They are all grown up and gone!
Sunday, May 11th, 2008OK, they are grown up enough to be spayed/neutered and adopted. Tuesday morning was a day of last and farewells. First everyone up and out the door to the special spot for doing their business and then breakfast. Beatrice had understood this routine so well that she would take care of her bathroom chores then sit in front of me looking up and whimper. If I didn’t pay attention she would bark, where as I would look down at her and she would wage her tail in anticipation of being feed.
Breakfast time was always a sure bet that you could get five puppies to follow you and mom back into the fenced in area after their venture out. It was not always true for the other ventures outside the fenced in area. As soon as they were collared I started carrying leashes for the stragglers. More often than not Essie was the puppy that would stay by my side or under my feet to follow mom back in the fence. She always needed to be right by you or she would cry. Devin on the other hand had an independent streak a mile long. He would follow Casanova who would have to walk a further into the woods than the rest to do his business and Devin would follow. Although Casanova might turn back and follow mom if Devin didn’t distract him, Devin would purposely break off from the rest. Having a leash helped to guide him, only the first time his collar was too big and he just back out of it and ran off.
It only took me once to remember to make an adjustable loop with the leash, place it over their heads, and they would follow you anywhere. Well, it took a bit of dragging and complaining to make them understand what I wanted them to do. The hardest part was keeping 3 or 4 leashes untangled or unwound from around a bush.
Breakfast was fun, I could make five puppies sit and be quite before they ate. What control I yielded, what power I held, what am ego trip that is. I started having puppies sit and settle down every time I came to the fence. I would stand and wait until they would settle and sit before opening a gate. True be told it is hard to catch 5 puppies that are bolting out the gate the minute you open it. I also had been working with Kyra to sit and wait to enter the fenced in area or sit and look before her fear overwhelmed her. When I saw that the puppies responded quickly without a word from me I transferred that model to feeding time. It was all in their desire to reach their goal of eating. I wanted them to sit and wait and they wanted the food. If you sat staring at her and were quiet food would come.
Tuesday morning, I walked and watered Kyra and the puppies, loaded them into the car and headed to the shelter. They wanted Kyra back so that she could dry up her milk supply and be ready for spaying in the next week or so. She went into the kennels and freaked out; I felt guilty but knew she had to move on as well. The puppies had their operations and would be going to their homes the next day.
That was it, eight weeks of caring for 5 puppies and Kyra was over. I felt such joy knowing that I was of service and that now they would all grow up in loving caring homes. I will miss them but I am glad to have more free time for my own pets.
