Ringo & Sequoia, pt. III

There wasn't going to be a Part 3.

The Human Assistant was very unhappy that he stayed up so late last night doing Part 2.

Of course it's his own fault for typing so slowly!

And for forgetting to tell me this important bit.

Ringo hadn't woooed for his new dad.

This is important to humans. They love to hear us talk!

Except when they're on the phone or watching TV or lying down with a migraine or something.

Which is why it's good for Siberian Huskies to have plenty of buddies in the house! A bunch all making noise at the same time can make humans feed them, take them for walks ... all kinds of stuff!

Timber never woooed in the year that she was here with H.A. But I do, so I get bonus points. Which are handy sometimes! Like when I ate all of Gremlin's supper last night!

Anyway. While they were meeting last Friday, Sequoia started woooing about something or another. And Ringo joined in. And Rick enjoyed that!

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It's been snowing for the past few days. Off and on. By "days" I mean daytime ↑ and also nighttime. ↓

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The sun was out today so H.A. had to shovel the porch and sidewalk.  ​☹  ​Which he doesn't like very much.

☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼

Minky, I'm sorry if your mom was embarrassed in class! It's good that she has you so she can prove she didn't mean to be mean!

It's also good for people with small dogs to know how certain other kinds of dogs see them! Like … oh, Greyhounds, for example!  ​☺

Okay. That's all for now. Gotta beg for some treats!

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Ringo & Sequoia, pt. II

Okay, so I said that Sequoia had an exciting day last Friday. Also that Ringo's dad was interested in her.



The first exciting thing was that one of the MaxFund volunteers combed Sequoia out. And she needed it! Not just because she was still blowing some coat on her haunches.

The rest of her coat was full of dead hair, too. Even though you couldn't really see it. Now she probably needs a Siberian Husky annual bath. But not at the shelter. They don't do 'em in the winter because they don't have dryers there.

The next exciting thing was that Ringo came by and the Human Assistant got a few pictures. They look pretty boring. Except that one of the sheets in Ringo's file says that he hates dogs, hates cats, and hates kids.

If he hated dogs, I would have known it! He and I spent some time in this same yard before he was adopted. (The red and white in these pictures is Ringo, not me.)



There's another picture back in the Part I of this story.

Then not-so-good thing #1 happened. Some MaxFund people came wandering by. They stopped to watch. Did they say, "Oh ... My ... Dog!  ​Ringo is getting along with Sequoia!"

No. They said, "Oh ... My ... Dog!  ​That man is starving Ringo!"

Not literally, out loud. They did take H.A. aside and ask whether the guy would feed Ringo more. And they brought out crummy shelter food for him to take home. It was embarrassing for the ol' H.A. He wants MaxFund to think Rick is good for Ringo.

Ringo is kinda small anyway. And he was probably getting enough food for a couch potato. The thing is, his dad is a long-distance runner. Ringo gets in 2 or 3 hours (not miles, hours) of running at a time.

Maybe not every day, I don't know. But Rick runs ultramarathons and trains hard! Which is why he wanted a Siberian in the first place. What other breed has the stamina?

Anyway. A couple of times on-leash Ringo and Sequoia acted like they might want to fight. But that got broken up fast. The second time was when everydoggy was leaving the exercise yard. It happened behind the H.A., so he didn't exactly see it.

Then not-so-good thing #2 happened. But you have to keep it a secret! Nobody at MaxFund must know!

The H.A. was holding Sequoia's leash down low to keep her close. He accidentally unclipped it. She was off like a flash! It was Friday evening rush hour and getting dark. Busy streets were only two blocks south and two blocks west. Not fast, but busy.

H.A. and Rick traded leashes. H.A. held onto Ringo while Rick went after Sequoia.

Name:	Sequoia	Rick
Breed:	Siberian Husky	Ultrarunner
Physical Advantage:	Speed	Endurance
Mental Edge:	This is fun!	Rush-​hour traffic!
WINNER:		✔

So. All's swell that ends swell, right? Not so fast! There's still not-so-good thing #3.

When H.A. walked Sequoia into the shelter, there were a couple of spots of blood near her right eye. A vet tech cleaned them off with an alcohol wipe and said it was probably okay. A small poke or tear under the eye.

The next day there was drainage from her eye. She probably got bopped by either a paw or a jaw in their end-​of-​visit scuffle. There was much less drainage the day after that. I guess H.A. will want to go check on her again.

But wait! There are still not-so-good things #s 4 and 5!

H.A. put Sequoia back in her kennel. Then he had a disagreement with one of the MaxFund people who do adoptions.

No, the shelter would not adopt another animal into Ringo's home. He has a history of aggression. Like it says right here in his file, "hates dogs, hates cats, hates kids."

No, it doesn't matter that he gets along with dogs in the yard. It's in his home where he's aggressive.

H.A. didn't agree. For one thing, Ringo was surely calmer with all that exercise. But he didn't want to argue too much.

Sequoia had an injury. And she was a puppy. Ringo didn't seem to want to play with her. Maybe he'd be like me and get really annoyed with her.

So that was #4. And #5 was, MaxFund didn't really like Rick as an adopter. The only reason he got an animal at all was that they wanted Ringo out of the shelter. Ringo was a hard-​to-​adopt dog. (The aggression in the file plus an orthopedic problem plus being probably 6 years old.)

This really hit the H.A. He was plugging for Rick. They'd had a couple of long talks and had emailed a few times. What was the problem? The MaxFund person wouldn't tell him.

This was not a good evening.

Sequoia was injured, probably while H.A. was holding her. He let her loose. In the shelter's view he was probably wrong to let Ringo meet other dogs. His judgment of Ringo may be off.

His judgment of Rick apparently was off. Compared to MaxFund's, anyway. Rick confirmed this by not feeding Ringo enough.

H.A. had misled Rick into thinking he could adopt another dog. It looked like he'd tried to go around MaxFund's decisions. And Ringo wouldn't have a buddy while Rick was away during the day. Not from MaxFund, anyway.

Oh, by the way. Rick had been out of town recently. For four days Ringo stayed with friends who have a Jack Russell Terrier. They said there had been no problems. (But Ringo wasn't on his home turf....)

The Human Assistant was pretty darned depressed over the weekend. It's a good thing he remembered to feed us! Of course, I reminded him. But sometimes he says he can't tell what I want.

"Want to go out?" No, feed me!

Anyway. Like I said before, Ringo is a happy, happy boy. He obviously loves his new home and his new dad. And he was happy to see H.A. again, too.

Which is fine by me. As long as H.A. doesn't bring another dog home! Or stay out past my suppertime.

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Ringo & Sequoia, pt. I

I hear that Sequoia sure-​'nuff had an interesting day!

But the Human Assistant says it's too late to write about it tonight.

He wants to be awake and a lert for MaxFund's open house on Saturday.

I don't know why he wants to turn into a lert!

But I hope he still feeds us!

And Ringo dropped by MaxFund.

H.A. says he's a happy, happy boy!

More soon! Everydoggy be safe in that snow!

If you have snow. If you don't, I'll send you some:

❄-❅-❄-❆-❄-❅-❄-❆-❄-❅-❄-❆-❄

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Adoption follies

The Human Assistant says this is routine stuff. It won't be interesting to people who do animal adoptions.

But it's too early for him to go to bed. So I want to tell about Sequoia's week. Thursday was exciting, anyway!

Sequoia	Ringo (adopted)

Monday the Human Assistant went to the Maxfund shelter. He found out two things and figured out a third.

➀  Ringo's new dad had tried to have him meet Sequoia. Someone at the shelter refused because "Ringo doesn't get along with other dogs." So no meet 'n' greet with Sequoia. So no adopting Sequoia.

In fact, no adopting of any MaxFund dog!

H.A. said a bad word. It was something like horse hockey but different. He pointed out that I had spent time with Ringo!

➁  There were two applications on Sequoia from other people. Both had 4-​foot fences. MaxFund's adoption people had picked up on this. But they hadn't ruled them out completely.

One had said they would always supervise Sequoia while she was in the yard. Could they do that however many times a day for 15 or more years? Besides, H.A. said, they'd be supervising her going right over the fence because she's young and faster than they are.

They wanted a dog to guard the house while they were away. One that was loyal and fun to walk.  ::groan::

The other guy is moving someplace that has a 4-​foot fence. But he'll extend it to 6 feet. (When?) No mention of dig-​proofing the fence. And this will be his first dog.

➂  H.A. figured out that the adoption people still hadn't read the info he gave them about Siberian Huskies. Not the first time, when he gave it to one person who says she passed it around. Not the second time, when he left it right on the front desk in the office and also with the director.

Tuesday he printed out more copies. He put one in each application file. And he put the rest in Sequoia's file for the next people who are interested in her.

And he put a note on the one application that said ➊ we're not guard dogs; ➋ we're not loyal (::hmph::); and ➌ we're more challenging to walk than fun.

Wednesday he went back. He realized he hadn't come right out and said, don't adopt to these people. Call Ringo's dad.

When he got there he saw a man and a woman with an adult polar bear and small cub! Except that they were Siberian Huskies. They all had taken Sequoia for a walk. And they'd be taking her over the weekend to get a better idea of how everydoggy got along.

The bear turned out to be Sakic. A big 4-​year-​old boy that was down to 110 pounds since he started thyroid supplements.

(H.A. thinks the other one might have been Avalanche. He doesn't remember. But she's a small, senior girl.)

Sakic knows he's top dawg. They said he had to tell Sequoia about it a few times. H.A. told them he thought she was acting out puppy stuff when I spent time with her. But they were sure that they saw her testing rank.

Anyway. They know lots about Sibes. Didn't feel they had to read H.A.'s sheet. Didn't sound like they knew anything about online resources. Didn't sound like they would look into them, either. Well, no huge deal.

Thursday MaxFund called H.A.'s cell phone while he was in a dead zone. An hour and a half later he got their voice mail: Should they approve the bear family?

H.A. listened to the voicemail. Didn't recognize the number. Erased the voicemail. Forgot the number. Decided he didn't want to do laundry and pay bills. Went to MaxFund.

He was confused. The bears were okayed to take Sequoia before their application was approved?

The lady at MaxFund harassed him about not returning her call. (She was teasing.) Then she said that the other lady at MaxFund had said that he had said he liked the family. So they had approved the application. They had called the family. The family said, oh, we've changed our mind.

Sequoia wouldn't be good with our cats.

MaxFund people were left scratching their heads. But the H.A. says they've stopped trying to figure people out. Stuff like this just happens. Sometimes people are even telling the truth about it.

Then he finds out that Sequoia was on TV earlier in the day. And on her way back to the vehicle ... she escaped!

The TV station put out an alert. She was found. H.A. didn't get more details like how long it took and how far away she was. He started the day tired and he was still tired. Too much excitement.

MaxFund had denied the applicants that wanted a loyal, fun-​to-​walk guard dog. The other guy had called and also promised Sequoia would be supervised while outside until the fence was extended.

MaxFund put a note on their file: Ed! Help!

He wrote back saying to mention dig-​proofing. And that 6-​foot fences aren't guarantees. Suggest they get an adult dog when the fence is ready. And the guy can make it work if he learns, learns, learns.

For some reason he thought he'd had enough thinking about Sibes for the day. Or for his time at the shelter, anyway.

So he sat in Caesers kennel for a while and gave him a Milk-Bone. Caeser didn't just give him a kiss, he cleaned mr_ed's face! Which it probably needed.

Okay. He was right. This did take longer to tell than I thought. But Sequoia's had such an exciting week! I can't wait to hear about what happens on Friday!

Caesar	Mister Ed and family

December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy

♫♪♬
... And we promise, that we'll remember
The Seventh of December;
We're the Seabees of the Navy;
Bees of the Seven Seas!

Remember Pearl Harbor!

mr_ed's dad (also Mister Ed) left his Swedish-​immigrant father's construction business to go to war as one of the Fighting Seabees as portrayed by John Wayne. He led a crew of heavy-​equipment operators (running bulldozers and the like) ... came home with a bullet hole in his cap (that he wasn't wearing when it was shot) ... and supervised construction work for thirty-​some years.

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-- dog photos by Nicole Howard

Sibe of the Month Club

The MaxFund shelter has another Siberian Husky now! The Human Assistant went there on Sunday. We have exclusive pictures of Sequoia!

They went to the car to get his walking stick and distance glasses. She jumped right in! Pushy little thing! When he didn't get in and drive, she got back out again.

I'm in! Let's go!	Phooey! I'm getting out

Sequoia just arrived a few days ago. And she has to have that no-puppies operation. So she's not available for adoption yet. And so she doesn't have a link on MaxFund's dog page yet.

They went for a walk. Then they had to wait to get the exercise yard to themselves.

Hey! Is that another dog?	It is another dog! Let's go let's go!

Sequoia didn't get to mix with any other dogs that day. H.A. said the other volunteers all seemed kinda busy and in a hurry.

When they were in the yard, he unleashed her. She ran back and forth a few times and then sniffed around everywhere.

To catch a rabbit, run like a rabbit!	Ain't I dainty?

Can you tell she's a puppy? About 10 months old. She came from the Denver Municipal Animal Shelter. I guess she had been on their list too long.

Or they thought she'd get adopted easier at MaxFund, or something. But H.A. says there isn't any other info in her file.

Here are the other Sibes that have been at MaxFund just in the last few months! H.A. has volunteered there for over a year. They didn't have any Siberians until lately!

Adam's calendar photo	Payton's MaxFund photo
Ringo's MaxFund photo	Solo's MaxFund photo

It kinda seems like MaxFund became a Siberian Husky rescue group over the summer!  ::big Husky grin::  It's good to know that they're going to good homes!

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-- photos of Adam, Payton, Ringo, and Solo by Nicole Howard

Matchmaking

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Payton Ringo's new buddy?	Ringo ADOPTED	Lucy Tucker's new buddy?	Tucker SPOILED

Exciting news for Payton! Two possible adopters brought their dogs to meet him Thursday. One was the guy who adopted Ringo. The other is a woman who has Niko.

(The Human Assistant can't remember the woman's name at the moment. I hope he got the dog's name right!)

It sounds like both would be good homes. Except for the fact that all three dogs are young males. Maybe they can work it out.

The Human Assistant went to MaxFund today just to check on Payton and see whether Ringo's new dad knew about him. That's when he found out about the visits.

Volunteer Cindy was walking Payton. They went into the exercise yard. She threw balls for him and he retrieved them! Sheesh! Until he got tired of it, which didn't take too many throws.

The woman says Niko is the same way. He's a Sibe/​German Shepherd/​Rottie/​or-something mix. We haven't met him. That's just what she told H.A.

Her setup is probably better than Ringo's right now. H.A. says he votes for her. If all the references check out okay. Not that anybody listens to him at MaxFund. Heh. At least I listen to him. Sometimes.

The woman's house has a doggy door. One of the adoption people at the shelter didn't like this. That was kinda baffling. But there was a reason, sorta.

A dog that was recently adopted from MaxFund went out her home's doggy door. And escaped! It does not sound like the problem is the door! It's the yard! Right?

(They did find her.  ::WHEW::!)

Anyway. We'll see what happens. But something good for Payton, I hope!

While H.A. was at the shelter he looked for another dog to bring home! I couldn't believe it!!!  ::Grrr::

He found Lucy, a senior female. He says she's a happy and sweet doggy. He took some photos of her.

He took some of Payton, too. That one at the top is new. But he sorta forgot he had the camera when Payton was fetching the ball! I wish I could've watched him.

Like H.A. says, you have to know the breed. Then any given dog will toss the rules out the window!

Or chew them up, like I would. I'm very good about fences. No jumping over, no digging under. So I get a tiny bit of slack over the chewing. But not as much as I deserve!

Especially with talk about bringing another doggy here! I will have more to say about that next time!

Oh. H.A. says Payton's muzzle is kinda blocky. More Mal-ish, he thinks. The picture up top is the one that shows it best. Which is not very well. You can click on it to see a larger image.

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-- photos of Lucy and Ringo by Nicole Howard
-- edited 11/20/2009 by Human Assistant to fix Lucy's photo link.

Shu Shu is official

The Human Assistant went to the MaxFund shelter Saturday. Ringo was finally adopted.  YAY!!!  So H.A. can't threaten to bring him home anymore.

"old" Ringo	Pearl	Ringo again

Of course Ringo would be over our fence and down the street in a flash if he was left in our yard unsupervised. So it would have taken lots of rearrangement to have him here.

Nikki the photographer was there. They took new pictures of Pearl. A kinder, gentler Pearl with a woman hugging her. They hope this will encourage people to adopt this Katrina victim who's been in a shelter too long!

Even at the shelter people have been afraid of Pearl. She did have behavior issues on top of health problems when she came from New Orleans. But nobody knows how Pearl would do with other dogs. H.A. just happened to have Shu Shu along....

So while one volunteer was holding Pearl's leash, H.A. held Shu Shu so they could sniff noses. H.A. says Pearl was kinda friendly, actually. He's pretty sure she recognized him. Pearl seems to like H.A. ... I'd better not hear any mumbling about bringing her here!

Anyway. He took Shu Shu to MaxFund to see if they would take responsibility for her. There's no room for another dog at the shelter. But he said we would foster her if they'd just take her on.


The H.A. was counting on MaxFund to accept Shu Shu. Fortunately, they did! So she's officially a MaxFund dog now. He filled out MaxFund paperwork, and Nikki took a MaxFund picture, and Shu Shu got a MaxFund tag and shots and next week will get a MaxFund microchip and spaying. (At the MaxFund clinic).

I'll post Pearl's and Shu Shu's new pictures when they're ready. Meanwhile, H.A. spent lots of time trying to make a few more of his own presentable. They aren't very good. But since he put the work into them he insists that they be posted.

They're also all on Shu Shu's dogster page. He's going to try to fix a couple of them so they look better.  ::shrug::  She's just some little flop-ear, for dogness' sake.

So that's all for now.

-- photos of Pearl and Ringo by Nicole Howard