And I said I wouldn't get attached

Henry was my was my fifth foster dog. I found him on line, just wating for me at the Walton County pound. Since he was a cute dog the workers tried to keep him around hoping some day someone would adopt him. No one did. Poor Henry wasn't quite as cute as his picture what with all the scars on his nose and a dull coat. He even had a tick on his eye lid! I wondered if I was doing the right thing.


Rescuing dogs, or anything I would imagine, is a tricky buisness. Who lives? Who dies? You decide. As in the people world, some dogs just get lucky. The calm quiet dog gets passed up in favor of the "oh my god get me out of here. I will do anything for you, just get me out a here" dog simply because he has not asked for attention. But oh the luck of the quiet dog when the 40 something single guy just looking for quiet partner in life happens to come to the pound. The perfect match can happen, if they can just make it past the kill day. You can get pretty exhistencial when you focus on the randomness of who makes it out of the pound and who doesn't. Sometimes a beautiful well mannered dog goes to the chamber because his owner had a baby or had to move.

The next trick is to not get too attached. Treat the dog as if it were yours, make it attractive to others, and always remember it is temporary. You are providing a nest, a place to regroup and trust people again. Then the dog will leave as soon as they connect with the person they are meant to be with. This was easier said than done with Henry.

Each time you meet with a perspective owner you must prepare to give the dog up.In the time I had Henry we went through two cancelled meetings that ultimately resulted in a rejection, another meeting and rejection, a lady who seemed perfect and was set to adopt Henry but got crazy and backed out the night before we were going to deliver him to her. That's a lot of heart squeezing for a 6 month period. I couldn't understand why no one wanted this dog that I was in love with. No one seemed to connect with him except for me.

Then I got the news that Henry was blind in one eye and had to have the eye removed as he was in extreme pain. I felt terrible, responsible. We had to wait almost a month for the surgery. No one was appying for him and I was beginning to think we would have him forever. In fact, I'd already accepted it.

The surgery went well. Afterwards he laid in my arms, blood seeping from his eye, and just wimpered. I learned a lot about myself in the weeks after Henry's surgery. For every dog experience I have there is a parallel people experience. Taking care of Henry allowed me to explore what it might be like to care for an ailing family member. As difficult as it was to see him in pain I was glad it was me who took care of him.
Almost two weeks after his surgery and hundreds of dollars of donations from friends and family, Henry got an application! The applicant was perfect! She fell in love with Henry right away, even though his prosthetic eye was still monster like. She even had a print out of his adoption page on her fridge. She took him the following day.....I think my heart broke a little bit... But I know he is meant to be with his new owner. And that's the end of that story.

Some Koreans DO eat dogs

During a recent post lesson chat with a students mother I learned that some Koreans do in fact eat dog. We were discussing our plans for the weekend and when mine included dogs she said, "You know in Korea we eat the dog." "Yeah, I've heard that. But not everyone right?", I say trying to change the subject. I have a special affinity for South Koreans these days. They are organized, interested in learning, and give me food regularly. "Yes, we usually eat dog in restaurant...not at home." "Oh, hmm. Do you have any plans for the weekend?", trying to change the subject again. Overhearing the conversation from the other room and perhaps wanting to terrify me more her husband chimes in on the dog as entre conversation. "It's good for man..for fertility.", he says smiling..waiting for my response. "Yeah, hmm...don't need that." "Do you know Yorkshur terrier?", the mom asks. Oh god can we please stop talking about dogs? I can't help but think about my little dog skinned and turning on a rotiserie. "Yes, I know YorkShire Terriers." "My mother live a lone outside Soel. She is lonely I think so I bought my mother this dog. Very expensive $400. Very cute." She's goes on for a minute about how cute the dog is. I feel a kinship momentarily. "I go to my mother's the next weekend. We're is cute dog? 'Dog in freezer' my mother says. What! Expensive dinner!" I was speechless! Expensive dinner indeed!

belches, and burbs, and farts oh my

Lately I've been tutoring several boys in E.S.L. Of course teaching E.S.L is not limited to written or spoken English. I am also obligated to teach culture and in this case North American manners (what little I know of this subject)
The first lesson was for Woojin 1 (I teach two). He is a very cerebral cute 7 year old who likes to produce a special affect while reading out loud. He inhales as he reads the text and sometimes uses a Korean accent as a joke, since his spoken English is perfect. He also likes to find reasons to stand up and walk around. Pretty typical. So, when he had to burb several times and wanted to go to the bathroom each time, I told him the trip wasn't necessary. To simply say excuse me would suffice. "Belch..Excuse me. Blech...Excuse me" and then a smile and back to the reading.
That same day another student, Yule, who is just a year older but seemingly a foot taller, asks "What name this? (he bleches so loudly his teeth almost rattle) What name this?", he asks again. I'm trying not to laugh, but do anyway. "Sorry. I'm not supposed to laugh. That is a burp or a belch.", I tell him with as much authority as I can muster. "Bup, What the other word?" "Belch", I say with only a slight grin. "Beelch", he repeats thoughtfully. I'm so amused by the whole thing that I almost forget to pedogogize. "Usually, we say 'Excuse me' after we belch.", I add dutifully. "Usually?", he questions. "No, just..always...just always say excuse me and try to make it softer when you belch." "O.k."
The following day I'm back at Woojin 1's house. He's moved on from the oh so quaint belching to the deadly. That's right. He actually sat while reading about TRex and farted! "Excuse me.", he pipes with his little voice. "No, that's not an excuse me situation. You need to go to the bathroom for that.", I say, once again almost laughing." He looks hurt. "But you said.... Oh that was for the other thing. O.k." He starts to walk to the bathroom and says "But now I don't have to do it anymore."

Annabelle at home on a velvet sofa

It's official! The young couple who have had Annabelle for the past two weeks are making it official and adopting her! I've gotten two emails from them detailing the things they love about her. She found the right people. It is simply amazing to think that she was on death row while all along there were two people waiting for her to change their life.
Just think about all of the things that have changed your life. How many of them almost slipped through your finders without you even knowing it? Amazing huh???

Milledge Avenue Blondes..And one Red Head

The beginning of fall semester in a college town brings excitement for some and loathing for others. I suppose there are some who don't notice, but Never Never Land is not a place one can stay forever. Though Milledge Avenue is bordered by some of the most drop dead gorgeous mansions in Athens, or maybe even the S.E., it is the most claustrophobic road to be relegated to during your morning commute. I travel down Milledge twice sometimes four times a day. Lucky for me there is always a lot to look at as the flow of traffic creeps along this two laned avenue. During the summer I got to wonder about the runnerexics and and keep track of the daily changes in one of the mansions being spiffed up. I watched as more and more of the carved swirling details were uncovered. The wood color appealed to me far more than the white wash that had been there before.
On the first day of classes the spectacle is different. The side walk becomes a virtual fashion show as the "purty gurlz" strut their stuff and hope some overly tanned harried sorority sister takes a shine to her, adds an appletini, and stirs her social life glass. It's two parts sad, one part annoying, and .5 parts helpful to watch the girls funnel like sheep onto the lawn of pie alpha gamda so what house. Sad because they so look desperate and unsure. Annoying because there are so many people watching the throng of young women that traffic is even slower. Finally, it is helpful because these young women let you know what's being sold in stores. No need to go shopping if you don't see anything you like on these high heeled hopefuls. Their dresses vary they usually do not.
Just when you think that there is not a sorethumb among them up pops a true redhead. Not the weird Burgundy you see on the girl who is trying to be more grown up than she is. The real frecklefaced, light lashes and eyebrows (among other things) type. Separated from her herd she stopped on the sidewalk, made a scrunched up face, kicked off those damn uncomfortable heels and stepped into a pair of flipflops she had brought just for this moment. That's right big sister's not watching. You can be yourself for a moment.
What is truly remarkable is how done up and over these women look. Upon close inspection (when the traffic light is red) I realize that many of them are using the power of the tan and a good haircut to turn a normal looking person into the cover of Teen magazine. That is artistry!
With all of the flurry of thoughts invoked by the parade of highlights and flower dresses I almost forgot to look at the progress of the house being redone. Through the glare of the "purty gurlz" bronzer I could see it. The house complete... perfect and painted just like its occupants.

Not all Koreans eat dogs

This was an event that I had promised my students for several weeks. "If you do one more page I'll bring my little dog over.", I would say when the hour long tutoring session had stretched beyond my 7 year old student's attention span. It worked a few times. Finally I had to ante up.
These kids had scarcely ever seen a dog this close up and couldn't decide if Rufus was the cutest or the most terrifying thing they had ever seen. In fact Yule, the one holding the Rufus, once came between a mama dog and her pups and got bit. His parents utilized hyptnotism and accupuncture for his fear and look at him now.
The little girl, Run, was perhaps most mesmerized by the baby like dog. Unfortunately, her zeal resulted in Rufus growling at her. She got so scared that she gave up the Kimchee and Koolaid she had only recently ingested. I guess Ru hadn't heard. Not all Koreans eat dogs.

Annabelle the sad dog gets happy

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I first saw Annabelle's oh so sweet face on a pet and walk visit to Athens Animal Control. She was laying on the cold cement floor and unlike most other dogs seemed to have accepted her potential fate. I thought for sure someone would be charmed by her. When I called to check her status several days later (the day before the 4th of July), I was shocked to learn she was still there and would most likely be destroyed over the holiday. There are only two ways for a dog to get out of the pound and something about Annabelle pushed me to make sure it was on foot, or should I saw paw.
With only 15 minutes before Animal Control closed I drove as fast as I could to put a hold on her. I got her 3 days later and realized there is yet another way to get out of the pound. Annabelle was so affraid that we had to CARRY her out to the car. She has gone from a very frightened sweetheart to a playful thoughtful one.
This morning we took Annabelle on a home visit. She was a little nervous, but the couple who are trying things out with her are the perfect energy for this laid back girl. They seem exceptionally sweet and flexible. Tim asked the man of the couple "Is she as you remember her?" To which he said "She's cuter than I remember." Just what we wanted to hear! Much like people, if you fall in love with a dog the inevitable difficulties seem surmountable.