To Dog or Not to Dog
28 DAYS TILL LAUNCH !!!
When I first set my mind toward doing this walk, I knew I wanted to take a dog with me. I am a dog person through and through. I lost my beloved Harley, a 10 yr old boxer, exactly 1 week after my stroke, an additional devastation. I currently own a mini dachshund who is a senior and has disk disease. I didn't think at the time, nor do I believe now, that this would be a trip for her. My plan was to begin the search for an adult mix at the shelter or another no-kill location after I returned from a trip to visit my daughter in NC. I was specifically looking for an endurance-type dog, one that I felt could go the distance. I thought a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix or a Viszla mix or a Weimaraner mix might be good choices.
When I returned I did some more research on other walkers. I emailed my new friend, Nate Damm, who had recently completed his walk and though he did not take a dog I thought he would have some insight. And, of course, I prayed and meditated on it, however my "want to" was so huge, I doubt if I heard (or listened) to anything.
I heard back from Nate who said that definitely a dog would be a great companion, but...but there would be an additional financial expense as well as the problems associated with the heat when I hit the western states. He directed me to Kait and Jon's website because at the time they were walking with their rescue dogs that they had trained to be therapy dogs. They had a car back-up that drove the dogs during the heat of the day when it got extremely hot. I will not have that luxury.
I also was concerned about injury to my dog during the trip. In any event, I scrapped the idea, though very reluctantly. I released it and as the months went by the deep wanting of it became less and less until I didn't even think of it anymore.
Until this past weekend. And really truly I wasn't thinking about it. It's very hard to explain how I found myself turning into the driveway of animal control. SERIOUSLY, I did not know why I was there. But I walked in and looked around. And there were 2 Viszla/Weimaraner mix puppies. Hmmmmm....interesting. I asked to see one and the volunteer picked one up and brought it out into the play area. I sat down on the ground and he placed this little girl on the ground also. She IMMEDIATELY came over to me and sat in my lap and pressed, and I mean pressed, her head against my heart.
Done deal.
As I write this five days later, she is lying at my feet.
I'm in love.
A photo will come a little later. She looks a little rough following her spaying surgery.
Her name is Jack...and that's another story.
When I first set my mind toward doing this walk, I knew I wanted to take a dog with me. I am a dog person through and through. I lost my beloved Harley, a 10 yr old boxer, exactly 1 week after my stroke, an additional devastation. I currently own a mini dachshund who is a senior and has disk disease. I didn't think at the time, nor do I believe now, that this would be a trip for her. My plan was to begin the search for an adult mix at the shelter or another no-kill location after I returned from a trip to visit my daughter in NC. I was specifically looking for an endurance-type dog, one that I felt could go the distance. I thought a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix or a Viszla mix or a Weimaraner mix might be good choices.
When I returned I did some more research on other walkers. I emailed my new friend, Nate Damm, who had recently completed his walk and though he did not take a dog I thought he would have some insight. And, of course, I prayed and meditated on it, however my "want to" was so huge, I doubt if I heard (or listened) to anything.
I heard back from Nate who said that definitely a dog would be a great companion, but...but there would be an additional financial expense as well as the problems associated with the heat when I hit the western states. He directed me to Kait and Jon's website because at the time they were walking with their rescue dogs that they had trained to be therapy dogs. They had a car back-up that drove the dogs during the heat of the day when it got extremely hot. I will not have that luxury.
I also was concerned about injury to my dog during the trip. In any event, I scrapped the idea, though very reluctantly. I released it and as the months went by the deep wanting of it became less and less until I didn't even think of it anymore.
Until this past weekend. And really truly I wasn't thinking about it. It's very hard to explain how I found myself turning into the driveway of animal control. SERIOUSLY, I did not know why I was there. But I walked in and looked around. And there were 2 Viszla/Weimaraner mix puppies. Hmmmmm....interesting. I asked to see one and the volunteer picked one up and brought it out into the play area. I sat down on the ground and he placed this little girl on the ground also. She IMMEDIATELY came over to me and sat in my lap and pressed, and I mean pressed, her head against my heart.
Done deal.
As I write this five days later, she is lying at my feet.
I'm in love.
A photo will come a little later. She looks a little rough following her spaying surgery.
Her name is Jack...and that's another story.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy that you have found Jack, you all will be a great traveling companions . I can hardly believe that you will be leaving in 28 days. I AM SO EXCITED!!!!