I'm Out of the Shelter! (by Roxy, a Husky Mix)

Picture of me at the shelter

Karen asked me if I would like to do this thing called a blog post and share with the world about my feelings about becoming a member of this family so, I agreed.  I really want Karen to love me and keep me, so I guess I can give this a try.  First though, I must say I am grateful for those at the shelter who rescued me and gave me food, shelter and loving care while I was there.  They are a good group there!  The first thing I noticed when I came to their house was how quiet it is.  I'm not used to that!

Saturday:  I was so excited to possibly go home with Gerard and Karen!  I made sure I did very well on the little test walk they gave me at the shelter and then I saw Gerard filling out the adoption papers!  I came from Georgia and was in heat when I arrived at the shelter so they had me spayed.  I was surrounded by lots of cats and other dogs, some that seemed to bark constantly!  It was very loud! 

Karen though came back with a leash for me, but told Gerard she had second thoughts and didn't think I was the right dog for them because of my size--she kept saying I was so BIG!  Gerard really stood up for me and told her off so she gave in I went to my new home Saturday.  It was a pretty small house, and the first thing I did as I was checking it out was knock over a big stuffed bear.  I guess their other dog never did that.

I was very happy to be in a new home and gave them lots of kisses to let them know.  I also wagged my tail a lot!  Karen went on Facebook to share about my arrival and ask her friends if they liked Vixen or Roxy better for my name.  I was Vixen at the shelter, but Karen didn't like that name and neither did her friends, so now my name is officially Roxy.  She got my dog license and bought the same kind of food I had at the shelter, but I wasn't hungry, too much excitement to eat.  I actually have lots of windows to look out now which I love!  I didn't have any at the shelter.

Gerard took me for some nice walks and introduced me around the neighborhood.  I met some of Abby's (that's was their previous dog that is a very tough act to follow, but I will do my best to win them over). 

I made myself right at home by getting on the couch and lying against the soft pillows.  They actually let me stay, but when I jumped on the bed with them, they both freaked and kept telling me NO, NO, NO!  Off!  Off!  So, I slept on the couch.

Sunday:  It started of great!  I had a early morning walk and then,

Karen put some really yummy Wolf Wilderness wet treats on top of the food and I gobbled it all up.  But then, they both left, leaving me with just a little black & white cat named Spunky Doodle who pretty much just laid around.  She didn't pay much attention to me at all!  I didn't know what was up or what to do and I missed them.  They were gone about 3 hours and I heard them come back.  I ran to the windows and got maybe a bit too excited and shoved my nose through the screen.  Karen was very mad, Gerard seemed to be in shock. 

After that though, they both took me on a half hour walk to a place called Bartell's.  It was air-conditioned and I got weighed in at 58 lbs.  That night, Karen through a nice soft Indians bedspread on the floor at the end of the bed where I slept. 

Monday:  I went to Bartel's again, but this time I saw a vet who did a comprehensive exam, gave me a
couple shots and sold Gerard some Bravecto and Interceptor to protect me from heartworm and fleas and ticks (those are nasty things that can cause problems for doggies).  They also tested me for different bad things that ticks may have caused, but I passed and was declared healthy!  I think they'll be keeping me since they paid $400 for vet care.  Even Karen must care, I know Gerard does!

Tuesday:  I had a very fun day with Gerard.  We walked through a park and did more walks too.  I met
even more nice people.  Then after Karen got home from work, they took me to a store called PetSmart that was really fun!  I behaved very well and walked around with Gerard while Karen bought stuff for me:  steps to make it easier for me to get in and out of the car, my very own big crate with a nice mat and more of those yummy Wolf Wilderness wet treats with gravy.  Karen and Gerard put up my crate but didn't let me in it.  They said I could go in tomorrow.  I slept on the floor in their bedroom again on the nice soft bedspread.

Wednesday:  Karen was in a good mood this morning.  She even took me in the backyard and tried playing with me with a tennis ball, but I wasn't much interested.  She ran around the yard with me a bit and then she left.  Gerard took me to the park again and this time we even did both sides and then around by Parma High School.  It was a good long walk!  Karen came back home and put a Kong with kibble in it and a Purina Busy Bone filled with good stuff, and water inside my crate.  Then I finally got to go in; but then, they both left for almost 5 hours!  They said something about going to an Indians game.  I was very happy when they finally came back! 

They both took me on walks.  My walk with Karen was very exciting!  I met a huge black dog that was lying on it's front porch and his daddy was sitting on the steps.  I watched it very closely, and Argo, that's it's name, watched me.  Both our owners held us so we couldn't really sniff each other.  Karen kept telling to to come'on.  Let's go Roxy.  I did.  Then, we turned the corner and I saw two little creatures that Karen called Ferrets.  They were in a big cage and the lady was very nice.  She said I could come and check them out, but Karen was holding back and kept telling me to come'on, let's go.  She always seems to want to keep going instead of letting me explore and make new friends.  I hope she let's me show how friendly and nice I can be soon!

I am looking forward to what will happen tomorrow!  Howl!  Please let me know if you think I should continue this blogging thing in the comments.

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Meet Roxy, Our New Dog

When we went looking Saturday at the Northeast Ohio SPCA, a no-kill shelter on Brookpark Rd., Gerard really liked this dog Vixen, a Husky mix.  I thought it was a really nice dog, seemed calm, walked nice on the leash, was good with people and didn't even chase squirrels.  She seemed to pretty much ignore the cats.  I couldn't really find any reason no to get her other than that she was big and weighs in at 60 lbs, even more than Abby.  I didn't think we should get such a big dog, but Gerard was all excited and adamant that she's a great dog, especially when it was free, so I reluctantly gave in!  They waive the adoption fee for senior citizens.

While Gerard bonded with the dog, I got changed her name from Vixen to Roxy and got her dog license, a big 46 lb. bag of Purina Dog Chow that the shelter said we should feed her because that's what she was used to at the shelter, poop bags and a couple small Wolf Wilderness treats.  Her first day with us, she didn't eat anything but showed some interest in my food. 

Gerard took her for a few walks around the neighborhood and she made herself comfortable on the couch where she slept through the night.  In order to help prepare her to be alone for a while since I knew we'd be gone to church for about 3 hours, I closed her in our bedroom.  She whimpered for about 5 minutes and then was quiet.  I figured she be okay.

Roxy did not chase Spunky, but when she got a little too close, Spunky did hiss at her and gave her a slap on her nose.  After that Roxy kept her distance pretty much.  The next morning, Spunky did noses with her!

This morning, I added some of the Wolf Wilerness treats to the top of her dog chow and she loved it!  She ate half the bowl.   After her morning walk around 6:00 a.m., she was left alone for the first time.  We closed the windows most of the way just in case she got any ideas about trying to jump out (She's very strong).  In spite of this precaution, we came home from church to find two ripped screens!  I was so mad, but she's so nice and beautiful, I couldn't stay mad for long.  We gave her two more long walks and introduced her to some new friends along the way and one more shorter walk early evening.  She should sleep well tonight!

We made an appointment with our vet to get her booster shot on Monday and the heartworm and flea and tick prevention stuff.  The shelter we got her from has a cheap clinic we could have gone to for less, but it is not within walking distance and getting her in and out of the car would probably be a problem, she's so big and heavy!

Hopefully, we'll be able to get things running smoothly soon and we'll be able to make this work!  I can't help comparing her to Abby and in my mind, Abby always comes out ahead.  I hope I can get past this--I just miss Abby so much and felt so bad to see her go downhill.  My husband doesn't seem to have any problem and is just thrilled to have a new walking companion!

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I'm Actually Doing Something I Always Thought Would Be Fun!

What, you ask?  Fantasy Football!  Yes, that's right.  I think it would be fun to manage a team and I like football.  The only reason I haven't played before was because I thought it cost money, but I got an open invite to join a league that is free!  Our Pastor is the administrator and other players are mostly, if not all, from my church.  I do find it odd though that I am the only woman.  We have 12 teams and I am excited to participate in this new experience. 

When I told my husband about it and asked if he would help me choose my players on draft day, he said he would like to play too and have his own team!  So, I signed him up as well and he has helped me by pointing me to some sites that rank the players according to how valuable they are to a Fantasy team (since scoring is based on individual accomplishments).  He also bought a magazine that gives lots of advice and information about the players and even some example draft teams by "experts."  He is nice and is sharing it with me! 

I have much to learn before draft day.  We are doing our draft online which gives me some anxiety, but I'm sure I will catch on once it starts.  It just seems it would be more fun and easier to do it all together somewhere face-to-face. 

My team is called Parma Pandas and my husband's is the Boston Barkers.  I'm sure by having a fantasy team it will widen my interest to include players and teams besides the Browns.  I will still root for the Browns every game even if some of my fantasy players are playing against them. 

I'm excited about this!  Let me know if you have any good advice for a beginner like me.  I'd like to hear the name of your team if you are playing Fantasy Football this year.

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Dog Fashion Show by Parma Animal Shelter

Today we went to Honey Hut to use Gerard's gift certificate and then on to Veterans Memorial Park to see the Parma Animal Shelter's dog fashion show.  It was fun seeing all the different dogs and they included their shelter dogs in the hope of getting some adopted.  We saw several that we liked but the one we liked the most they couldn't tell us anything about because they just got him and he wasn't vetted yet.  He is black and white (like our cat) and his name was Walker--I'm thinking because he must like to walk.  He is the last one in the video.  (There were even more dogs I would have taken pictures of, but unfortunately, my battery ran out.  Boo.)

It was very hot in the sun though and I felt bad for the dogs who were dressed up.  I seriously doubt if any of them wanted those clothes on.  Some were really cute though and at least there was a nice breeze.  I couldn't help thinking about our wonderful dog, Abby, and wishing she was with us.  I know exactly what she would have done.  First off, we would not have dressed her up other than maybe have a kerchief around her neck, but I know she would have sniffed out that big treat jar that was just sitting unguarded at the beginning of the runway.  She was such a smart dog!

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7 Things I Learned from Reading Marooned in the Arctic by Peggy Caravantes

Marooned in the Arctic is the true story of Ada Blackjack, the "Female Robinson Crusoe" who went on an expedition in 1921 to Wrangel Island with four men.  Ada and a cat were the lone survivors of her expedition party for two years.  I came across the following things I didn't know before reading it and thought I'd share them here:

(1)  I had never heard of Wrangel Island and had no idea where it was.  Now I know--north of Alaska and Russia.

(2) It gets as cold as -50 degrees F.  Burr, I would never want to live there! 

(3) The wildlife included polar bears, foxes, walruses, seals, ducks and snow geese.

(4) The thick fur of the Arctic fox changes color--white in the winter to blend in with the snow and brown or gray in the summer.  (page 111)

(5) Cats are companions to lonely sailors on ships.  Some sailors believe black cats have magical powers that can protect their ships at sea.  Another superstition is that if a cat walks toward a sailor on the deck, it is a sign of good luck.  But if the cat turns back, something dire will happen.  Another popular believe if that cats have magical tails with  which they can start storms if they are dissatisfied.  Sailors strive to keep their cats happy.  Even today, felines are valuable members of crews on many ships.  (page 13)

(6)   Scurvy is a nutritional deficiency caused by insufficient amounts of vitamin C.  Symptoms include fatigue, irritability, pain in the legs, small red-blue spots on the skin, swollen gums that bleed or soften to the point that teeth loosen or fall out.  Joints may bleed, causing severe pain.  Shortness of breath is common after physical exertion.  (page 81)

(7)  Today, about 100 Eskimos live in a small village which serves as a base camp for an additional 30 seasonal reserve staff who work from field stations during all but the winter months.  Wrangel island is one of Russia's most treasured wildlife sanctuaries. (page 174)

I'd like to see a Survivor show from a place like this for a change.  I also wonder how the polar bears even survive in our zoos since even our winters are no where near 50 below zero. 

Check out our review of Marooned in the Arctic at Grab a Book from Our Stack.

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