Nemo
I am searching for a solution: my friend Nemo (a small, very old, black & white dog) whom I have written about in other posts, needs a place to stay for January. His human is something of an airhead, and she is going to India, and she thought she had a sitter lined up for my poor old friend. I'd say, "at least she didn't plan on sticking him in a kennel (what with that horrible dog flu gradually coming our way)" but she is basically too cheap to put him in a kennel, anyway. She lives a tax-free life on her earnings from cranio-sacral massage and spiritual paintings made with bird feathers, and she had anticipated finding some friend (as she always has before) on whom she can foist the doddering deaf old thing and not have to pay them. Now it turns out that the kind-hearted soul who had agreed to take Nemo for January has a roommate who is extremely allergic to dogs. The worst part of this whole thing is that I am afraid she will have him put to sleep if she can't find someone else to take him.
I would take him if not for the four dogs I have of my own, two of whom are similarly ancient, and the relationship between the oldest and youngest -- both very dominant males -- is dicey at best. One more dog that they didn't like when they met him before, and I'm afraid we'll have bad dog fights, even if the fights don't include Nemo. Last time there was a bad fight, I had four stitches in my right hand to show for it. I don't think the old one can come out of too many more fights like that without serious injury. So I don't see how I could have him here at night, even if he could stay in his own home during the day, with me to walk and feed him and ferry him back and forth. Though, if it's a choice between that and euthanasia, I will have to try. I can't not.
I am hoping, by putting this out in the world, maybe I can find someone who would babysit Nemo for January. I will try to convince his human to offer something monetary beyond just providing his food, which she meant to do anyhow. I figure if she could put up maybe $5 a day, I could, too, and $10 isn't so bad for a old dog who doesn't need exercise or a lot of attention. He is mostly deaf and sleeps about 16 hours a day. He enjoys car rides (mostly sleeping) and being where people are, as he is a dotty but sociable sort. He is a small dog -- only about 35 pounds -- and very well-mannered. He is a little arthritic but not so badly it affects his mobility much (he needs a boost into the car) and he doesn't have any health problems other than low thyroid, which is managed nicely with his daily medication (a small pill mixed in his food). There is no reason to have this dog put to sleep except that it's too inconvenient for his human to care for him.
Please, is there somebody out there who can take my friend Nemo for January?
I would take him if not for the four dogs I have of my own, two of whom are similarly ancient, and the relationship between the oldest and youngest -- both very dominant males -- is dicey at best. One more dog that they didn't like when they met him before, and I'm afraid we'll have bad dog fights, even if the fights don't include Nemo. Last time there was a bad fight, I had four stitches in my right hand to show for it. I don't think the old one can come out of too many more fights like that without serious injury. So I don't see how I could have him here at night, even if he could stay in his own home during the day, with me to walk and feed him and ferry him back and forth. Though, if it's a choice between that and euthanasia, I will have to try. I can't not.
I am hoping, by putting this out in the world, maybe I can find someone who would babysit Nemo for January. I will try to convince his human to offer something monetary beyond just providing his food, which she meant to do anyhow. I figure if she could put up maybe $5 a day, I could, too, and $10 isn't so bad for a old dog who doesn't need exercise or a lot of attention. He is mostly deaf and sleeps about 16 hours a day. He enjoys car rides (mostly sleeping) and being where people are, as he is a dotty but sociable sort. He is a small dog -- only about 35 pounds -- and very well-mannered. He is a little arthritic but not so badly it affects his mobility much (he needs a boost into the car) and he doesn't have any health problems other than low thyroid, which is managed nicely with his daily medication (a small pill mixed in his food). There is no reason to have this dog put to sleep except that it's too inconvenient for his human to care for him.
Please, is there somebody out there who can take my friend Nemo for January?