The Nieces stayed from Sunday through Thursday morning. One of them had a Thursday morning orthodontic appointment. I had about five hours of peace and quiet, and the next wave crashed into my home.
My other niece brought me not her children, but her dog. He is half beagle and half either lab or retriever. He is sort of strawberry blonde and about 60 pounds of happy dog. However, he has a condition. He has major separation anxiety when his family goes away.
Somehow I agreed to deal with this. He has been banned from his previous doggy camp for eating a little girl's bedding. He chewed up her comforter and pillow when left alone for a few hours. He had been going there for years. Not coincidentally, his name is Chewy.
Chewy is a good boy. Don't get me wrong. But as soon as his owners left, he stood at the door and whined. He paced the floor and whined. He eventually changed from a whine to a true beagle howl, so I knew they had at least that part of his ancestry correct. My hounds joined into the sad song. So did I. This is how he acts while tranquilized. Then he snapped out of his daze.
He eventually sort of settled in here. The main problem is that I can't leave the house. If I do, he will think I have also abandoned him. I don't see why he should complain about being left alone with two hot little female beagles, but I don't want to risk my bed being chewed by Chewy. So I am grounded until Sunday night when his family will come happily back for him.
The first morning I let them all out about 4:30 am, figuring we were then good so I could sleep until 9 am. I am again taking Flexeril because the pain has returned in my back muscle and I figure I have nothing to do except sleep and read anyway. So in a groggy state, about 7 am, I figure he has no good cause to be asking to go out and told him to go back to sleep. About 7:30 am I wake up and say, "What's that smell?" I now need a new throw rug for my bathroom. I didn't see it as being salvageable, even though Baby uses it often for the same purpose and it has been scraped and washed many times. Eww.
Chewy is now so happy to be here that I know I will be asked to watch him again. I just don't like being grounded, but I am glad he feels safe here with me. Poor old guy. I can't even walk them. The combined weight of my 30-pound beagles and Chewy is more than I weigh, and I can't imagine trying to pull all three away from a running squirrel or rabbit.
So I guess I will just keep taking my Flexeril, be groggy, and read while I can stay awake. Monday I will hit the streets with joy. Sometimes we don't miss the things we take for granted, like freedom, until we lose them.
9 comments:
POOR YOU!!! I KNOW YOU WILL BE THANKFUL FOR THE PEACE AND QUIET AGAIN!
Hi Suzy,
Dogs are a wonderful delight, but also a big responsibility. I guess that is why my parents never let me own a pet when I was growing up. I know you are looking forward to your freedom and yet you will miss the dog. I am sorry you are unable to walk all three dogs together. I didn't think beagles wieghed that much.
I enjoyed this entry since I am an animal lover.
Have a Great Weekend,
Anita
Our old neighbors had rescued two beagles from the humane shelter. There is nothing quite like the baying of a hound. Since then, I've often wondered, "WHY???" Our kids playing on our side of their chain link fence always set them off. The neighbors said the abuse came at the hands of kids. Not my kids. The Rotweiler on the other side took care of that. My son hasn't gone near a dog since she knocked him flat on his back in a happy greeting when he was just learning to walk. He's cured from Beagle abuse and all things canine.
My dogs go outside to do their business and generally want to come right back in. I am a good neighbor - my dogs are never loose, are not allowed to stay outside if they howl or bark, and neighbor kids are not allowed to touch them unless I am there with them.
I miss my beagle's baying. They have such beautiful voices. Our greys sing, too, but it is not the same bell like tones. You are a saint to help this old guy not feel so miserable.
I love the sound! It makes me laugh. The poor old guy slept the rest of the day after we walked him 4.5 miles, lol. He was very good here, so I know they will be bringing him back every time they go away, sigh. Whatever it takes so he doesn't get too neurotic, I guess.
makes me glad I'm a cat person! Hope you are well, Suz-- trying to make my rounds this evening to catch up. xxoo, Albert
Jeez, sounds like this dog needs a vacation at an obediance school. Any animal named for their bad habits is bad news! In the horse world, such a label is usually a misnomer. If your horse is an utter coward you name him Prince Valiant; if he won't walk thru puddles, call him 'Fish.' But a dog that actually lives up to the name 'Chewy?' Oh yeah, he'd definitely be housed in a kennel cage at my house. ¤Holly
I'm glad you got your freedom back and hope you get off those pesky Flexerils soon. Hope you feel better ASAP Suz.... Come pester me when you get bored.
The K-dude
Flapster
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