Django is burrowing further into our hearts every day/hour/minute/second. On the weekends, and other times we're home he's as close to us as possible. He loves chasing balls, grabbing the leash, going on walks to the tree farm and the lake trail, chasing his tail and jumping on the bed.
I need to get more pictures and will as soon as I get my new camera for Christmas (early I hope!) - A Canon Powershot ELPH.
Here's a fun dog read: http://www.theawl.com/2011/11/how-to-talk-to-your-dog
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
The End of the White Dog Era (for us)
As some of you know, Misha escaped again a week from last Wednesday (11/2). That night there was a bad storm, and since she didn't come back the next day we feared the worst. The days went by and we had no reports of her, either by neighbors, our Craigslist ad, or the animal wardens. Joanie and I hypothesized what might have happened, and both of us began facing up to the possibility that she might be gone for good, and probably dead. I envisioned her being hit by a car and crawling off into the woods to die.
Last Friday evening, around six, we received a call in response to the Craigslist ad. The caller had seen a dead white dog, around 50 lbs, on the median strip of I-5 just below Ferndale. Since it was already dark, Joanie and I made plans to go look the next morning, and if it was Misha, to retrieve the body. We even discussed where to bury her.
At around 7:30 there was barking in the front yard, and incredibly, it was Misha announcing her return, and wanting to be let back in the yard, which we did. We pampered her that night with food, but we had already decided that if, by some miracle she returned, we were returning her to WAMAL, since we could not care for her properly. I had a commitment Saturday, so we planned to take her back to the Holiday Kennel in Kent on Sunday. Sylvia, from WAMAL, had sent us some ACE, and we gave her one, then, two, then three (the max) without a lot of results. We tried to get close enough to her with food, then I just spent time in the yard with her, picking up poop and straightening up, hoping she would fall asleep. Our plan was then to get her into the crate. But to no avail, so around 10:30 we called animal control to assist us.
While cleaning along the fence, I discovered a handle with a loop attached to it, and Joanie and I were both totally puzzled about where it came from. We wondered if someone had come in the yard and tried to capture her. But why?
When the animal patrol wardens came, we had the answer. Earlier on the same Friday Misha returned, they spotted her around Whatcom Community College, some 5-6 miles from our house. One of the wardens spent about 3 1/2 hours trying to get near enough to her to snag her with the noose. When she finally did, Misha gave a terrific jerk and jerked the tool out of her hands, running off. An hour or so later she showed up at our house. She'd dragged the noose with her across 3 four-lane roads, and 5 miles home! We didn't even notice it on her, and she must have wriggled out of it that night.
With the help of the wardens, and our neighbors Pete and Linda, Django's godparents, we formed a line in the yard, wardens with nooses on the ends. We backed Misha up into the corner of the hay she slept in. At that point, surrendering, Misha began shaking with fear, and we all started crying. The warden, talking softly, slipped up to her and slid the noose over her head, and we led her to the crate and put her in. I then drove her down to the Holiday Kennel. We understand that Michelle, her foster mom, will take her back. Michelle is set up with a kennel, and better facilities for a dog like Misha.
But we feel as if we've failed in some way, and are very, very sad for her. Misha has an amazing spirit to be able to overcome all she has. If our circumstances were different we would have kept her.
Last Friday evening, around six, we received a call in response to the Craigslist ad. The caller had seen a dead white dog, around 50 lbs, on the median strip of I-5 just below Ferndale. Since it was already dark, Joanie and I made plans to go look the next morning, and if it was Misha, to retrieve the body. We even discussed where to bury her.
At around 7:30 there was barking in the front yard, and incredibly, it was Misha announcing her return, and wanting to be let back in the yard, which we did. We pampered her that night with food, but we had already decided that if, by some miracle she returned, we were returning her to WAMAL, since we could not care for her properly. I had a commitment Saturday, so we planned to take her back to the Holiday Kennel in Kent on Sunday. Sylvia, from WAMAL, had sent us some ACE, and we gave her one, then, two, then three (the max) without a lot of results. We tried to get close enough to her with food, then I just spent time in the yard with her, picking up poop and straightening up, hoping she would fall asleep. Our plan was then to get her into the crate. But to no avail, so around 10:30 we called animal control to assist us.
While cleaning along the fence, I discovered a handle with a loop attached to it, and Joanie and I were both totally puzzled about where it came from. We wondered if someone had come in the yard and tried to capture her. But why?
When the animal patrol wardens came, we had the answer. Earlier on the same Friday Misha returned, they spotted her around Whatcom Community College, some 5-6 miles from our house. One of the wardens spent about 3 1/2 hours trying to get near enough to her to snag her with the noose. When she finally did, Misha gave a terrific jerk and jerked the tool out of her hands, running off. An hour or so later she showed up at our house. She'd dragged the noose with her across 3 four-lane roads, and 5 miles home! We didn't even notice it on her, and she must have wriggled out of it that night.
With the help of the wardens, and our neighbors Pete and Linda, Django's godparents, we formed a line in the yard, wardens with nooses on the ends. We backed Misha up into the corner of the hay she slept in. At that point, surrendering, Misha began shaking with fear, and we all started crying. The warden, talking softly, slipped up to her and slid the noose over her head, and we led her to the crate and put her in. I then drove her down to the Holiday Kennel. We understand that Michelle, her foster mom, will take her back. Michelle is set up with a kennel, and better facilities for a dog like Misha.
But we feel as if we've failed in some way, and are very, very sad for her. Misha has an amazing spirit to be able to overcome all she has. If our circumstances were different we would have kept her.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Waking Up
The white dog Misha disappeared last Wednesday and there has been no sign of her since. There was a large storm that evening/night, which may have disoriented her, since she's been able to find her way home the previous 8 times she's escaped. We have neighbors, the animal warden and Craigslist on the lookout. My worst fear is that the warden will call up and tell me she's killed 40 lambs.
On another note, and you should not do this at home as it violates all the rule books, but there is no better way to face the day.
On another note, and you should not do this at home as it violates all the rule books, but there is no better way to face the day.
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