BEST BUDDIES

dogs and cats are much like people; having particular ones that they like much much more than others. it is an interesting study in behaviors to watch the animals in our care and to discover who they like, who they hate, and who they love and trying to figure out why. I am sure that there is probably a study grant there somewhere for this.

and, like people, they get tired or upset with their friends from time to time, or decide that they can not stand their up to then very best friend. at this point, we have to find another playmate for them to share a room.

Lil Joe came to us from the Mississippi gulf coast after Katrina. he was scared and confused. he is a beautiful dog with some springer spaniel in him, however, he has other breeds there as well. Lil Joe didn't like many dogs at the shelter, he loved Charlie, a chocolate lab from the coast, but Charlie found a home pretty quickly. other than that, he thought all the other dogs at the shelter were useless and they got on his nerves. he loves people and is quite affectionate. he just didn't care for any of the dogs. he spent close to a year in a pen alone, going out to the play yard alone, and finding ways to entertain himself in this lone existence.

then along came Otis. a short, fat, funny beagle. when Otis came to us, we tried several pens for him with other dogs. he got his butt kicked by several pens, and Lil Joe kept sticking his nose out the diamond openings of his cyclone pen wagging his tail watching the little fat boy. so. we gave it a try. THEY BONDED IMMEDIATELY. they started romping and chasing in the pen, rolling over each other, and then falling into a pile and giggling (dogs DO giggle) and licking each others faces. it was a great match.

they have little spats, like people do, and like people who really like each other, they get over it. however, they seem to get over it faster than people do. that is one of the special things about dogs, they can forgive a minor dispute and forget the hard feelings pretty fast.

Lil Joe has a terrible fear of thunder storms, which is understandable for a dog who has gone through one of the worst hurricanes in history. He is scared to death to go outside when it is raining in the slightest amounts. Otis is working on helping him get over the fear, he will go running as fast as he can to the yard, rain or shine, looking back barking for Lil Joe to follow him. and Joe does!

this week we had some tremendous storms and were having to get the dogs to go out to the yards while we cleaned their pens. Joe ran out with Otis following him showing no fear or trepidation. they were outside about 10 minutes. when they came back in, they gobbled up their breakfast as they always do and then went to play. A few minutes later I looked over at them - Joe was standing straight up at attention in the middle of the pen while Otis licked him clean and dry. He was slowly and deliberately getting Joe clean and dry from top to bottom. I think he understood that Joe didn't like being rain wet and was taking care of his best buddy.

posted by Elizabeth @ 7:55 AM