Mia and Clara snoozing May 28, 2008
I kept that photo on petfinder.com bookmarked on my computer. I kept thinking about it. If she recognized the fence as a limit, then perhaps I could keep her safe. I could easily make some adjustments to the side yard because part of it was chain link fence so that she was only in that part of the yard when I was away. She was adopted to another home, but somehow I knew. Ichecked her listing every few days. Then one day I saw that she was available for adoption again.The indication from her updated listing was that her adoptive family and their elderly dog could not handle her energy. I knew that I could and that my elderly dog could as well. Mia had seemed very understanding with Ben, and had not pushed him when he indicated he did not want to play. I called DDR and asked for another chance.
Ben and Mia hanging out together January 23, 2008
That is how Dazy, now Mia came back to live with us again. I decided she should be named for a woman athlete who could move fast and turn quickly, and who better than Mia Hamm the soccer player? Mia easily integrated herself into my life. Because of her, Ben and I began going on more frequent and longer walks than we otherwise would have. Because of her I met two of my neighbors who had dogs who would come and play with Mia in my front yard, as we sat and watched and talked and laughed.
Mia with me and her best friend “TK” March 29, 2008
Mia playing with neighbors “Peque” and Mychal in the front yard March 29, 2008
Because of her we went to dog parks more often, where Mia would leap and play with other dogs and Ben and I would amble together, two of the more senior members of the pack. Mia and Iwent to classes together so that I could learn how to communicate what I expected of her. Mia is extraordinarily bright and a quick learner. “Ben makes me say “Awwww” I would tell my family and friends. Mia makes me laugh.”
It was a good thing, as Mia had her flaws, as we all do. When I first got her she liked to chew –including one of my upholstered chairs – the cats had not done that chair any favors over the years, but Mia definitely finished it off. She chewed on the wall, on my bed, on the wood of a door jamb. She chewed the corners off my “dog-proof” duvet cover and each corner of my comforter. The first time she did it, I did not realize it until I opened the dryer after washing and drying the comforter. There were feathers everywhere. She barked quite a bit in comparison to Ben who almost never barked at all. I scarcely knew what his bark sounded like.
I understood that this was just part of having a dog. So, I got “Bitter Apple” for the wood and the wall, and spackle to repair them. I sewed and pinned up the corners of my comforters and gather more things of her own she could chew on. I renewed my supply of Dog-Appeasing pheromone which had helped Ben settle down when he first moved into the house. I increased the number of walks, and made a special point of having playtime in addition to her walks, so that she would be less anxious. I got a cover to throw over the not-so-upholstered-any-more chair. I got one of those things that gives off an ultrasonic noise when a dog barks. I learned to thank Mia for a single (or two) warning bark to let her know that I had heard her and appreciated her doing her job. In time Mia settled down. She chews the things that are hers to chew now, and not my things.
Do you like the cover on this chair? It was my idea! October 3, 2009
Oh, and I really learned the lesson about not letting a terrier mix off leash. She was playing one night with her friend TK. We were in the front yard where TK lives. It’s not fenced, but they were playing happily. TK’s owner and I were watching closely and nudging them both back the moment they moved even the slightest bit away from the yard. Then a motorcycle came down the street.Mia went after it, at the rider’s heel, right into the middle of Pico Boulevard. I handed Ben’s leash to my friend and went running out to call Mia back. Before I had even run a few steps though,she was bounding back, like an Impala, looking happy as can be, as if to say “Wasn’t that fun?!”No, it wasn’t. She is never, ever off a leash in my neighborhood or any area where there are roads, except in a fenced yard. (I would be lying if I said never ever ever because you can see from the photo that she did go off leash at a remote section of Pismo Beach, when she was playing with another dog and was far far away from any road. I had previously confirmed that she would come when called on that beach.)
May 11, 2008
Resting May 28, 2009
I take Mia to the homes of family and friends who have large yards whenever I can. Here she is at my sister’s home in Huntington Beach in April 2008, playing with one of the neighbors
And with my nephew Chandler:
And hanging out with Ben and me:
Mia and I went on a vacation to Pismo Beach together. I had taken her to a dog beach once and knew she enjoyed kicking up the sand. Ben stayed home with Clara as he did not like the beach or strange places for that matter, and he loved his pet sitters. Mia and I got to walk and walk and walk during that vacation, as well as to hang out and watch the waves. (Unfortunately my camera was stolen sometime in July of 2009 and so all photos taken after that are with my iPhone and not all that clear.)
Pismo Beach, September 28, 2009
Mia at Pismo Beach September 28, 2009
Mia with a friend at Pismo Beach September 29, 2009
I had Ben euthanized October 17, 2009 because we could not control the pain he was experiencing because of Pancreatitis.
Mia in a pensive moment November 19, 2009
Misty the foster puppy (a black and tan Cocker Spaniel – no surprise) came to stay with us December 1, 2009. Misty urgently needed a place to stay. I was looking at adoptable dogs online to assuage my grief at losing Ben. Mia was a great foster sister.
November 27, 2009 Mia and Misty
Mia with Misty the Foster Puppy December 1, 2009
(The day Misty went to be spoiled and pampered, the only dog in her forever home)
About the time I took Misty in, because she needed a foster home urgently, I had also seen these photos, this time on Adoptapet.com:
Skipper’s rescuer pulled him from the Devore Animal Shelter the day he was scheduled to be euthanized. The shelter said he was about 2 years old. I suspect he is an adult – perhaps 4 or 5years old. Anyway, his rescuer thought that he and Mia would get along well,. So she kept him for me while Misty the foster dog found her permanent home. She was correct. Mia and Skipper play and play and play, supervised by Clara who is not disturbed at all by these two active dogs bouncing around the house.
As an aside, Misty’s rescuer had placed an flexible wire fencing inside my existing fence to keep little Misty safe. That same fencing keeps Skipper safe, as he is the sort of dog who would wriggle his way out of a fence without really thinking about it – just because he could, and then he would keep going, without really thinking about it, just because he could. (I wonder sometimes if his owner was someone who just didn’t know how to look for him, and worry about them missing him, but at least he is safe and well.)
So here are some photos (unfortunately still iPhone) of Mia now with her good friend Skipper.
It’s raining & we can’t go outside; Skipper’s first day with us December 12, 2009
December 13, 2009 Playing & Resting
December 15, 2009 Playing with Clara supervising
January 1, 2010 Starting the New Year at Laurel Canyon Dog Park
Waiting for me to come to bed February 17, 2010
Well, I have spent much more time than I had planned to write this story. I definitely need to stop now, because there are two little furry faces that keep appearing at my knee. “May we please go for a walk now? Please?”
Mia with me and Ben on the front porch March 29, 2008
Regards, Denise LaChance
That was it, really. It was a couple of months before I actually found an apartment with a yard that I liked, and that was even closer to work. The landlord was open to my putting a doggie door in the door that led to the locked side yard. I bookmarked “Dazy” and kept coming back to her again and again. I emailed Downtown Dog Rescue and got some information about her. I had barely begun to unpack boxes at my new apartment when I went to meet Dazy at the Petco in Pasadena.
Mia and I went on a vacation to Pismo Beach together. I had taken her to a dog beach once and knew she enjoyed kicking up the sand. Ben stayed home with Clara as he did not like the beach or strange places for that matter, and he loved his pet sitters. Mia and I got to walk and walk and walk during that vacation, as well as to hang out and watch the waves. (Unfortunately my camera was stolen sometime in July of 2009 and so all photos taken after that are with my iPhone and not all that clear.)
