I was looking at the weather forecast for my neck of the woods. In a bright red banner were the words I've been longing/desiring/fervently wishing to see:
SNOWFALL WARNING
*gigglegigglegigglegiggle*
I've been very patient waiting for the fluffy white stuff to happen. I mean geez, here it is waaaay into December and nothing yet. My winter gear is wasting away! I want to wear a thick scarf! I want to have to wear mittens! I want to clomp around in my snow boots! Snow already dammit!!
Winter is my favorite season. Can 'ya tell? *gigglegigglegigglegiggle*
Watcher had a WTF?? moment and I had a WHOA! moment last night.
I was on my way out the door to visit a friend, and at the last second I put Watcher's collar on and brought him with me. I'd never taken any of my dogs there, but because Watcher truly adores Brianne ( 3 y/o human of the household :) ), I thought they'd both enjoy it.
Once there he enthusiastically bounded out of our Van, HUGE grin on his face, gleefully following me to the staircase where we needed to climb to the second floor apartment.
One paw ever so lightly touched the first step up, and then the WTF? look.
Watcher Data: Not once in his entire life had he seen/done stairs. He was born and raised for the 1st year of his life in a *reputable* puppymill ( I'm working on a post about *reputable* animal mills, soon to come ), of which the kennels were ground level. Then he came into my home where their are only 2 steps to come in the front door.
He watched me walk up halfway, about 10 steps, and he fucking freaked. He ran the length of the building and back in the blink of an eye, ran to the bottom step and valiantly attempted the dreaded ladder to hell again.
FAIL.
His anxiety increased a million fold because I, his reason for being, his ability to live and breathe ( those are Watcher's thoughts, not mine.... he's one of those dogs that truly believe that, or maybe it's *separation anxiety* that all those so called self experts think, whateva) was getting further from him.
I went down and tried to cheerfully entice him up "c'mon Watcher! let's go! let's gooo!!" Nuh uh. I tried cajoling "c'mon babe, s'okay let's go up Watcher". Nuh uh.
While taking him back to his safe spot, the Van, I realized that not one of my dogs had walked up stairs. They have sailed over 6' 10" width raised 2' garden boxes when shrieked at by moi, jumped 4' high temporary garden partitions to help me garden by digging the holes (o m g *scream*), scaled a 4 tier flower shelf, but never walked up stairs.
A bit ago I started thinking about making them a sort of "playground" in the yard. A fun agility type of playground. ( easy instructions Here ) I'm thinkin' I need to incorporate some stairs in there.
Star is a Boxer that had a horrific past ( evident by photos ), but is now in the best place in the world for a homeless, and obviously un-loved canine, S.A.I.N.T.S.
Here are a few posts about Star:
Star
Star
Star
Star
Star
What is a Backyard Breeder?
Read here and Here
And now you have NO excuse. You've seen photos, you've read the literature, do what's right. Opt to Adopt. Go to your shelter, city animal control, or SPCA and give a homeless animal a home.
Edited to add: Spay and/or neuter your animals....it's only right.
