Ever thought of getting a MeowSpace for the dog?
After spending 12 years with 2 wonderful cats, my heart began to crave the affection of a K-9. It never occurred to me that I would be needing a MeowSpace for the dog.
Let me start from scratch (pun definitely intended). I adore my cats; and whether I want to admit it or not, cats are different from dogs in the way they show love and devotion. I offhandedly mentioned to my wife that I was missing having a small cuddly dog. Her answer? “Sure, with your next wife.”
Nevertheless, I managed to acquire two business appointments on the same day, one in the morning, and the other in the afternoon, each located on opposite sides of the amazing Oregon Humane Society. It only made sense for me to go to the morning appointment, and, having several hours in-between appointments, stop and visit the little guys and gals. This is something I do when I’m near there, which isn’t often.
I entered the shelter around noon, was kindly greeted by a volunteer and asked if I would like a copy of the sheet of free pets that day. Excuse me? Seems that anyone over 60 on Tuesdays can select a pet from that day’s chosen few. After getting over feeling insulted that she identified me as over 60 (63 to be honest), I said, “Sure, I’ll look at it, but I’m not currently in the market for another pet.”
I took the sheet and began visiting kitties, bunnies, mice, rats, birds, and of course, the doggies. I got to one dog pen that had the photo and info about the dog, but no dog. I walked on, but returned later to see the dog and a volunteer just getting ready for a walk. He was a Chihuahua mix, whose body and face exuded a wiggly joy and happiness. I was smitten. Walking back to the front desk to ask for a visitation with “Rueben,” A part of my brain was screaming, “ONLY WITH YOUR NEXT WIFE!!!”
I turned in my request card, was given one of those round things that buzz (like in a restaurant when your table is ready), and strolled around the shelter once again. An hour later, I buzzed. The volunteer ushered me into an office with a couch and carpeting. She interrogated me for 15 minutes before bringing in the dog.
Rueben was about 1 year old, and he had been found wandering around the area where the California fires had blazed and caused so much destruction and heartache. He was without any kind of ID. No chip, no collar, no sign of having been neutered. Many of the lost and found animals in the area had been identified and were being cared for by the Merced Animal Shelter. Rueben ended up there as well. Unfortunately, there was no space to accommodate pets without ID, so rather than euthanize them, many were selected for the “Second Chance Program” at the Oregon Humane Society. Rueben and a bunch of other pets were checked over by the house veterinarian, neutered and spayed, given their booster shots, and made the trip from central California to Oregon. He had been there merely one day before I found him.
I took pictures, video, messaged my wife with them, and meekly dialed my wife’s number. She started her response with, “I knew it!” But then she asked me how much I wanted this dog. Without waiting for my response, she said, “No matter; I can tell. Bring him home.”
He was so sweet and cute that we changed his short-lived name of Rueben to Joey. The cats were wary. Joey was wary of the cats. They wanted his food. He wanted theirs. He couldn’t get theirs because they each use a MeowSpace. We soon realized Joey needed his own. Thus, we ended up setting up a MeowSpace for the dog. He learned it quickly, so the feeding problem was solved.
Today, Joey is training to identify high blood sugars in our Type 1 diabetic grandson. His disposition is so loving that we are also preparing to take him on visits to hospitals, nursing homes, special schools and the like. He is my boy, and my longing for a cuddly little dog has been quenched. I’d keep writing, but he and I have Rally class tonight 🙂
