I work "12 hr." night shifts. My shifts are rarely just 12 hrs. as I need driving time plus a half hour for lunch - and that's if all goes well. Depending on the weather and the pack cooperation, some dogs I leave inside and others I leave out in a limited space. This past Sunday morning, I came home to a doozy of a welcome.
As I opened my front door, I heard "thump, thump, thump..." What in the world? Who was pushing around what? Danny Quinn, the blue eyed Dachshund who has more lives than Carter has pills, had his head stuck in a glass cylinder where, when I left the night before, Milk Bones® had been sealed and placed way back on a counter behind a tall baby gate in the kitchen. As a friend of mine says, "A Kodak moment," though I did not take a photo :(. I had no idea how long His Greediness had been banging that cylinder around trying to get his head out. As I tried to help pull it off his head, I thought of what oils I had in the house should it come to that - it didn't. Danny soon was free. He ran off and I didn't see him till noon. He missed the very last Milk Bone® at the bottom of the cylinder.
As I made my way into the house, I quickly understood how the cylinder (which normally would hold spaghetti and be latched) came to be on his head. Queenie, she who is being treated for heart worms, had scaled the crates to unload or, ahem, help me de-clutter my kitchen island and counters including the Milk Bone® cylinder, smashed a favorite mug given to me by a very good friend, totally upended an old planter with all its dirt now on my counter and kitchen floor among other sundry items. I know it was Queenie. I have found her in the back corner under the upper cupboards on the kitchen counter before. She is a mite of a Beagle but she has springs for legs and a head for heights.
Danny fully recovered, I have cleaned the mess though it took a couple days. Sunday night, Queenie was "outside" in the breezeway.
Apparently, I didn't think either I or my neighbors put up with enough noise from this hound sanctuary called
Silverwalk, so I consented to bring in two more Coonhounds from a family who had exhausted their options after losing their home to foreclosure. Any other time, I would be more circumspect about why hounds come to Silverwalk but those of us in rescue have seen too many pets lose homes as the recession continues. These days, being foreclosed on simply does not have the stigma it may have had previously. Sadie and Hoss are here, making themselves at home. Both I and their family were concerned about them getting along with other dogs as they had been together in their home since both were small puppies. Not to fear. While family was here, I started to let first my Coonhounds out - Jedi, Justus and Sassie - then some little dogs. Sassie raised her hackles (nothing new for her) but not the newbies. Everyone sniffed and peed till I need no rain for a bit. LadyBug Beagle led the Coonies on a merry chase. We watched carefully to be sure the Coonies were playing with this lovely Beagle or seeing her as prey; nope, they were playing and she, who formally had been a "double Beagle" was outrunning them all! LadyBug has lost so much weight my friends did not recognize her this evening :). After all their paraphernalia was unloaded, paperwork completed, dogs settling in a much as possible, the family was ready to leave - tears simply flowed. I have promised them when they get back on their feet if their dogs are still here, they go back home. Relief, gratitude and grief all 'round. These are well beloved pet Coonhounds who will NEVER be hunters but only house pets....either by adoption or returning to their family. This is
Silverwalk Beagle & Hound Sanctuary. This is part of the mission - to serve and be available for those in need who cannot speak for themselves. I rarely take in owner surrender dogs any more. I have too many requests to take in dogs at risk of dying in shelters or as strays.
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