CHAPTER ONE:
As you read, remember that my DH has Alzheimer's and you will understand my happiness more. This has been an exciting time for us! Sorry for the "Short story" LOL
Almost dark Sunday afternoon I went out to feed the birds. In the middle of our street was a small white dog with black markings. It seemed to be lost and I was so afraid it would get hit by a car. I called and whistled for it and it did move to the side of the road.
This morning, about 6 AM, I went out to get our paper. There was the little dog, still in the middle of the street and all the morning traffic just flying by! I called, whistled, clapped my hands and finally it came close to me. I talked to it and it came close enough for me to pet and rub its back. Seemed so scared and trembling! I had several pieces of Pizza left over so I got Ed to hand this out to us. The poor little thing just gobbled it down, LOL I opened the door and invited it in, got some water and it just drank and drank!
I got an old towel, put it down near the door where it could see out side. She (I discovered!) curled up and fell right to sleep! Exhausted little thing.
She has the sharp nose and face of a Chihuahua, but is a bit larger than most I have seen. Her eyes are not as buggy as most of that breed, either. She is a lovely dog, what ever her ancestry.
In fact she is prettier than the Taco Bell dog, LOL!! So I have been calling her Taco Bella!!
I called my yard helper to see if he knew the dog but he did not. He said he would ask around.
She is such a quiet dog, as most of this breed is so yappy and I could not stand that! I had no idea what to feed her but fixed her some of our lunch chicken and a bit of toast soaked in milk, Had no complaints!
I wondered if she would run when she got out side but I knew she must need to go out for a pee break after all the morning water! So I went out with her, she wondered a little way out in the grass, did her little tinkle, turned and followed me right back inside and to her towel! We have done this twice now! Good doggie!
Ed grumbled and said I should not get attached to her and I said, "She is just a wayfaring stranger and I am being kind to her"! She is so sweet and I know she has a family somewhere. I will make some posters and put them out and about.
I picked her up, put her in Ed's lap and she settled right down and they both went to sleep, LOL
So this has been my day and we three have enjoyed it so much! This is a continuing saga, stay tuned.......
CHAPTER TWO:
More of the small lost dog! Last night I carried her up stairs as she seemed to be afraid of the stairs, she would get half way up and run back down. Once she was in the room she was fine, exploring all the new areas. Then..she was ready to get up on the bed! No, no! I had brought her blankie up and finally persuaded her to lay on this. Lights out and not a peep out of her all night, Good Doggie!
This morning I was aware that Ed was getting up but I dozed off, came wide awake thinking where is the dog!! I hurried down stairs and there she was with Ed. I said, Oh, I better let her out side! Ed, very calmly said, "We have already been out"! Is this wonderful or what! Amazing that he could remember to do such as this and get her back inside, Whew!
Last night I went out and bought dog food. When I saw the cost of dog food I can understand why some folks are putting their pets out or moving off and leaving them! Sad situation and I wonder if something like this is why Bella was on the lose? The economy here is surely at the bottom.
Well, I made the fliers and my young helper posted them here and there all over town. So we await a phone call. I went to the vet and picked up one flea treatment pack, came home and gave her a good bath and put this on. She was just as calm in the bath so I know she was used to this. She was clean when she came but smelled a bit like a dog, LOL
If some one does claim Bella I am going to insist on my visitation rights!
CHAPTER THREE:
As Paul Harvey said...here is the rest of the story! Knowing the fliers were out we were almost sure some one would claim our little Bella. She was such a pet that we knew some one was missing her. About 9 PM Tuesday the call came, waaaah!
I had only said that a small dog had been found as I did not want some one claiming her that was not her owner. The male caller described her perfectly. I asked if they allowed this little dog to run loose and he said she had just gotten away from their 4 year old!! Not good! We talked on and I said yes, we have your dog but I will say that if I ever see her lose again you will not get her back! I told him that we would love to keep her.
Turns out they live one street over but way down at the lower end. I told him where we lived and he said they would come right over. A nice young Hispanic couple, handsome man and a beautiful wife. I asked what they called my Bella and he said, "Stinky" (Awful!!!) I told him she had been renamed 'Bella" and that I wanted visitation privileges!
We had a nice visit but the child was dragging Bella around by her front legs with her little body just hanging down! I got on to him!! I said again that we would like to have her should they ever wish to get rid of her. I explained about Ed's Alzheimer’s and how the two had bonded.
The man said his wife was a nurse, he told her about Ed and she began to chatter in Spanish (she has no English) They asked the child if he would be willing to give Bella to us and he began to whine a bit. So I did not push it. I did so hate to see her go! She just trotted out and jumped right into their vehicle. Ed and I just looked at each other! He said maybe she would run away to us again!
About 10:30 that night the phone rang and it was the young man. He said they had explained to the child about Ed and that he wanted to give us the dog!!!! He explained that they would want to visit her, also, LOL He said they would get the child another dog, perhaps a larger one as he tended to 'hurt' the small dog (I just knew this!!) Any way he said he would bring her over Wednesday afternoon after he got off work.
So, off shopping we went, today. We bought her a comfy bed, a harness and extending leash, a soft stuffed 'baba', some more food, and a bag of treats, of course. I wondered what I would do with all this if they changed their mind!
But about 6 PM here they came! Oh, happy day, we had our Bella back! She was so hyper from playing with the child! But she prissed right over to Ed, jumped up in his chair and was so glad to see him.
The young couple visited a short time and the child really was OK with giving us Bella. He shook her paw as they were leaving! I asked him when he would come back to see her and he said, tomorrow (in Spanish!) No wonder Bell did not come when I called her...she will have to have lessons in "English as a second language" LOL!!
I did tell them that I would have her spayed and he said that was OK. They do not know how old she is but I would say no more than a year or two if that much. Perhaps the vet can determine for me.
Bella was really tired and as I said, hyped up, so I think the child was playing rough with her. After they left we both petted and calmed her down. I wrapped her in her blankie from her days here before, put her in her new bed and she has been asleep for over an hour! Poor baby!
So we are very happy to have a sweet animal to keep us entertained again. We had just had to put down a darling cat that we had taken in 14 years ago. I supposed I thought another cat would not feel right after loosing our C.C. but a dog?? Never entered my head that I would ever have a dog!
God works in mysterious ways, Amen!
Ed and Bella
