In February you could see the writing on the wall. Something was happening but we did not yet know what. I volunteer with an animal (dogs mostly but there are some others occasionally). Most rescues had locked down for fear of people ‘adopting’ an animal while quarantined then giving it up after. Yes people do that, WTF. Mind you most generations have not been through a pandemic quarantine lock-down so on the other side it might have some merits if only the end was not a surrender. You can’t rent pets!

Anyways, two rescued pups came in at the last minute, covered in ticks. We got rid of all the ticks, lots of combing and some special tools. We even kept some of the ticks in a jar to see what happened, hint, they died. No one got sick, many got squeamish.

We were all ready to get them off to a foster home when the little one of the two seemed off. Well off to the vet that is, something was wrong. Vet visit. Crash. Fluids. Transfer to CARE. Forgotten in the parking lot (us in the car, not the dog by itself). Neurologist. Initial diagnosis pending tests. Wait. Home.

All this vet stuff is with physical distancing (you know the drill very well by now, phone when you get here and we’ll come out in hazmat suits). When all the tests were back we found out the little guy had meningitis (but not the other kind, he has the less dangerous, treatable kind). Tests, shaved area behind the head and on the leg, and three prescriptions, welcome to Calgary dude. Later we had his treatment schedule and he was ready for foster care with one of the amazing volunteers.*

But, as life has it, we became the foster family. Remember that COVID-19 pandemic thing, well it was full swing. So to help us remember the schedule we drew a grid, which ultimately became a spreadsheet, and set alarms on an iPhone so that he did not miss his prescriptions. Now whenever an alarm on my phone goes off I think it’s time for his pill and he runs to where ever I am to let me know it’s time for his pill; Pavlov’s alarm.

We do have three dogs already, and one of them was not too pleased having an ‘intact’ male, yes he still had his bits, in the house. The other two tolerate Rico but still put him in his place (4th or 5th depending if you include me or not). So our Rico lived upstairs and our three lived downstairs. The big ‘merge’ was going to take time and that was one of two options. All the dogs would eventually get along and could move around house freely or Rico would have to find another home where there was no fear of him getting beaten up.

Think about trying to introduce a muzzle, indoors to the alpha male dog. No, not me. Our Marty is a large Weimaraner soft coated Wheaton Terrier, Boxer, Rottweiler mix. He looks like Anubis. He got the muzzle and boy was he NOT happy. He is used to the muzzle when in an off-leash or training session but around the house, his house, OH HELL NO! We have lots of bruising on our legs and arms where he tried to push off his muzzle.

The Flying Wedge

He loves squeaky toys. Small toys with squeakers that have not been surgically removed by one of our other dogs are endless fun. When getting out of his pen he grabs the nearest toy as he sprints ahead to the door for a pee break. Often the small edge of the wedge (his mouth) becomes the pivot point on the immovable toy he tries to grab as he sprints by, and around he goes. Without missing a beat he straightens up and is off again, sometimes with the toy, sometimes without.

His next vet appointment is September 16 and if all goes well he can get is first shots. Oh, did I not mention that he has never been vaccinated (typical for a rescue) so we had to isolate him for that too. Imagine being immunocompromised and then add meningitis. Yup, double whammy. But we have successfully raised puppies through Parvo, so this was a doddle.

Some things about Rico

• Rico does not want to go outside by himself. If you open a door he follows you or waits for you. He is happy to sit and wait for you too.

• He is polite but also small. He has been ‘bumped’ into the pond twice by our dogs as they try to get past him on the bridge.

• He was slow to be accepted by the pack. Now he plays with Nikki and Arwen but Marty is still a bit of an enigma (partly because Marty is still not too sure of him).

• Rico has no sense of body or where it is in space. So many time he has rolled off couches or chairs as his butt takes him back. Remember that wedge comment earlier, well I think the large end is a bit heavier. It’s hilarious in that we can see the fall coming and when it happens he just pops up, shakes it off and is happy as if nothing happened. Ready to go.

• He sits with his paws out 10 and 2 then pulls his head back slightly, upright the whole time. I think he would look good in a bow tie.

• Rico is quick and bunny hops over objects up to a foot tall. With a run he can leap onto a couch or bed. If he is not at speed though there is sudden stops as his legs don’t tuck under in time and his chest hits the object he is attempting to leap onto. Splat. He always gets up, shakes it off, and away again with no fear though.

• Rico loves small squeaky toys. Just now I looked down to see him on his back with a toy in his paws just playing. Squeak, squeak, squeak.

*we can’t just leave him to anyone, we need to take him into our house.