Sep 1

Written by:aajoanne
Monday, September 01, 2008

Three weeks ago we literally pulled this scared pointer pup off the wing of an air plane and into foster care. At first everything terrified him. I'm so proud of the progress he's made.

He kennels up, mostly on his own, with treats as motivation. He knows socks and undies are verboten, and most the time will leave them alone. Sometimes the urge gets the better of him and he makes a run for it with one. He's learned to maneuver the zip line with a minimum of half-in half-out double twisting front flips. He knows what "no" means, and knows that "NO!!" means Mom is serious and someone named Sidney is in deep doo-doo.

His coat is softening up and beginning to shine. Yea Sidney. His skin looks good and the areas that had infections from putrid living conditions have healed. Yea Sidney.

He still needs to work on manners. I've never seen a dog so reluctant to put his butt down in a sit position. I've delivered children with more ease than he sits. He loves the toys and plays well by himself. Leash manners are still on the list of to-do's, as is fence training. All in due time.

I believe his two fellow pointer shelter mates are being moved this weekend from Oklahoma to foster care in Maine. You have to love that.

Sidney is a survivor, and a stud muffin, and a pumpkin head, all wrapped up in a lemon and white coat. Somewhere out there is a home just waiting for him, and they will be lucky to call him their own.

In the mean time, he's taking the accelerated course in being a happy dog. Happy inside and out, happy to be loved, happy to be alive.

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