, not moving for hours. And if he got upset, he'd pace, endlessly, back and forth, back and forth. He was also not eating much.
He also had about zero muscle definition, and was very weak because his living conditions didn't allow for muscle development or maintenance.
One of the things the rescue lady was most struck by was his muscle tone. He really has gotten "cut" in his legs, sides, and chest. He's a strong little dog now, and along with all the other things he's overcome, his body is healing.
And Gracie and Romi play...and play hard. He will 'tag' her, run as fast as he can away from her, hide behind something, and then surprise her from behind whatever he was hiding behind. If she tackles him (and that's her preferred method of wrestling - like a bear, she'll swing one foreleg over him and pull him down...), he'll grab her neck and try to take her down, too.
He also does the butt-in-the-air invite to play, and it's hysterical to see that. I mean, he's so small compared to Gracie, and she tucks her fanny in the air, too, and then the race is on. He's far more agile than she, and is quicker off the mark, but once she gets going, she can roll anything over. And that's the method she prefers....and so he goes rolling. But he LOVES it, and so does she.
This morning, before breakfast, I watched them wrestling. He laid down in front of her, reached out his front paws, and bopped her on the head. She'd lower that huge head, and nose his belly, and he'd grab her head, and chew on her ear or neck. And then she sat on him. And he wiggled out from under her, and jumped on her neck. Lather, rinse, repeat. It was so funny to see...and they were clearly having a ball.
And yes, they chase each other around the back yard, tails way up in the air, and just run for the sheer joy of running. It's so great to watch them tearing up the backyard...running in and out of the bushes, playing tag, changing direction and just playing tag. It's great.
They're so great together...and I'm so glad that the rescue lady was able to see some of that. I was worried that he would not be comfortable enough with a stranger in his yard, but he settled fairly quickly, and did play with Gracie while we were standing there watching.
Enough detail for you? LOL.
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Herding Cats
Herding Cats, I thrive on the details and cannot get enough of them. LOL
Heartbreaking
http://howlingforjustice.wordpress....-feel-sunshine-on-their-faces-hug-each-other/
ETA: HC..no, we don't expect you to adopt one LOL