ANNIE (f/n/a PAM) AT HOME WITH KIM IN WISCONSIN - 6 MAY 2006
On 6 May comes a note from Pam (the unfurry one) about Pam (the furry one): Happy Report from new Mommy on Annie (f/k/a Pam) I got this note from Annie's (formerly Pam, of The Missouri 5). It sounds like Little One (which is what we HAD to call her so that I would not be confused all the time - having the same name and all - LOL) is adjusting VERY WELL . . . Annie is doing very well . . . baby steps each day and gaining confidence with her new environment. Today she came in the back door alone . . . well, Cole was with her and she followed. She follows him or me everywhere. but only does things she is unsure of with him, like the back door. She is eating dog food . . . ah, with a little boiled hamburger or chicken broth. I am trying to back her down to straight dog food with less than a teaspoon of added chicken or boiled hamburger and a little warm water. We will see. I have left her crate in my office and she goes there when I am on the computer. When I am not in that room, she seems to hover between my bed and the hall outside the kitchen. When she gets tired, she will go to my bed even if I am not there. I think it is the down pillows and quilt that she likes. At night she waits until I go to bed and I carry Cole into the bedroom and put him on the bed - he doesn't know he can jump - then she runs in and jumps on the bed. Last night I turned on the TV for the first time and she was not affected and just dozed near me . . . on the bed, of course. Every day I have them in the yard for four to six hours with Laurinda and myself. They interact sporadically and genuinely seem to like each other. Cole will wait for her to go to the yard and then to the house. Until today, she would not potty in the yard unless Cole was there and did something first. This morning she got up at 6 am and Cole wouldn't move. I took her out and she did her business. It takes about 10-15 min to get her to concentrate on why she is there. I expect this will improve in time as will all other things. She had an uneventful vet visit. Her nails were cut and she passed her physical with glowing colors. I will need to have her teeth done in a few weeks, but all else is fine. The only suspect thing is her birth date. They looked in her eyes; they looked at her teeth; they looked at her posture, ears and all. The best compromise from all three of them was to use the same date but advance the birth year to 2002. See, you nailed it the first time you got her. She plays with a small rubber ball and a rawhide bow bone by flipping it and rolling around and sprinting before she hides them in the bushes. This is not a dog who has had puppies until the ripe age of 6+. They also said she has had puppies, but not too many litters due to the condition of her glands and nipples. I am amazed at how much she has accomplished in a few days . . . from hiding in her crate when in the house to darting around and then back to the safety of the bedroom and bed. I feed her in my bedroom and she lets me sit with her. However, if there is a noise she hears she stops and it is difficult to jump start her again, so I wait until later. Her potty training is coming along. She does not wet in the house, only once, and has had two other accidents since coming here. I think both are related to nerves and getting accustomed to our house and everything. She gets out often enough and I am praising her when she goes in the yard. The other I don't say anything about. Fortunately, Cole is completely housebroken and she has no confusion with him. All in all I think it is remarkable how she really tries to understand what you want and wants so much to do the right thing. It was that way with Cole when I got him. The only major difference was his time at HUA (10 months) socialized him further along than the short time you had Annie. He also knew nothing about the house, potty, street noise and the like. And, you never had to ask him twice for dinner. I know I have said it before, but thank you for doing so much with Annie. I can see the results in progress she has made here . . . she has bonded with me and trusts my touch. That jump start was because of your efforts. I also want to thank you for warning me about how difficult it is to catch her. I wait until she is willing to come close to be petted and then it is easy if you move slow. I assume you taught her the word stop, because she stopped when I told her to. Was I surprised [when] it worked. She drops into a cower and it still is heartbreaking to see. But, I don't raise my voice and I pretend I am Mother Teresa. I guess I am very lucky, because she is as special as is my Cole and both from rescue/mill situations.
Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed, All nicely tucked in my warm new bed. I'd like to open my baggage Lest I forget, There is so much to carry - So much to regret. Hmm . . . Yes there it is, right on the top - Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss, And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame. As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave - I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain. I loved them, the others, the ones who left me, But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me. Will you add to my baggage? Will you help me unpack? Or will you just look at my things And take me right back? Do you have the time to help me unpack? To put away my baggage, To never re-pack? I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see, But I do come with baggage - Will you still want me? -- Evelyn Colbath

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