The joys and trials of dog ownership

Headquarters of Humane Society of Missouri

Last Saturday, Ron and I drove to St. Louis to check out a a dog we saw on the Humane Society of Missouri website. We  called ahead and the receptionist said that Saturday was their busiest day so we got up early and were there shortly after 10 a.m. when they opened.

The Humane Society of Missouri is huge!  We went to the St. Louis headquarters, but there are also centers in Chesterfield Valley and Maryland Heights. In addition, the Society's  Longmeadow Rescue Ranch houses horses, cows, goats, chickens, potbellied pigs and other farm animals that have been abused or neglected.


We got to see the dog we were interested in, a black Affenpinscher, right away. An Affenpinscher

Banana Joe

named Banana Joe won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show this year, beginning an unprecedented demand for the rare breed, and it was surprising to see one turn up in a shelter, especially a dog that appeared to be purebred. When the attendant brought him into the get-acquainted room, the one-year-old came right over to Ron and me and sniffed our hands. We took that as a good sign.

Hercules

In some ways, he resembled the Brussels Griffon we had when the girls were growing up. Named Hercules, the Brussels was a wonderful, if stubborn, little dog. Over the years, we got so attached to him that we included him in our family pictures.

Even though we saw a couple of other dogs -- a frightened Lhasa Apso from a puppy mill and a laid-back Pomeranian/Pekinese mix, we decided in the end that the Affenpinscher was the right dog for us. He had been brought in as a stray and seemed to have an even temper and good disposition. He sneezed in my face like Hercules used to do. He was perfect. I was smitten.

While we waited for the new dog to clear the shelter's veterinary hurdles, Ron picked up his free Black Dog Club T-shirt. We had unknowingly joined an elite group-- apparently it is difficult to get black dogs adopted, maybe because they tend to look like mounds of black fur in pictures. So we got a free t-shirt AND an adorable black dog.

Oscar the Grouch

After paying the adoption fee, and purchasing heartworm pills, flea protection, and doggie health insurance, we left, trailing our newest family addition, Oscar. We chose that name because I thought he looked like an Oscar and Ron thought he looked like Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street. All the way home to Springfield, he slept on our laps.

I love having a dog, but the getting-used-to period has not been without peril.  Yesterday I attempted to take Oscar on a walk and my wheelchair got so tangled in the leash that Ron's dad and sister had to dismantle it to get the leash out. Lesson learned, the hard way!

Having a dog made me realize that I am more disabled than I thought. There are many things I can't do for him.  One thing I can do -- love him. And I do! 

Oscar