I Cannot Help Myself When it Comes to Plastic

Last night, my love held up a large sealed bag with paper in it, slightly nibbled and there I went, backed into the male species recliner and looking down and around for my escape. I had nowhere to go.  Do you think she knows it was me?

Ranger is Moving in on My Girl

I do not understand what is happening. Ranger doesn’t just dislike her, he HATES her! He growls at her when she reaches him, sometimes when she is being nice to him after he has extended the invite. He has started greeting her with me at the top of the stairs when she comes home. With all of that, I was FINE. I can even allow him to play with her, jumping up several times in a row to “give her 10.” Then all of a sudden he is pressed up against her when she sits down and kicks her feet up. What is happening? I am so confused! Look at her taking this picture and him pretending to like it! It’s a lie and she doesn’t seem to know it!

I have to find a way to let her know who really loves her! Hmm. Watch this!

Homemade Piñata

The other day, I ate a large round balloon…or so I thought. It was coated in newspaper, flour and water and I’d eaten half the giant piñata before realizing I didn’t feel so well. I went back through the game room, up the stairs, through the living room and to the exit pacing frantically in hopes of an escape to release this toxic poison inside of me and no one came. Yet just the same, the emergency evacuation happened…all over the hard floors. When it was discovered by the male species we were immediately released, Ranger and I, to finish what we (or I) had started. The male semi-hairless species stayed behind to remove the slippery booby trap he stepped in letting us out in the dark, but had no idea which of us had done it so there were no punishments.

It was not until when the love of my life returned the next day from her trip that she walked over to the half eaten piñata and held it into the air. Immediately, I tucked my tail, looked away, down, sideways anxiously looking for an escape. Ah, the spare dog bed in the game room! Then, Ranger got all her petting, and I was BUSTED! Why do I always have to tell on myself?

The Solar Cover

Today, my sweet master was home scrambling around and shoving things into a suitcase and before she left she let me outside. She was so excited to see how much I enjoyed the plastic they left for me folded and draped neatly over the fence! I think she called it a solar cover, but as she approached me with the tiny tattered piece I had torn off in the process of snatching it from the fence and mangling it all over the yard she did not seem pleased. I did what any intelligent male would do. I tucked my tail and ran like hell bobbing a weaving while simultaneously looking back, careful not to take my eyes off of her for long. She dragged my new toy onto the pool deck and locked it in. I don’t think she wants me to play with it while she is away with the suitcase.

I Played in Water and Waited Patient TWICE!

Yesterday, Lorene took me with her for the day. First, she went by the UPS Store and left me in the car with the AC running. I panicked a little at first, but I could tell she was on a mission so I sat up in the passenger seat and watched all the people in the parking lot until she appeared like magic at the door. She was really proud at me.

Then, she took me to meet her dad. I went inside and followed her everywhere, even to see Papa Bear! We went in the yard so I could go potty, but I did not have to go. We went down the road and met five kids. All but one pet me, but the other one had allergies and could not get too close. One kid wanted to keep me, but my favorite person in the world did not give me away. When we got back to Papa Bear's some visitors dropped by to check on him. He had surgery and a plastic thingy around his neck so he could move real stiff-like. They petted me too, and Lorene made them smell me because I don't stink or smell like dog. It makes me wonder if maybe I am not really a dog, because she says I don't smell like one at all. I have only had one bath in 5 months and that did not make me smell like a dog either.

When my family arrived we all loaded up in Lorene's car and went to hike the trails near her job. It was later so there was not much daylight left. I kept walking and did not stop so much like I used to. I did not touch any people, although I was tempted every time someone passed to get close in case they wanted to touch me. I like to be touched. Then, we walked down a hill, into some sand and rocks and I walked right up to the edge of the water and put two paws in and drank it up. In the background, I could hear Lorene whispering for everyone to watch and before I knew it I was two thirds of the way across the creek. I took off running to get back, but after that hike, I was so thirsty and the water felt so good that I kept walking in the water again and again. Everyone was so proud at me.

Then, they went to dinner and they left me in the car in the dark with the windows down. I sat up in the back seat and watched the people and cars, then I laid down. Every time someone came out of Jolly Joe's in Mableton, I would sit up and see if it was them and a few minutes later would lay down again. Finally, they appeared opening all the doors real quick and hopping in! They were so proud and brought me celery. They were so proud of me. I like my family. They are awesome!

She says I Have the BEST Demeanor!

Lorene says I have the best demeanor! I have no idea what that means, but I'm number one! I'm number one! Your number…I'm number one!

She told the lady at Rescue Me GA that she pulls my tail, tugs my ears, takes my food, pulls my mouth, grabs my paws, and I don't even care. That is SO TRUE. I was there! She said she would love to take me to work with children or elderly. Not sure what an elderly is, but she said I have the perfect personality for it!

She also feeds me with Ranger, Mr. Don't-Touch-or-Get-Near-My-Bowl, and I leave him alone although if I get downstairs first I have been known to stake dibs on his bowl. I take his toys, bed, his bone and anything else he has and Ranger just looks at them like, "dude, he took my bed."You know what they do? Nothing. They let me take it! Unfortunately though I am held in captivity when the furless ones are gone and RANGER GETS TO GO FREE! It is kind of nice though, Ranger is right at the cage every time they open the door to greet me, play and take a trip outside. I heard Lorene say she is not sure if I am "a natural leader or a sweet bully," and that Ranger, the alpha, is still "in charge" enough that he is comfortable and that we are BFs. Well, he is definitely my BF, but right behind my Lorene. She calls me Sweet Scout, and I love her!

I am a Chronic Licker

May 19th, I was caught licking the back of Lorene's bluejeans while she was cooking and she told the rescue lady about it! I am a little embarrassed, but I LOVE to lick. It's the best thing EVER! When someone first reaches out to pet me my tongue goes wildly out of my mouth in every direction trying to make contact first. Licking is my favorite thing! I also love chewing and licking hair. It is so much better than just smelling it!

The Humble Beginning of Boots

My biological mom was a lab/pit mix and my dad a Catahoula leopard mix. Both were in captivity in south Georgia when I was conceived. My mom was taken in by Rescue Me GA and nurtured through her pregnancy. I had at least 9 other litter mates including a twin named Jingles. Can you imagine the crying of all those puppies all at once echoing off laminate floors and hard walls? It was horrible.

I believe all of them found homes before someone took me in allowing me the benefit of a series of wonderful foster homes that were very good to me who trained me to hold my bladder. Life without my litter mates grew increasingly more peaceful as the whining pups thinned out. I missed them a little, but it was so nice to have less and less competition for everything.

My Brother Ranger

Ranger is what they call food aggressive and pretty much hates Lorene. I have no idea why, she is my favorite person in the whole house and maybe even the world. I love her.

Scout, however, growls at her if she gets near his bowl, even if she is feeding him. He loves me, though. Every time she opens my cage, Ranger is immediately outside of it waiting to greet me and escort me to play. We usually go right outside to the deck and down the stairs. If I am left outside I will seize the opportunity to devour anything plastic that I can get my teeth on. I LOVE plastic!

She Really Wanted Me

Lorene arrived at the vets office where I was being boarded quite anxious. When I finally crossed the lobby and got to her I was so embarrassed! I got excited and a little anxious about my next foster home which was sure to be less barking than being boarded with all these animals that I had an "accident" on the tech's shoes. When she confessed what I had done I could see Lorene's eyes go from anxious to nervous. Up to this point, I had wonderful foster families that took very good care and trained me well, but I really wanted this to be my last home. I wanted to build relationships that would stay with me all the days of my life. Then, here is this tech making me look bad, but she almost looked like she was going to cry again and reached right down to hug me. She signed the foster forms, but seeing how excited she was I felt immediately it was something more.

Then, it happened. She got me outside and tried to put me in one of those rolling rooms that make the trees go by really fast with the sun flashing through. I am not sure what she meant by the expression, "it was like trying to put a cat in a bath," but I imagine it was like trying to spray me with a garden hose. I hate water, and I hate getting into those rolling rooms! It makes my tummy feel terrible. I did not want to fight or to challenge her, but I could not help myself. My fear had gotten the best of me, fear of the nausea, fear of yet another new home, fear of her giving me back and leaving me. I can't do it! I won't! Then, I could see that look like she was going to march back in and give up, and she tried again. 

On the ride, she was talking to me and stroking my ears with the windows down as I laid in the front seat (HA! Nobody puts Boots in the backseat!) and drove slowly crawling through the turns. It was not so bad. She probably didn't think I was listening, but she told me how she had searched nine months for me. She had been working with Atlanta Boxer Rescue while continuing to search for a lab or boxer, and I made the final three. She submitted the links to her husband, and he chose me. I am so glad he wanted a puppy to be Ranger's brother! I was 4 1/2 months old when they took me in and about 42 lbs. 

She found me on Friday, picked me up on Saturday, took me straight to a ball field around kids, dogs, loud cheering, drove me in the car and took me to the local PetSmart on Day 1. Day 2, 3 and 4, we took a trip to the park for a hike, walked me around the neighborhood, let me spend time with Ranger and all kinds of visitors and even made me go to the vet on the 5th day. She wanted to be sure, although I was pretty confident I had her at hello, and the rest of the family was pushing her to hurry up and tell "the rescue people" that she wanted me so no one else would take me. I knew on Day 1 when she changed my name from Boots to Scout, rushed to PetSmart to buy food, a bed, harness, toys and a leash that I was in, but as I have gotten to know her I can tell that commitment is on her terms and in her time (or at least she has to think it is). I don't mind, though. I am just glad she committed to me and that my forever home is with my best friend ever even if I have to share her with a dog that hates her, a husband that gets to sleep in the bed with her and kids that are not half as cute as I am. 

Introduction to My Blog

First off, I want to dedicate this blog to my best friend, Lorene, and to each of you who have overcome  challenges of diversity to build a relationship with someone from a different background. Lorene and I are quite different in every way. I am black with some white, short hair and can only reach the counters if I stretch, and she is tan, can get stuff out of the taller cabinets and is mostly bald. She is a writer, but I am more of an athlete. Heather likes to talk while I prefer cuddling (and getting as close to her as possible...please don't tell her). When it is meal time, Heather goes for the social opportunity, but I would rather eat than breathe which sometimes triggers choking and vomiting. When given the choice, I still have no issue with giving up breathing even if I vomit so that I can eat as fast as possible. I LOVE TO EAT!

Yet there are some common interests we share in that we both came from large families, are Heinz 57s and love our siblings despite our differences. We both love hugs, people and, most importantly, each other. It seems like our list of commonalities is short, but love is like that, you know, it overcomes.

For years, my BF has kept a blog and the focus is…well, there is no focus, just a bunch of ramblings which is pretty much what I love about her and what makes me crazy exhausted trying to make sense of it. Honestly, I am pretty simple and while I enjoy the banter, I really just want her to hold me (PLEASE don't tell her).

We have only been together about four months, but since that day she forced me into her vehicle in my hometown of Roswell, GA, politely saying, "hello," and playing it cool as strangers passed by in that parking lot she has been my world. Between you and I, it is possible I was a little afraid for her not to be. She snatched me away from everything and everyone I had ever known, but she is pretty darn beautiful and more so as I have gotten to know her. That very day, she took me out to a ball field with a million kids, food (I LOVE FOOD) and people that wanted to meet me and touch me. I should have been shy maybe even intimidated, but it was comforting. I wasn't sure I wanted to, but I loved her.

The way she comes up the stairs with her bags in each arm and reaches down to touch my head and back makes me feel safe and loved as she guides me up with her. I can see her juggling them and tilting forward as she hikes each stair in those pokey heeled shoes and have a secret appreciation that she does all that for me. When I get to the top first and turn around to show her I have won, stretch my head to her as tall as I can and she brushes my hair behind my ears I feel comforted. In the kitchen, living room, backyard, on the stairs, at the top of the stairs, at the landing at the front door, at her bedroom door, and, well, I guess everywhere we ever go pretty much I will stop as close to her as I can and inch, inch, inching closer she will reach down and pull me against her and it is AWESOME! Then, I get closer, but I don't think she notices except sometimes I step on her feet. Sometimes, she will lean down, get eye-to-eye putting her nose to mine and I just wish I were as naked as she is so I could feel nothing between those lips on my skin as she kisses my head. I just love her. So here is my confession, I am in love with my best friend, and I don't think she has a clue!

Well, since I have not said much about myself I will at least tell you my name is Scout.