Kinda like Gulliver, only not.
It's been a few weeks, but I'm actually sitting in my own home in front of my own computer with my own poodle on my lap. Seems a little strange after all of the hotels, airports, and other dogs I've been hugging lately. There's entirely too much to say in one post, so this will be the first part of the story. As with anything I do, it probably won't be in order, and it may take some time to get the whole thing out.
Let's start with the puppy hugging - Meet Toby!
This little guy was dropped off at the local vet in Lincoln City, OR (more on why we were there later). They believe him to be an aussie mix, which to me doesn't mean anything other than damn cute. It's hard to tell in the picture (ok -ok - I'm going to get a new phone soon with a better camera) but he's got one blue eye and one brown eye. Combined with his multiple colors (black, brown, tan, red, and white) he's a strikingly beautiful pup. The experts estimate him to be around 4 months old. He still has all of his baby teeth and the puppy goofiness that comes with disproportionate feet and legs. He trots sideways and isn't always very successful remaining upright when he's playing. More than once he's knocked his head on the floor or foot stool. Luckily, that didn't seem to phase him much at all. But his demeanor appeared good - no aggressiveness, only good-hearted play.
His story is a little sketchy. On the morning we picked him up, he had been dropped off by a homeless person. Lincoln City appears to have a tight little network, and the friend we were visiting was called right away. He came with a 2-sided history sheet. From it, we learned quite a lot has been going on in the short life of Toby. He had had two owners so far, and at some point, he had "fallen off the bed" and cracked a bone in one of his legs. He was splinted for awhile to let the crack heal. He was also very, very malnourished. His little hip bones and ribs were clearly pronounced in his skinny body. This could be why he ended up wth a hairline fracture or why after 4 months he still hasn't found his balance. He also had cuts on his ears and body. There was some speculation about fights with other dogs, but as it was explained to us, it could also be a result of the starvation. That killed me.. I can't even begin to explain how that makes me feel, the complete wrongness of it. I realize people laugh at me, call me a sucker and a softy or whatever, but seriously, at what point does the abuse of another life become "ok"? Is it because they can't "speak" in a language you readily understand so therefore it doesn't count? That's so lame.. Animals communicate better than some people I know (myself included). You just have to care - which I guess must be the problem, although I can't imagine how that is possible. Look at that face!! How could you abuse a temperment so sweet and loving with a face so innocent and trusting? Unless, of course, he eats your chickens, but that's another part of the story..