Nice Guys

Today we're getting a weather mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain that's significant enough in Kentucky to close schools, businesses, and cancel fun evenings like dinner with friends. Before all the excitement hit, I had a mission to complete. I left just as the sun was rising for a quick trip from Louisville to the Harrodsburg animal shelter and back.
Mac,the first Nice Guy, was waiting for me to pick him up at the shelter. Mac is a three year old red heeler who had been accepted at a cattle dog rescue place in Nashville, Tennessee. I'm familiar with blue heelers, but Mac was the first red I'd seen. What a great little dog he was--so study and utilitarian. And, amusing. He stood quietly in his cage for the hour and a half ride back to Louisville. I suppose he just wanted to be ready in case we should encounter any cattle who needed a heel nipping!
Mike, the other Nice Guy, was waiting for us in the Garden Ridge parking lot back in Louisville. He had agreed to drive Mac the additional three hours on to Nashville and his half-way house at the cattle rescue organization. I had never met Mike. We had e-mailed back and forth about pick up arrangements--for Mac--and potential weather difficulties. He was an ordinary kind of John Denver looking guy with round glasses and a laid back manner. His car was equipped with Mac necessaries and a sleeping bag in case they got stranded on the road. You can see from the photos above that Mac thought he was a Nice Guy too. The two of them
had a brief leg stretch and potty break before getting back on the road. . .

Chances are, I won't meet up with Mike again, but I was glad work with him--another person who loves dogs enough to make the extra effort to help them find a good home. Not a lot of fanfare, just one Nice Guy doing a good thing for another Nice Guy. I hope they enjoyed their drive together today.

Load O Pups

What better way to spend Valentine's Day than helping two sweet puppies spring the animal shelter and get on their way to finding a forever home? That's exactly what friend Kittyhawk and I did yesterday. We picked up Toby and Taz, two brother border collies, in central Kentucky and transported them to a "half-way house" in Ohio. These babies were part of a litter of seven that had been turned in to the Harrodsburg animal shelter. They are seven months old and had spent their entire lives at the shelter, waiting for a home. We were happy to load them up in the Dogmobile and get them off in a new direction.
Neither knew how to walk on a leash and were freaked out by snow covered ground. I actually don't know if they had ever been out of the dog run to even set foot on the ground. Their fears and behaviors further emphasized the need for people to volunteer at shelters to walk these dogs, play with them and socialize them so that they're more adoptable. For sure, I'm going to make time to do this.

The Border Boys were quiet--and smelly--on the three hour drive. When we stopped for gas I found out why. Both had gotten carsick. Now I'm new to dog transporting, but I had planned for all emergencies--newspapers, an apron coverup, spray cleaner, and--most importantly--air freshner! We were soon re-organized and on our way to Ohio.

We delivered them safely to their half-way house. The Blue Moon Catahoula and Big Dog Rescue group already has foster homes lined up while they find permanent homes. By spring I hope Taz and Toby will be able to run and play in their own yards as all dogs deserve.

Trip Bonus: I got to meet Bear, a full-grown Newfoundland! What a thrill to be greeted by 150 lbs. of friendly dog.