More doggie tales

Cousin Hugo

We recently hosted Brian's brother (T) and his partner (R) for a weekend overnight. Brother T was in town to see an old chum who had played in a heavy metal in the 80's at a reunion show at our uptown performance spot. T and R are former Manhattanites who have relocated "upstate" to the leafy suburban charm of Westchester County - where every home owner is required to own at least one Range Rover and to shun anyone who makes under half a million.

Accompanying them was their recently adopted rescue pup, Hugo. Hugo is ADORABLE. He's the cutie-pie to the right in the photo, where I managed to capture him and Eddie during 'bed crazy time'.

Hugo is an amazing mix that includes Rottweiler, possibly dachshund or basset hound or some other amazingly low and long canine - and a bunch of other stuff. So he has this large head, ample paws and stocky stubby legs. And his coloration - I can only say he reminds me of those gorgeous vintage mink stoles and furs you see in your grandmothers closet or vintage clothing boutiques.

This was Hugo's first encounter with his white-trash hillbilly girl cousins, and they got along marvelously. I'm concerned that - since T and R are first time puppy dads and are trying to give Hugo the best training possible - his weekend in Honky-tonk-ville with his big old donkey girl cousins may have set his training back a few weeks. Or months...

Anyway - a great time was had by all, but after R&T departed, we realized they had left a partial can of dog food behind in the refrigerator. I began to read the can and was amazed by what I saw.

Apparently, some brilliant mind saw a hole in the market for yuppy puppy folk and has created a line of holistic, organic, and - hang on - gluten-free dog food. The can also promotes the fact that the food includes blueberries for anti-oxidants. To fight those doggie free radicals, no doubt.

Gluten. Free. Holistic. Organic. Anti-oxidant....

Um.

Patsy and Eddie are still laughing - while continuing to eat rocks, slugs, stuff that falls under the stove, and out of the cats' litter box.

And we're saving the can to show off at dinner parties.

Note: T and R - you know we love ya more than instant pudding and I'm just yanking you. But really...gluten-free? Giggle.

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Boris

I was reminded today of the world's best and most amazing dog. Boris.

Boris was the first dog we rescued together, back in 1994. He came from a high-kill shelter and he began our life-long love of the Shar Pei breed.

We had nearly 12 wonderful years with him and he was the best dog you could ever have. And he had a personality that wouldn't quit.

He became such a big guy in his later years - 65 lbs. - that once, when we were entering the veterinarian's office for a check-up, the receptionist laughed and called out, "Dr. Stevenson! Boris has turned into a sofa!"

Today - listening to our local National Public Radio station coming home from work, a veterinarian forensics specialist was describing how dogs don't really bruise - they lack the blood supply to the skin that we humans have. They have evolved that way as hunters, running through forests and fighting each other.

It explained a lot as Boris - as his breed is wont to do - has inserted himself between me and an attacking dog twice. And he was bitten both times, but the wounds were nearly bloodless.

But the memory it evoked was of a time when he was bitten on the butt - just above his tail. And it became severely infected - I won't even go into what the initial discovery of that was like but will say it involved being firmly petted followed by the bleaching of our entire kitchen.

Anyway - we had to administer Betadyne, an antiseptic that includes iodine, twice daily into the ... um .... cavity left behind. Using a hooked but needle-less hypodermic.

The memory - that makes me laugh to this day - is the image of that adorable clown face smiling up at me - his tail wagging, knowing that he is loved and cared for and that we will always do what's best for him.

Smiling.

Wagging.

As just above his tail, Betadyne is jetting 4-5 inches into the air in time with his pulse.

Good times.

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The Goat

Patsy got some air-play yesterday, so today is Eddie's turn.

Eddie has a new nickname. Goat.

It used to be Chunk, since she has all the grace and mass of an NFL linebacker.

But Goat came about due to her unbelievable ability to eat - well, pretty much anything.

Her most recent - and perhaps highest achievement thus far includes eating an entire Double Delight rose - thorns and all. Down to the ground. Finito.

Needless to say, cleaning up the back yard or during walkies - it's like a game show with nasty prizes.

"Look! Styrofoam!"

And once, Brian thought someone had thrown dolmas into our yard - till he realized his orchid leaves had been devoured.

Anyway. Goat. There you are.