Wednesday, May 26, 2010

The Cat Lady Expands Her Horizons

I am a general lover of animals and I felt it was time to expand my horizons. I was ready for a puppy!

I searched online and found an “Urgent” need adoption listing for a cute lil pup. For two weeks I tried to contact the person in charge of this puppy that so urgently needed a home. I received responses that were very vague and frustratingly far apart, only to learn that the puppy I had my heart set on had found the “appropriate” family. I felt very disappointed as I didn’t even get the chance to prove that I could be that family!
I had nearly given up after being strung along for so long until one day I was perusing Craigs List and came across a rather interesting post. A woman…we will call her Large Marge, had adopted a puppy from a shelter but when she discovered it was not a pure bred lab she had no interest in keeping her. How sad. The post gave no indication that the puppy was up for adoption, she was more just venting her frustration towards the innocent little pup that was not what she had bargained for. On a whim I emailed her offering to take the puppy off of her hands.
Large Marge was an odd one from the get go, asking a rather high price for the supposed unwanted furball (even higher than what she had paid for her). I told her my price range was quite a bit lower and resigned myself to the thought that it wasn’t meant to be.
Not too long after I had started on my way home I received a call saying that my price would suffice and she just wanted the puppy gone.
I quickly made a U turn and headed for puppy!
When I pulled up I could hear a large dog barking endlessly-I got nervous, I know how puppies can pick up bad habits very fast.
I took a deep breath and approached the door…I knocked…
Before I could even introduce myself I had a puppy hastily thrust into my arms and an impatient hand waiting for money swaggering at me.
My mind was racing, something wasn’t quite right here, what was going on? But my instincts told me to just go, and that’s what I did. I handed her the money and I was quickly escorted out.

Meet: Vegas

Alias;
Vega-doo
Puppy Cuteness Butt
Pupper-Doo
Kitty Kitty
Stinky Stinky Poo Poo
Dingo
Naughty Naughty No No

Oh the overwhelming puppy cuteness...





Originally named Vega after Vincent Vega from Pulp Fiction. I found Vegas rolled off the tongue better and got a more efficient response.
She has blossomed into an absolutely amazing pup. Gentle, sweet, and mild mannered.


The perfect size, big enough to be a “real” dog, yet small enough to transport and control easily (even pick up if it’s a must).
She loves car rides and thank goodness since she makes the long trek to and from work with me every day. She only whines when I turn the heat up to high for her comfort.




At work she is able to stay on Doggie Row where she gets oodles of exercise and interaction with other dogs. This makes for a nice calm ride home.

She is the perfect mix of energy...

and lazy bum bum...

and sometimes I just wonder if she knows she’s not a cat…

Speaking of mix…
Large Marge had told me that her vet had told her that Vegas was a Schipperke.
As she grew up and matured I had my doubts that she was any one breed. Everyone who looked at her made a different guess at what she was. The curiosity ended up getting the best of me and I ordered her a DNA testing kit…and what any red blooded American would do…took bets!
I received all sorts of wacky and interesting guesses (perhaps I will have to post them one day). But it was hard to say whether there was a winner or not…the results were rather vague to say the least. In fact so inconclusive that a rep had to call me to try and explain it to me. One of her first questions was “What color is your dog?”. When I told her black with a small white blaze I heard an exasperated sigh on the other end and a faint “oh no”.
She proceeded to explain that they affectionately refer to her type as “The Black Dog With White Blaze Breed”. The example she used was if you were to go into a Home Depot and take one drop of every color paint (breed) available and mix it together you would end up with a black dog with a white blaze, a Super Mutt if you will.
The only two breeds that came up on the test were a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Saint Bernard. They were obviously only very small traces waaaaaay back in her lineage with no actual relevance. Mystery solved (kind of). I love my Super Mutt!


Being the cat snob that I am I always told myself the dog would NOT be aloud on the furniture… NEVER on my highly prized $8 couch...

and NEVER on the bed!!! She is actually a really good snuggler.

Her hobbies include stealing firewood and turning it into woodchips...

training to be a cat... (Why can't I fit through here like you do!?!)


and attempting to ambush that damn squirrel that taunts her from the vine maple in the corner of the yard. She also enjoys splashing in her pool when the sun decides to show itself.




3 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh! She was so TINY! lol Such a cute little pooper! We have had that "no dogs on the furniture" discussion a few times at our house too...some how it just never really works!

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  2. I still think Vegas is part fruit bat.

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  3. I love all the pictures of that amazing little pooch of yours. Personality plus, huh? The puppy shot is adorable!!! Hugs & love Mom

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