Puppy Trauma/Drama

I love dogs.

I don't know how this happened, but I now live with three -- Chipper, an ill-tempered but really cute long-haired Chihuahua; Piiko, a beautiful white-and-cream Peke-a-Poo and their daughter, Pookie Belle. By the way, Chipper is now fixed, so there will be no more accidents.

Pookie was born jet black with little white paws. She's almost 5-months-old and the black is falling out and being replaced with silver. People ask if she's a Schnauzer. No. Just a mutt. OK, a designer mutt, which seems to be all the rage these days.

She was sick last Thursday, so Friday morning, I took her to our veterinarian, Dr. Myers of the Buena Vista Road Animal Hospital. He said she had an intestinal upset and gave her a shot and some medication.

Pookie seemed to be better Saturday morning. So my sisters and I went out. When we were at Target, our mother called and said when she let the dogs out, two came in. Pookie didn't come when she called and she couldn't find her.

We got home as soon as we could and we fanned out in the yard, calling her name. No response.

My sister Patty said she's dead or dying. Yes, she's Ms. Sensitivity. But it's true. When dogs feel yucky, they hole up somewhere.

Finally, I said to Piiko, "Where is your baby?" Piiko went to a spot near our vine-covered stone barbecue, which we haven't used in more than a decade.

After the third time she went there, I called Pookie's name and she responded with a weak woof.

Patty went to get her. She was stuck under some vines between the barbecue and the neighbor's fence, which is about six inches wide. She was too weak to get out. I hate to think what would have happened if she hadn't barked.

We took her to the Animal Emergency Center on the Manchester Expressway, where they recommended that she stay overnight. She was dehydrated and Dr. Freeman said she was sick and depressed.

When I called yesterday, they recommended that she stay one more night.

This morning, I got a call and they said I could get her. So I washed my face, got dressed and went there at 7:30 a.m. Pookie looked much better than I did with no makeup on. When I held her, she was shaking. I don't know if she was just cold or scared. By the time I was half-way home, she was OK. But instead of riding in my lap as usual, she sat on the seat next to me.

I got her home and the first thing she did was greet her parents. Chipper sniffed at her and then went on with his business. Piiko, though, licked her face and licked it again.

I think she's on the mend.

We still don't know what caused the stomach upset. It could have been anything. She's always in the yard eating stuff. But if anyone got sick, I would think it would be Piiko. She's really a digger and she'll come in with stuff in her mouth. Rocks, sticks, whatever.

Our pets really do become our children. At least for people I know.

My friend Janet Roddy called me today and said Bruiser died of cancer earlier this month. Bruiser was a mixed breed dog. Janet used to own a dance school here in town and for a while in Americus. She and her assistant, Phoebe Caldwell, would drive to Americus several times a week. One day, they spotted puppies in the road. They stopped. Janet scooped up the puppies while Phoebe stopped traffic. They ended up with nine puppies. Janet found homes for seven of them and she kept Bruiser and his sister Cricket.

She loves animals as much as I do.

Saturday, she found a dog that was hit by a car. She said he was a beautiful red dog and two other women stopped to help. One of them gave her a towel and a sweatshirt to wrap him in and it took all three of them to get the dog into Janet's car.

She took the dog to the Animal Emergency Center. I told her we must have missed each other that day.

Janet cried when she said the poor dog didn't make it. In just a few short hours, she became that attached to him. She said she thought she had another dog to take home.

She had me crying with her. A pretty sight here at work, I'm sure.

I do know that she's going to have a special place in heaven because she's always taking in strays. Taz was a close-to-death puppy when Janet rescued her. Now, she's a happy, fat dog, playing with Cricket.

In fact, it's Janet who called me and asked if I'd take Piiko. I really can't remember what name Piiko had before. She was 8-weeks-old and when she saw me, she came running with her tail wagging. How could I leave her?

Anyway, that's what my weekend was like.

Actually, it wasn't all trauma. Yesterday, I did a little gliding. John and Vicky Partin have opened Chattahoochee Glide, where they give tours on Segways.

I got to ride one for a while on Bay Avenue. It's fun. And if a klutz like me can do it, anyone can.

I'm going to go back later on for a Sunday Living story.

Keep an eye out for that.

I'll get back to the Arts next time.