Home on the Range

Or, Return of the Oliver

Well, this ain't Kansas*, and he surely isn't Toto (a quick play on The Wizard of Oz -- you know, Kansas and all), but we're happy to report that Ollie came back home today. More precisely, Beata and I went to pick him up from Beltway Animal Hospital and bring him back home to glorious Dundalk (Ahhhhh, Sighs, Feelings of Calm and Relaxation, Happiness, Maybe Even Some Fireworks for Excitement). How lucky can a puppy be?

Anyway, his procedure went very well, and he was awake and recovering yesterday afternoon when we called the Vet for an update. We're so happy to have Beltway and the quality doctors and staff at the facility. It's a great feeling to know that we can leave Oliver with them with confidence that, not only will the work be done correctly, he will be treated as if he is one of their family. They care more about the pet care they give than about the dollars they can extract from you, which is not the case everywhere.

We wanted to go to the beach for the weekend, especially since it is our 11th wedding anniversary, but this was a perfect time to get this done, and we're happy to stay home to make sure that Ollie gets the calm, compassionate care he needs this weekend. Plus the PetSmart class was cancelled for Sunday because the instructor had to go out of town for the weekend, so we won't have to miss a session while Oliver recovers.

Maybe he'll even be willing to let me get a little closer to him this weekend since he won't be feeling a hundred percent. It's worth a try anyway. I should note that he did allow me to put his collar on at the Vet and walk him to the car, where Beata was anxiously waiting for him and soon all of his dreams came true. I'm not sure if she wanted us to bond a little or if she just wanted me to take car of the bill. Anyway, when it comes to my interactions with Ollie, I MUST BREAK HIM......I mean, eventually he'll come around :)

I'll try to report on his progress over the next few days as his recovery continues.

On a good note, I was able to spend the last few days prior to this working with him as the instructor advised. He has shown that he is willing, on a sort of "mood" basis, to let me get a little closer to him. He's even been eating his meals directly from my hand without running away after each nibble. Wednesday he let me pet him under his chin while he ate my hand....I mean from my hand.

I'll try to keep everyone posted on that progress as well.

Thanks, and here's to you, and you, and you. And whoever else might be out there in the vast wonderland know as the universe, taking a short break from daily activity to read what I write, right?

-Mike

*Home on the Range is the State Song of Kansas