Save Polar

Polar is an American Bulldog mix that is deaf and lives in Chesterfield County, VA.,  On Wednesday, June 30, 2011, a family, including a six month old child, from Washington State were visiting other family members where Polar lived.  From the news accounts, it was lunch time and the six month old child was left on the floor while the adults went into the kitchen.  Polar made a "noise" and when the family returned to the room, the baby had blood on it.  The child later died at a local hospital.  My heart aches for the family of the child and my prayers and thoughts are with them as they grieve.  But, as a deaf dog advocate, my thoughts now turn to Polar.  What will become of her?  At this time, she is in the care of Chesterfield County Animal Control and her fate is uncertain.  I'm sure there is a certain portion of the population that wants to put Polar to sleep and they have a right to their opinion.  I have spent the last 24 years with the police department and eight years in the United States Air Force defending opinions that I did not like or agree with so they can say what they want.  The owners have already surrendered her and I can completely understand why they would do that and I will defend their decision as well.  I believe Polar needs to be given another chance!  From a report on WRIC Polar came form a line of abusive homes and was thought to have found her forever home with her family.  But now, who knows what will happen to Polar.  

I have discussed the matter with my wife, Donna, and if it is at all possible, we would like to adopt Polar.  If you're reading this, you already know we have two Deaffies so we know how to care for them.  We have the time and patience it would take to take on this task.

Please support us as we try to adopt Polar or at least keep them from putting her to sleep.

As you can see, she is beautiful!  Don't let her last days be in a cold shelter with no one that loves her!

Company

We had company over the weekend in the form of two little fuzzballs, Ace and Koda!  They were Golden Retriever mixes that belong to my son's fiance, Liz.  At first I was worried because we were going to have four dogs in the house and two were puppies and they could hear but, as it turned out, there was no need for worry.

The pups arrived in the early afternoon and Pickles and Nea were sleeping (it was time for their afternoon nap).  We had the pups in the kitchen and got Pickles up from her nap first.  Pickles came to the kitchen, saw the pups and was very happy.  She sniffed them and started to play with them right away!  Nea came next and, seeing the pups, was happy.  They were all smelling each other and it was going pretty good so we all went outside.  This is when the fun began!

The were jumping on each other and having a great time!  No one got mad, there was no growling or teeth showing; just a lot of kisses and playing.  They chased each other around the yard and just had a good time.  The pups were holding their own with Pickles and Nea who were being very gentle.  It seemed as if Pickles and Nea knew the pups couldn't play rough so they didn't.

The pups were very well behaved and only went potty in the house a couple of times which was really good.  They all ate dinner at the same time, in different places, and then played some more before bed.  Pickles and Nea went to bed at their usual time but the pups stayed up late, as appears to be the usual for them.  Everyone slept good that night!

Saturday morning, Pickles got up before the pups and was looking for them but they were still asleep and it was quite funny.  Pickles didn't eat much breakfast because she was looking all about for the pups so Nea got some extra breakfast!

The pups left later that night, after Zach's graduation.  All in all, everyone was well behaved and had a great time!

Here's Patrick!

Patrick is at the Richmond SPCA and is waiting to become your forever friend!  Patrick is deaf but knows some sign language, has been neutered and is really cute. Deaffies are the best pets.  I have two females otherwise he would already be in my house!  If you go see him and adopt him, please let me know. I'll be glad to help you with anything you need when it comes to Deaffies!

Heeeeeeeerrrrr'sssss Patrick!

Walking Two Dogs!

Well, Momma is sick and not feeling good so I was a quiet as I could be and got the pups up by myself this morning for their (and my) walk.  Take off the cover and open Pickles' crate and I have to wake her up as she is sound asleep.  Get it?  Sound asleep!  I crack me up!  Anyway, she's happy to see me and she runs right to Nea's crate and bumps it so when I uncover her crate, she's awake.  Now Nea gets out and it's like they never saw each other, or me, before.  Jumping about and whatnot.  We head downstairs and those two are joined at the hip, as usual.  Once in the kitchen, it's more jumping about and then outside to potty.  We get our chill out treats then time for the leashes.

When I grab the leashes, Nea automatically sits and looks up at me but Pickles...there's no sitting there.  She's jumping about and acting a fool and Nea just looks are her!  Nea must have been chained or strangled as a puppy or had a collar that was too tight because she hates anything that goes over her head.  She looks away, tucks her ears and tail and generally avoids it but she walks so well on the leash.  Pickles, on the other hand, once she calms down doesn't mind the collar that goes on over her head.  So, we get that done; I set the alarm, lock the door and off we go.

I'm thinking, "hmmm, this is going to be a logistical nightmare!  Those two can't be side-by-side without playing so how's this going to work?"  I put Pickles' leash in my left hand and Nea's in my right but I put them both on my left side (just like we've always walked) and off we go.  To the end of the alley, no problem.  Across the street, no problem.  Turn the corner...problem.  Squirrel!  "Look, Daddy!  Squirrel" Nea yells.  "I see, Nea, but he doesn't want to play with you" I tell her.  "Sure he does, Daddy!"  "Okay", I said "we'll see."  And as soon as we got within 20 feet up the tree he goes and Nea looks at me like she lost her best friend.  "I tried to tell you, Nea."  "Why didn't he want to play, Daddy?  I won't hurt him."  "I know that but he doesn't and since you don't speak squirrel or he dog, you can't talk to each other."

So far, so good.  Then they start switching places.  Nea on the outside and Pickles on the inside.  Then they change.  Then again.  And again.  Soon, I have two tangled dogs and a pink and black mess in my hands (that would be the leashes.  Nea's is black and Pickles' is pink.  We couldn't use blue because that was Maddie's color and I don't like red.)  So I decide to separate them with Pickles on the left and Nea on the right and this worked great!  I thought they would try to get to each other or Nea would be confused because we always walked her on the left but nope!  They were great!

We went down to the park and had puppy free time then around the park and back home.  I was really impressed with the way they walked their first time together with only one person walking them.

Deaffies are the best!

They put him down today.

Ice

They put Ice down today.  In his photograph, he looks like he's waving goodbye.  Like he knows what is going to happen.  Maybe he's seen too many of his friends disappear behind a door never to be seen again.  

The owner surrendered him because of allergies.  ALLERGIES!!  Are you fucking kidding me?  Why would you not know you were allergic to dogs BEFORE you got the dog!?  The owner had to be a moron!  Asshat!  Why would you take him to a kill shelter.  I know, maybe you didn't know.  Maybe you didn't care!  He's out of your life so it doesn't matter anymore, right?!  How about this:  why don't we take you to a shelter, let you live in a small cage for a couple of week, forming some kind of relationship with the person that feeds you and cleans your poo then, just as you start to feel safe...we kill you!  That's just an idea but I'm spit-balling here.  I have other ideas but I think you get my point.  

To Ice:

I'm so sorry that there was no one there to love you and give you hugs.  I'm sorry that the one person you thought was going to be your forever human turned out someone with no soul.  I'm sorry they took you to a kill shelter and I wish someone would have made you their forever friend.  I never met you but please know I love you and I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.  You're free to play with the angels now and they won't hurt you.  They will love you, play fetch and give you hugs.  They will never hurt you and you will never be hurt again.

Please know you will never be forgotten.  

The Pool and a Baby Bird.

Do you think I love my dogs too much?  The kids get to play with the hose but the dogs get a pool!!

Yup, that's a pool alright!  A plastic pool from K-Mart (they were close.  Don't judge me.)  Pickles really loves it but Nea, not so much.  But Mac, they're a Pit and an AmStaff!  Why would you put them in a pool?  They're not water dogs...no Labs there.  Well, Pickles is.  She jumps right in.  She even gets a running start and jumps in!  She loves it!  Nea, not so much.  Pickles splashes about and gets wet.  Nea, not so much.  Pickles is wagging her tail and having fun!  Nea, not so much.  You can see where this is going.  Nea doesn't like the water but let the pool be empty and I can't get her out of it!

So now the pool is empty and they're playing in it; Nea won't get out!  She just stands there and watches Pickles jump in an out.  Okay, I wish you all could be in my backyard to see this:  Pickles is staring at the hose then she looks at me!  "Daddy!  We need water!" she seems to say.  "Pickles, Nea doesn't need water.  Look at her.  She's happy" I say.  "But Daaaaaaaaady!" replies Pickles "I want water"!  "I know Pickles, but not right now.  After lunch" I say.  "Okay..." she says as she walks away sad and dejected.  "Thanks, Daddy" Nea says.  "I don't like the water."  "I know, Nea, but we can try some later.  It's fun to splash about!" I told her.  "But if you try it, you may like it.  Pickles does."  "You're not really helping your point, Daddy.  Pickles is weird!" said Nea.  "She thinks she's a Labrador!"   "Nea!  That wasn't nice!" reminding her to mind her manners.  "Sorry, Daddy."

At least Pickles is deaf and didn't hear this, right?

Then, I saw the sweetest thing in Dogdom.  Nea was laying in the pool...minding her own business when Pickles walked with something in her mouth.  "Oh, now what!?" I thought.  Pickles gently steps into the pool and puts whatever is in her mouth in the pool right beside Nea...like a present.  Pickles looks up at Nea and the two look at each other then Nea at the "gift".  Now I'm wondering what this "gift" may be so I get up (sitting only a couple feet away, mind you) and see that it's A DEAD BABY BIRD!!  "Pickles!" I scream!  "Where in the hell did you get a dead baby bird!"  "What?  This?" she said as she looks at the bird, "it's a present for Nea!"  "I can see that, Pickles, and that was very nice" I told her "but where did you get a dead baby bird?!"  "Over there!"  "Thank you, Pickles, but you and Nea can't have a dead baby bird to play with.  It could make you sick!"  "Let me have that, Pickles, so I can bury it" I told her.  "Okay, Daddy."  I buried the bird in the trees just outside my fence and gave it a moment of silence.

So I look where she came from just before I see the bird and there is a brick turned up and a hole in the fence.  I guess it came from there but thankfully there were no more.

Doggie pools and dead baby birds as gifts!  Aren't dogs wonderful!?  I know mine are!

Stuff that happens in the Mornings!

Up at 0500 (I'm working evening shift so I get to sleep in until then and take a nap later) and get the pups up.  You all know the routine by now so not gonna cover it again.  Set the alarm.  Lock the door.  Leave the yard.  Down the alley to the street.  So far, not thinking about too much but when we round the corner, I start.

"Nea is walking good on the leash today."  "Pickles is all over the road.  She would walk a lot less if she walked a straight line."  "Oh crap, there's a cat!  I hope Nea doesn....she saw it!"  "Good, the cat saw us and ran away.  She ran away, Nea!  Let her go!"  "Okay, she forgot about the cat.  Good."  "It's hot out here.  Well, not so much hot but sticky."  "I wonder if it's sticky in Alaska?  Never mind, Donna wouldn't go and I'd never find white dogs in the snow."  "Good Nea.  You're walking good today."  "Look!  The morning guy is at Buzzy's!  I don't usually get to see him."  "Damn!  A squirrel!  And he's just sitting there!  Come on, Nea, let's run!  He'll run away!"  "Oops, he ran under a car and a bird flew out the other end of the same car!!  It's like I'm a magician!  Too funny!"  "Okay, Nea.  He's gone.  It was just a squirrel.  Yes, I know you don't like them."  "Walking makes my feet hurt.  Maybe I need new shoes.  They're $100.00.  Ouch!  I'll wait until after vacation."  "Nea, why are you stopping in the midd......."  "Poop!!  Really?"  You stopped to poop in the middle of the road!?"  We're on Broad Street!  I guess you had to go!"  "Well, it's easier to pick up when it's not in the grass!"  "Why is that radio always on?  They never turn it off!  Weird."  "We're at the park!  Puppy free time!"  "You can do whatever you want now, Nea!"  "So you sit.........  Hhmmmm.....well, it's your time so have at it."  "What are you smelling now?  Are you a narcotics dog?  Are you looking for something"  "Let's walk over here so I can throw this road poop away."  "The trash can is right there and there's trash on the ground beside it.  Are you kidding me?  Can you not be bothered with putting the trash in the can?  Lazy people."  "Look, Nea, there's the statue.  Up on the base!  Good jump!"  "Alright, heading for home now."   "Where's Pickles?  There she is...with mommy."  "Another squirrel.  Okay, Nea, leave it alone.  He doesn't want to play with you."  "Hey, there's Lee Ann's house.  Remember, you met Carby!"  "Yeah, I'll walk Pickles now."  "Hi, Pickles!  Did you have a good walk with mommy?  Good!"  "Why can't you walk in a straight line?  People will think you're drunk!"  "Damn, not that squirrel again.  Don't those things live in trees?  Why are they on the groun......Pickles!  She saw it!  Pickles!  He doesn't want to play with you, either.  No, I don't think we can chase this one and it'll turn into a bird!  I only had one trick left."  "I bet you're tired (tongue hanging out now).  I'm tired too.  Just wait until next week and we start to run sometimes.  Not too much further."  "Look!  Another cat!  You guys should be inside."  "I know you want to play, Pickles, but they don't see it that way!"  "Thirsty?  Me too. Two more blocks."  "Woo hoo!  We're home!"  "Let's take that collar off.  Now, sit still!  Quit jumping!  Don't do that!  Ouch!!  That's how you hurt your ears!"  "Breakfast!  Yummmmm."

What?!  Did you guys think I was solving world hunger?  Bringing peace to the Middle East?  I'm walking my dogs.  Just after I get up.  No deep thoughts or anything out there.  More like an inner monologue and talking to my deaf-ies as I'm walking along.  I talk to them all of the time.

They many not be able to hear, but they can see your lips move and are very intuitive so they "know" when they're doing right and, conversely, when they're messing up.  They constantly look back to see if you're there even though they can feel you at the other end of the leash.