Yes, I think that's where I'm headed. I love the interaction with the dogs on the walkies, but I'm finding the emotions and the chaos in the kennels very difficult, and having to say goodbye on a daily basis is getting harder and harder. I really do like working with the dogs 1x1 and 24/7 like you can with fostering. The 'big goodbye' is horrible, but you get so much out of it before that time comes. Just having Paul here this evening is a delight, even if he's not feeling his best. What an absolute doll! And I'm even saying that despite the fact that he let loose a puddle of wee to flood the bedroom not 2 minutes from bringing him in from last round walkies.
Paul was so good last night. We had a really nice bed cuddle and then he went into his crate easy peasy and was quiet all night. He was funny in that before bed he did have a growly session with his own reflection in the glass doors and also felt that my computer was the devil when I played a video. He was feeling pretty much 100% this morning and got up to normal doggie business including discovery of delicious kitty chocolate (my fault). He got within a foot of Garfield and both shrugged their shoulders and said "Meh". Great news as it widens his adoption prospects. I handed him off to another volunteer early this morning as I'm now sitting and waiting for a repair to the Tardis. Paul is getting another filaria shot, so I'll pick him up again as soon as I can roll. More Bodeguero cuddles ahead!
Ummmm.... where are the photos? You know the rules, young lady! If there are no photos, it didn't happen!!!
Oh goodness, you're a tough one! Well, there was a lot of rushing about this morning and that's when the 'summit meeting' took place. No photos, so I guess officially it didn't happen yet. Paul's back at my house now but feeling super punky after his second filaria injection. Maybe we'll have a second summit with Garfield if he feels less painful and can come downstairs this evening. I do have video of Carbon 'meeting' Garfield, but as Garfield hid so well, it's just a video of Carbon sniffing Garfield's cat toys. Not exactly proof of anything except that Carbon has a cat toy fetish!
Paul went back to the shelter yesterday and was there last night. After only two days, it was hard to leave him there, though he seemed quite happy to be back with Carbon and Moro, his two pen mates. I had quite a few errands to run yesterday afternoon so it made it easier without worrying about Paul being stuck in a crate at home, but I have to admit that it was sad seeing his empty crate in my bedroom when I got home. I'm also realizing more and more how much going into the shelter stresses me out, even though I love the dogs. I'm going to ADANA ("far" shelter with Messi and Charlotte) today and once more over the weekend. It may be my swan song at ADANA if Miry can get Garfield out to his new home and I can then get a dog in as a foster. It makes me really sad to think of not being able to go back to ADANA even to say goodbye to Messi before he leaves for Denmark and not see Charlotte and Nathan and all the others again. But if I take a foster myself, I can't bring him with me to ADANA (not allowed) nor can I in good conscience crate him at home alone for the 4-6 hours the visit to ADANA would take. So I may be on my last couple visits, which is bittersweet. It helps knowing that ADANA has dozens of regular volunteers and unlike the 'close' shelter (Carbon, Paul, et al) where I'm one of only two regular walkers, the ADANA dogs won't much notice the difference when I stop coming. I need to put my big girl pants on (American expression) and get on to the next phase of doggie volunteering.
I do admire you for what you do. I wish I could have Carbon, there are so many beautiful dogs in the shelter, I just cannot understand why they are there
Paul went home yesterday, but a few more slumber party and kitty adventures to share! A little time in the garden... More than a little time in the bed (OK, he slept there all night)... Various stages of meeting Garfield: The direct approach... The "other side" approach"... The "this is getting rather boring" approach... And finally the "who cares about you because the birds outside are more interesting" stage...
Special for Kate, here are some more photos of Nathan from today. He walked almost the whole way by himself! What a brave little man. He is the tiniest full grown minpin I've ever seen - more like a small chihuahua than a minpin. Starting out a little shy... Getting photobombed by his pen mates... Just me this time... All terrain minpin... Nathan photobombs Gus the Bodeguero...
Finally, it was the big dogs' turn. Today it was Messi and beautiful Ana. They walk amazingly well together (when Messi deigns to walk, that is) and we got very far up the mountain trail. The shelter is located in a local nature park with wonderful views over the Mediterranean and is full of great trails to explore. I will miss these wonderful faces.
Spanish dog breed - essentially a rat terrier - who get their names from the places they traditionally kept rat free, the bodega (winery, store room, cellar). Temperament: Jack Russell with ADHD on crack. Although I'd have to say that Paul is pretty chilled - so just ADHD. bo-day-GAY-row (more or less) And as Fiona would have me remind you, give that last 'r' a nice roll. OR just say "Spanish rat terrier". They don't mind, really.
Just thought I'd add that almost all the breeds in the photos here are native Spanish breeds (notable exceptions are Carbon the black lab, Cobi the mystery terrier cross and Nathan the minpin). Otherwise the Spanish native breeds (or mixes there of are) : Podenco (Fiona's Chi, Arturo, Smaug, Moro), Galgo (no photos of these this year yet, but Nanda from last year's thread was a galga), Mastin (Messi, Anna, Charlotte), Bodeguero (Toby, Paul, Gus), Spanish Water dogs (none pictured yet). Galgos (Spanish greyhound) and Podencos are hunting dogs used the in countryside, I've also seen Podencos used to guard/herd cattle. Mastins are flock guardians (mainly goats in this area). Spanish water dogs seem mainly to be used as pets these days (which is why there are less in rescue). I'm assuming in the olden days they were used to fish in some capacity.
I do see many more exotic looking dogs given the rescue groups that bring over rescues from the Caribbean and other countries, but the pics of Spanish dogs you post don't look familiar. Portuguese water dogs are fairly popular, but now with all the doodles hard to pick out (for me). OH had a Jack Russel many moons ago, and the stories about that little guy are quite funny (hopping very high fences, famous in the neighbourhood, rodent killer). I'm not sure what other breed would suit me - my trainer wants me to try a small dog but I think we are a one dog family for now!
Apologies for the " " in my post above. Not meant to be there, just a quirk of punctuation. I'm so used to the Spanish breeds now that a Lab like Carbon looks 'exotic'. There are some really cool native breeds here and all so different. I'm so used to Bodegueros now that when I see a proper Jack Russell, my first thought is that it's just a weird looking Bodeguero. Same with greyhounds - "That's a funny looking Galgo!". Portuguese water dogs and Spanish water dogs are very distinct breeds. Similar fur, use and probably origins, but the ones I've met have had a very different temperament and body shape. They tend to be very thick and stocky (vs. lithe and bouncy Porties) and awfully one-person grumbly dogs, not at all friendly with strangers. The Mastins, Podencos and Bodegueros are my favourites, for different reasons. Now that would be a fun household, to have one of each!
