We Meet

Max, I first saw you in an e-mail to the Enchanted Poodle Club from  Jaime in Jal, New Mexico, asking us to take you on.  Her brother had found you running along the highway, and saved you.  He took you to the vet, had you cleaned up, matted hair shaved off, and gave you shots, even including one to protect you from rattlesnake bites. Your rabies tag, has 2-1-13 Max scratched on the back. There was talk about you being a standard poodle.

I fell in love with you then, your naked body and eyes glowing from the flash of the camera.  The shelter in Jal might not be able to adopt you out, so your best chance was to come to Albuquerque and have the club foster you and find you a good home.

Saturday, February 9: You were taken from Jal to Carlsbad, where you were driven with 4 smaller poodles to Vaughn, NM, where you were transferred to the Merlock's car headed to Albuquerque. Kathy is in charge of Poodle Rescue for the Enchanted Poodle Club.  We met the Merlocks in the Petsmart parking lot at 2:00.  Now it was love at second sight for me.  You were smaller than I expected, but unbearably cute.  After walking you around a bit, where you pulled like crazy, Michael took you to the car.  You were trembling, little boy-- so afraid.

After about an hour of waiting in the car, we took you to our house to meet our two standard poodles, Caprice and Canon. Forgive them, they didn't realize how little and scared you were. I had never seen a dog mark that much- the bushes, the rocks, the house.  But of course!  This is a strange place to you.

Dinner was a highlight for you.  You certainly weren't too scared to eat!
Lots of petting, sweet talk, and treats, and you were willing to follow me everywhere.

Sunday.  We hit the jackpot of foster dogs.  I think someone trained you.  You went out the dog door on your own, and eventually found the way in as well.  I wondered if you would play with all the toys scattered around our house.  You were interested in taking them out of the toy basket.  You're a chewer, not a mouther like Caprice and Canon.  Three, maybe four, soft toys found their way to the trash can.

We took a walk around the block. The leash is a bit unfamiliar to you.  You ran to the end of the leash, got pulled back, ran to the end, pulled back, but got better and better all the time.

You were settling in.  You were still afraid of Caprice, the barking one, and Canon, whose idea of play was to take your neck in his mouth, but you wanted to go outside with the others, even if it resulted in running back to me.

I'm already thinking about being a foster failure. You are so darn cute.  All that face licking doesn't hurt either.

Monday. Your eye looked a little red, so I took you to have our vet, Dr. Whaley look you over.  I'd never ridden with you in the car, so I asked Nancy to go with us to hold you.  I'm glad I did.  The back seat didn't work, and you wanted to crawl closer to me when I put you in the passenger seat. Dr. Whaley said you had conjunctivitis and an infection in one ear.  I wondered if you would sit still enough for me to give you your medications.

I notice, Max,  that you don't sit.  You don't lie down easily either.  Sometimes I've caught you standing and closing your eyes, as if you need rest, but be ready to run.  Relax, little boy.  You're safe here.

Sometimes you seem part of the pack.  When the other two dogs barked at something, you joined them.  Noisy as it was, I liked that.

Tuesday. I'm sorry, Max. You really don't smell that good.  I gave you your first bath in our shower.  Poor skinny thing! You shivered and shivered, but were a good boy and stayed with me.  Through your thin, short coat, I saw lots of large "freckles" on your skin.  I can't wait to see what you look like when your coat grows out.

I spent a lot of time trying to find the right toys for you at Long Leash on Life.  I know you like soft toys, but they won't last long with you.  I bought you some chews and a tennis ball-type bone.  We went outside and you ran after the bone.  Your first play!