Changing Course

FOUND ... and in the blink of an eye
LOST ... to fate.
            ABrown

              

I haven’t written in my blog for many months.  Really I haven’t had the desire or motivation to do much during that time except responsibilities that have had to be addressed.  As you know my greyhound, Kiowa, was stricken with nasal cancer and died in January after which my husband, Wayne, Emma (my female grey), and I traveled to the Florida Keys for two months.  We had a spectacular winter there although Emma was very lonely for Kiowa.  We decided that upon our return from Florida, I would do some serious looking for a new boy.  We arrived home at the beginning of April, and Wayne and I began our spring cleanup.  This is where my story takes a terrible turn.

Two weeks into April, 2019, on Palm Sunday, my dear husband was stricken with a heart attack and at the age of a youthful 73 died a week later.  My world was thrown into chaos, and I've been attempting to find my footing ever since.  I stopped writing and drawing and just concentrated on the necessities of living and getting through each day.  My life had been forever changed, and I've questioned where I go from here.  At times of crisis, we look at our lives and ask probing questions of purpose.  Part of mine has always been my greyhounds.  So, I guess, what I tell you next may be no surprise.

Upon our arrival at the emergency room, Wayne improved and tests were taken.  To pass the time while waiting for the resuIts, I went online and perused the pictures of available greyhounds.  Wayne, feeling better, joined me in my search.   He picked Moe (JS Yung Money).  I had already chosen Moe in my head so that sealed the deal.  I called the rescue and asked them to hold Moe for us until later in the week when we could pick him up.  That night, the unthinkable happened, and the happy choice of our new dog was erased from my mind....temporarily.  An untenable week ensued, and I asked the rescue if Moe could be placed in foster care for a short while until I could think clearly.  It was done. 

Now you're thinking…what's the matter with her?  Doesn't she know she shouldn’t make any major decisions during a crisis?  I had the same thoughts, but something stronger kept poking me.  This was the last decision that Wayne and I had made together.  Somehow, it felt right in my heart even though my brain questioned my sanity.  So a few weeks after my husband's Memorial Service, I picked up my new boy.

Moe is quite the handsome young man.   He is a red with the longest black nose I've ever seen (and I thought Kiowa had a long nose).  He has interesting black markings on top and around his beautiful “puppy dog” eyes.  He is only two years old and quite the baby - a bit afraid of unfamiliar places and objects.  

Emma seemed happy to have a new brother and after a few weeks, he started to feel right at home.  Being young, he learned quickly to play with toys and Emma.  He settled in and has been, along with Emma, a great comfort to me.  I found that Moe was just what I needed.

As one of my greyhound friends told me, his presence was meant to keep me busy.  And busy I’ve been.  Moe came up from Florida having not only tapeworms but hookworms as well.  In all my years of greyhounds, I have never had a dog with worms.  The tapeworms were relatively easy to get rid of, but the hookworms were another story.  The vet suggested I give him Drontal which is thought to be a highly effective deworming medication.  After five dewormings and waiting three weeks each time before getting a fecal check, he still had the worms.  Very discouraging to say the least.  Then, the vet switched over to a medication called Panacur prescribed for three days.  

I called my greyhound rescue to ask if they had been facing this issue.  Apparently, many of the dogs coming up from Florida have hookworms and the vets down there have a protocol they follow.  The rescue suggested that I give the Panacur for five days, then fourteen days off, then give Moe his Sentinel (heartworm med), fourteen days off, then back on the Panacur for five days.  After following this protocol for two months, I did another fecal check.  This also proved unsuccessful.  

The next protocol to be tried was a dose of Advantage Multi followed by a dose of Drontal the next day.  Wait a month and repeat, then a fecal check.  During this time, I also added a natural remedy of a quarter teaspoon good apple cider vinegar and chopped carrots to his food.  Finally, SUCCESS!  After eight months, the hookworms were gone, and he finally gained some weight.

Besides the hookworm issue, my sweet Moe developed a phobia.  Moe became terrified of the dark.  Who knows what caused this, but I have worked with him by giving both dogs a short walk at dusk ending when it’s dark.  He didn’t like this at first, but after a while he felt comfortable with it.  He now runs out into a dark backyard with Emma at night and is fine.

Moe is one of those velcro dogs who follows you everywhere.  Stop walking suddenly, and I’m bumped in the rear with a dog head.  Or he walks in front of me and stops to check if I’m there, ultimately tripping me.  He definitely has been a challenge, but I love him dearly.  When he stands in the middle of the living room with a dog toy hanging from his mouth looking at me with those puppy dog eyes of his, I tell him that it’s a good thing he’s cute.  That’s the only think he had going for him for a long time.  

Being a baby, Moe needs to roll objects around in his mouth to taste their possibility as a snack.  Many of these objects have no business being in his mouth.  For example, he loves wood.  Yes, wood.  He has eaten my special drawing pencils not just once, but twice so I’ve had to replace them.  (He is soooo sneaky.)  One day, he found a #2 pencil on my desk, sauntered out into the living room with it hanging from his lips and thought he would chow down on it. No, no, no!  He also loves mulch.  I’m sure that he thinks it was placed in the yard only for his dining pleasure.  I constantly follow him around outside saying “Leave it!” or “What’s in your mouth?” as I stick my fingers between his teeth to retrieve the object.  I’m sure my neighbors think I’ve lost a screw or two.  Oh, and he also finds plastic to be a delicacy.  A few of my plastic containers have been swiped off the counter to be found later chewed to a frazzle.  I will continue to educate Moe on appropriate edible substances.

Moe seems happy and comfortable in his home.  Emma and he love to run in the backyard doing their “zoomies” and play comically together with their toys.  Moe, Emma, and I have traveled a rough road, but our road seems much smoother now, and we are hopeful of only good things ahead.  My friend was right that Moe was put in my life to keep me busy and focused.  He is a blessing, and he and Emma continue to help me find my way.  They have reinforced that part of my purpose which is greyhound.

PS.  I've been writing this in stages, and it's now March of 2020.  Moe has developed into the most wonderful companion.  He still is a momma's boy, but doesn't follow me everywhere (just most places).  He and Emma have decided to be my watchdogs and bark at the mailman, etc. (I've never had barking greys before so it's a new experience.)  I count my blessings everyday that I have these  two wonderful dogs.