Violeta Day 10

she's walking a little and napping a lot

So much has happened. In just a week, this new project dog has come to me after placing Niles (and Frasier returning himself, twice...of course) there is always someone of greater need who enters. I remember saying last year that seven was my limit. 

The Dog Gods had other plans. That's when Cookie, Brindle, Niles and Frasier showed. Oh and Fat Suzy. And Debbie. Debbie was adopted. The others grew up. One in one out. So 12 are here. 12 is my limit. 

I texted Doc Ramon and said to bring the euthanasia kit because I didn't know if she'd make it of course. I sent him videos of this old skinny dog doddering around and walking in circles and he said she likely has Distemper and he'd see us Saturday. 

I believe in the power of bone broth, salt water and hands on. Hope. Plus music and power of the pack. Rocky and Dusty sit with her. She yips and makes old lady hoarse fake barks and gives the snarl.

So I gave her chicken soup. And raw hamburger. Nothing new there. Just boiled bones and fat. She doesn't really have teeth, there's a squared off canine and some brown flat bottoms. Her tongue looks like a wrinkled shirt. She couldn't focus. Starvation and dehydration are no joke. I didn't think she had Distemper. I think she was neglected her whole life and finally, it was taking her down. She would not survive a desert summer, but the cold snaps have got to be hell on bones. 

I sat on the curb for a while with her, wondering how she got there, who she was, if she'd been hit by a car, if I should pick her up and bring her full of ticks and who knows what else into the patio gates. Well she can't die alone on the streets, that's just sad. Dozens of people passed by while we sat there. Some I know and they figured what I was doing, most just ran the stop sign and kept speeding to wherever they were off to. I get it. People have lives and stuff. And kids and aging parents and bikini wax appointments. 

At the minimum I'd throw a towel over her and move her to my front door. We can't sit here. We'll both get run over.

Will she bite? Fear and pain says yes, but I doubt it. I wrapped her up in the towel and took her to the patio. By Saturday, Doc Ramon said she seemed improved from the videos I sent and if I want to keep trying he'd give me a week of antibiotics, anti inflammatories and some doggo analgesics in shot form. Also B12 injections. And here we are. Improving!

She can sit up. Eat mushy food and ground beef and eggs and drink her electrolytes water and stand and fall and stand again. By the 5th day she can take herself out to the yard and potty. On Day 8 I got a tail wag and I nearly jumped up and down. Day 9 and she is giving a little chase to the other dogs. Back off! And that’s a good sign. Before this she had little to protect. Now she has a bed and 2-3 meals a day.

Saturday at the shore run and fish head harvesting I saw another dog exactly like her. Dead. Vultures circling. I've been going through my photos over the time I've been here because I'm trying to remember her. There are a ton of yellow lab/coyote inbred looking dogs here. Crooked Ear, Ojo, Yellow Fellow, Moxie. I haven't seen her around because if I had she wouldn't have gotten this thin and rickety. But the forgotten dogs hide in the shadows and hunt at night to go unseen.

Day 10 and she’s moving from place to place and taking long old lady naps. Sand. Plants. Back to her bed. Lots of water drinking and some odd circles and more drinking but who knows what kind of illness or age related thing she has. But she’s happy. Safe inside the fence, enjoying the sun and nice blanket, and she’s not going to die alone.