the harmonious notes of life

Thursday, 30 March 2006, Rudy was adopted to a lovely family that lives in Portland. He fell instantly in love with them, and happily went home with them. With only a minor issue since he's gone home with them, he seems to be adjusting better than anyone could have even hoped. He's beyond happy with his new family. And I'm... I'm happy for him.

I miss him dearly, but, he has his family and a home he's desparately in love with. Someday I'm sure I'll get over this.

Rudy has been showing some serious anxiety issues - and proved he's a fear biter. With me. And Rhonda. He tried to bite me when I took him to work on Wednesday to bathe him. The bath was fine - it was the kenneling part he didn't seem to appreciate. He was terrified and tried to bite me when I tried to force him into the kennel. He also tried to bite Rhonda when she just made a hand gesture near him, trying to get him to walk with her. He didn't make contact either time, but, now we know.

And he's been scooting along the carpet inside (and concrete tiles outside) - an obvious sign that his anal glands need emptied. Well, Steve's in bed, and I'm not really liking the idea of him empying his glands on my carpet, so I gloved up, grabbed a paper towel and got on the floor - this is where I was stupid. I tried to do this myself. And, naturally, he tried to bite me. I think I may have overcorrected (I just held his nose and said "No bites".), but... ugh. And it's not like Steve would've been much more help either. The last time I had him hold Rudy while I checked his anal glands, Rudy flipped upside down and nearly got me. Which prompted a fight between us. "I lost my grip and you kept going!" "Yes, well. I already had my finger up there checking and you were just standing there watching." "You should've stopped!" "And done /what/? Started over and have you lose control again? No thanks."

He has an appointment tomorrow morning (for coughing he's been doing), and I /suppose/ I could try to wait for it, but. Ugh. Right, mental note: I need to call the behavior person today and find out what she wants me to do about the fear biting and severe separation anxiety.

So, I haven't mentioned much about my foster dog. But, he's doing very well. Pita has put him in his place as far as cats go. He was considered "cat aggressive" until my boy taught him some manners. Now, he avoids Pita as though he as the plaugue - or worse - claws. I've been staying out of it for the most part, but it's sad and funny (at the same time) to watch Rudy try to find a way around the cat to get to whereever he's trying to go. He'll actually plot paths that don't go near him - and you can watch him plot the path. It's cute. And best of all, he's learned to *leave the kitty alone*. Jazz seems to take little-to-no notice of him anymore. He watches where the dog is, but other than that, naps near my head while I'm on the loveseat with Rudy curled up at my feet. It's an interesting harmony to watch around the condo at the moment, but it seems to work *really* well.

Here's my pretty boy. He can't be mine forever and I know this - and it's going to hurt like all hell to give him up, but... Steve's staying firm, and I can't say that I blame him. (Though, to be fair, Steve's becoming attached, too.) We're both just hoping at this point that we can find him a very loving, very perfect home before we both get *too* attached (I think I'm already there, but, life will go on.)

He's currently listed on the Golden Bond site, though you have to scroll a bit to get to his info. I don't agree with /everything/ on there, but hey. I've only had him a week thus far. (The Leave It command? Not so much. Settle is down pat as are sit and off, but leave it? Shit. If this dog wants something, and there's not a spray bottle nearby, he'll have it.)

I have become involved in Golden Bond Golden Retriever Rescue of Oregon. I've submitted my application to foster, and will have my hands on Rowdy, a dog recently neutered at Murrayhill, for training purposes and to do a demo for the first years' orientation on the 23rd. Patsy, one of the foster coordinators at Golden Bond, seemed happy to have me onboard. I'm thrilled.

Today was the annual picnic, and I was wandering around to find Patsy. Wandering in and out of areas packed with golden retrievers and randomly thinking to myself, "Wow. Going through a gauntlet of Goldens and not *one* has jumped up on me yet. This is impressive." And, just then, as I was looking off to the right, I went "oomf" as a pair of paws hit me midsection on the left. I hear, "Sorry sorry!" as I look down and find.... Rowdy. Well, more like he found me. The girl leading him around, temporarily fostering him, felt terrible because he was apparently not just randomly jumping on people. I laughed and told her I knew him and have been working with him at Murrayhill, so I'm alright, and told Rowdy "off" and to settle, which he immediately did, causing the girl's eyes to widen. (Yes, he's my buddy.)

I eventually found Patsy, along with some others from Murrayhill, and got to introduce Steve to Laird (and his family including his own golden), Amanda and Will (receptionists) and was amused that he's met my second boss, but not the one who actually pays me. It sounds like Murrayhill wants to keep me, and they've been scheming ways to keep me there (Laird claims no knowledge since he and Scott - my boss - are friends and he's not going to steal Scott's techs.). It was heartwarming to hear, and boosted my ego a little more. Unfortunately, I don't want to leave there, either. And I love Frontier. So. yeah. Sniffle. I know I can't work for both, but. Ugh. Yeah. Such a hard life, I know. ;)

In other news, could someone please hire Steve to do something, anything, so we can have money for mortgage again and I can get myself a dog to help keep me calm and grounded on my emotional days (that, and I really want a dog for walking and playing and cuddling and.. yeah), please?