Today I dropped off Pookie at the shelter. They asked me to bring him in and he'd stay the weekend to meet potential adopters (adoptees? Parents).
Right now I feel rather calm and relaxed. And a little guilty for feeling relaxed. I am obviously going to miss him. Me turning around literally anywhere and finding him sitting right there. Gosh he would do that so much and even then, ever so often, it'd scare the hell out of me. Like how did you get to the kitchen so quietly?
He loved the kitchen. I learnt that it's because dogs hope that a treat might fall on the floor. He'd spread himself right in the middle of the kitchen floor and just lie there - maximum obstruction and minimum movement.
He'd also give a lot of nose and head kisses - I loved those so much. Just a happy puppy showing his affection. But he'd do it when he wanted to do it - he's is own leader and does not abide by any rules.
As I am typing it I am realizing that again, I am making it sound like he's no longer alive. He is alive. He is just not hanging out with me anymore.
Back to the day I picked him up - it was a Thursday and despite not having a car on that day, I had decided that I'd go get him with my neighbour, Paco. Paco loves dogs and he is super nice. Paco is also not his real name but he prefers to use this name.
I barely got a glimpse of Pookie when I first picked him up. He was in his crate which was covered by towels. He had had a long day from driving from the shelter and they told me that he was shy and will need time to open up.
I saw a tiny, tiny bit of him when I moved the towel slightly so he could smell me. The ride home was very relaxed - we kept it chill, low volume music, low volume chatter. He did not make a peep.
Brought him upstairs and set up the space - right by the window, next to my work desk. I spread out the two waterproof mats I had bought in advance, put up the xpen and gently took him out of his crate. I gave him a few minutes to just be and then I called my friends to show them the new baby. I wanted to put a diaper because I knew he was not house broken and we live in a carpeted apartment. My friends, this couple, who have two large male dogs of their own, saw me put on a diaper on this dog like you do for a baby and did not think anything was wrong with it! They said it looked fine and is probably going to be okay. Sure, Jan!
And then he pooped and peed on the carpet.
That was not fun.
It was diarrhea.
Did my best to clean it up, lots of miracle spray. Also ordered a mini carpet cleaner soon after.
You know, I want to talk more about how Pookie is. He is so so gentle. He will gently come to you, get a quick sniff, move away, and then come back for more. I got kisses from him right away and I think he knew that I was going to be his main person.
With everyone else, he'd do a little safety check. Pookie loves dogs and is curious about cats. If he spots a dog, there is going to be whining and until the two meet and share secrets. I've had to console him a lot especially pre neutering when a dog is aggressive and the owner tells me that it's not a good idea for them to interact. He has this quality of being anxiously curious which I find so adorable. A little head tilt wondering what's going on around him, a little treat that gets his senses going. I got him hooked bad on those treats.
I really, really liked how attached he was (and maybe still is? It's not even been an hour since I dropped him off) to me. Like no matter what, if he saw me, he felt better. He'd come running to me if he felt scared. He'd hide behind me if he was around an aggressive dog. He'd look at me for comfort. I loved taking care of him. I loved feeling like I was needed in his life.
I also loved holding him like a baby. Cuddling with him, giving him tons of kisses and telling him how much I love him. And him licking my face in return.
I also felt so much joy watching him grow and become confident. Like when he finally started going into the elevator. What an achievement and I was so proud of him. I loved telling him that he was so brave, smart, and courageous (for getting in and out of the elevator - it was a big deal for us, okay?).
Some days he'd struggle with getting his paws cleaned. But like, you literally stepped on and ate poop. You are not coming inside the apartment with dirty paws.
But if I gave him a lot of kisses and pets while cleaning, he seemed kinda okay with it. He actually picked up the process quickly and while often he'd try to run directly into the living room, he knew he'd have to come back and get a little spa treatment.
The man loves pupcups. He licks every possible molecule of cream before shredding the cup into a million pieces.
I know Pookie will bring so much joy to whichever home he enters. He will be scared, a little shy, he will stay in his pen for a a bit and then he will come out of his shell and proudly claim the place as his own. Where he is the king, and you are just his little puppets to help him live his best life. And you'd do it gladly.