Ebony's Pearls

Did I ever tell you I am not a dog person?

Itzl's different. He's my partner in a dog's body. He works for me, he works with me,and I take complete care of him. Dog and Drooly are Beaners' dogs in my care while he's in the army. Shika was a diva who decided she would deign to live with us - all too briefly.

I don't want another dog.

But tell that to the starving orphaned mutt.

He's a mixed breed dog - white with brindle spots, a badly underdeveloped 4 weeks old. He weighed barely a pound when we pulled him out of the small pet carrier he'd lived his life in, lined with fecal matter and rain water with only a budding tree to shelter it from the storms of the past month. He was cold, hungry, covered in fleas, bloated with worms, and pathetically grateful to be given warmth and food.

I thought he was 2 weeks old. His eyes didn't focus, still the milky color of newly opened eyes. He couldn't stand on his four filthy little feet. His belly was pimpled with flea bites.

The vet said he was4 weeks old.

So, I fed him milk replacement formula, Gerber's chicken baby food, and gave him several baths. The vet dewormed him and you don't want to know those details. In 3 days, he's gained nearly a pound,is flea-free, has learned to walk (wobblier than he should be, but walking), and has a name.

Rafferty.

We call him Riff Raff.

I don't know if we will keep him, but he will be with us until he's weaned, healthy, and has basic puppy training.

I don't need a home for him. It turns out there's a waiting list of people who want a puppy I've raised and trained. Even mixed breed mutts like Riff Raff, who may be a mix of chihuahua, jack russell terrier,and papillon. He'll be about 10 pounds full grown.

Itzl is taking it with good humor as long as Riff Raff doesn't try to nurse on him. He allows Riff Raff to lick him and chew on his fur a bit.Itzl plays with him gently and I will have my work cut out teaching Riff Raff to be gentle with Itzl.

Riff Raff is showing aggressive tendencies. He rushes (if you can call his bumbling shaky pounces "rushing"),he barks, growls,and doesn't hold back in his biting. He's teething,of course, and that accounts for the hard biting. It doesn't account for his barking, growling,and "rushing" in to "attack".

I've already started redirecting his aggression to chew toys. He's a dog who will need a job because he's going to be a hyper-active dog. He's going to be a high maintenance dog requiring lots of attention,lots of training,lots ofreinforcement.

For now, he's in my care.

We'll see what the future brings.