My husband and I were reading the paper on Sunday, he was eating his hashbrowns and drinking his expresso soy over ice drink. Birdie came over, tail wagging, a canine grin on her face. "Are you begging?" he asked. The answer was obvious. We both reflected on how much she has improved. She is a happy normalish dog. She gets on the couch unless claimed by one of the witchier cats. She comes in search of handouts when she smells chicken. Or hashbrowns. She plays, with a play bow and waggle. Her beagle happy dance has reminded me what inspired Charles Schulz.
I actually scolded her (kitty litter violation) for the first time last week, and as I did it realized it to be a significant landmark. She was too fragile to scold when she arrived. She still cringes when the human standing over her has anything in their hands. She has gotten used to cellphones, but cringes at the alert noise. She is terrified of young men, old men, strange men. She is not too happy with any strangers, or strange dogs. But over all, she is doing well I think.
We did have to start Rimadyl, as she was displaying some reluctance to go up the step and get on the couch, and shivering. The dorky sweater I bought did not do the trick. The pain medicine did. She takes it well, coated with soft cheese. It is gratifying, and I know I have said this before, to see her progress to being a pet, and relax into her/our routine confident that her day will include food, water, shelter and affection. And hopefully confident that her day will not include any of the behaviors that created the cringing fearful creature that showed up her starving almost 2 years ago. I am hoping Foffdaughter can do the picture magic thing so we can post the befores and afters. Very informative.
