Romeo

Romeo has been living on the streets around here for about 9 months. He hangs around a neighbor’s house who has dogs in the front yard. He won’t let anyone touch him or get near him. He travels the neighborhood on his adventures, but his life is not easy. Recently he came up to me and allowed me to briefly touch him, and I then could see how bony he had become. I knew he had taken a risk with me out of desperation. He’s little but not cute or fluffy or young. He’s not social with people, and he’s rather dumb, or maybe just very scared. So I have been working with him and now he will follow me to the house to be fed, and occasionally shows up on his own. But no way will he allow me to get too close, or to get behind him. He would be welcome to stay here and have a better life, but I don’t think he ever will. So he can remain free and I will make sure he eats and leave a house outside for him to sleep in if he ever wants to. He’s a roaming Romeo, looking for the lady dogs. And he’s taken my heart. A Romeo will always break a woman’s heart. I couldn’t find him this afternoon and I literally had an emotional meltdown. Then, like the cad he is, he showed up for his meal and took off, giving back nothing. This relationship is already dysfunctional, LOL.

Thanks Sweetjane and Beady. Here’s an update you’ll appreciate. I peeked out the mail slot in my garage door to see if anyone was using the house I set up at the back edge of the driveway, and I saw something moving in there. But it wasn’t Romeo. It was a big gray cat I’ve been seeing around. I don’t know how I feel about that since I recently came home and found a pile of dove feathers in the front yard. I was upset but saw that the gap between the gate and fence was a little bit too large, and probably a cat had slipped inside – possibly this guy. So I wired a pole to the fence to narrow the gap and haven’t seen evidence of anymore carnage. I’ll make a deal with the cat. He can have the house if he will hunt rodents for me. I’m going to start posting more soon. Everything is so disorganized and I have multiple projects going on. I’ll still be checking in to see what all my friends are creating in the meantime.

Beady, your dog has an awesome smile. Chicky, I got a picture of Romeo this evening. He saw me coming home, even when took a the side street. He spotted me and came running for a 2nd meal tonight. There’s more to the story. He may be here soon. The people where he hangs out really don’t want him there but they think they can grab him for me. So I’ll try to get him home tomorrow if they are available to help. BUT, they are hoping I will also take his daughter – the last of the puppies for whom they haven’t found a home. Romeo keeps impregnating their dogs, which is why they have tried to shoo him away. I don’t know about the puppy. That’s a lot to handle, but it wouldn’t be the first time in my life that I had a somewhat ridiculous menagerie living with me. I’ll have to think about it.

Hey Chicky, I have been giving the matter a lot of thought, and I don’t think I can adopt the puppy too. Hopefully they can find a good home for her. She’s very cute and people generally want puppies more than older dogs. I’ll be taking on enough rescuing Romeo. I will have to have him neutered at some point. And I would have to have her spayed as well. It’s a big expense. Plus I will be 71 very soon and I intend to live into my 90s,based on other female relatives. But I would hate to have a dog that could potentially outlive me and have no one to care for them. I have 2 other dogs and this will be all I can really manage responsibly.

Well, I had hoped this was the day that Mr Romeo would move in, but I didn’t see the neighbors who might help. But he has been around for meals 3 times today! It’s just that it’s so very cold and he isn’t too smart. He showed up around noon, then I left to go do errands but he saw me and I had to turn around and feed him again before I finally got out of here. On the way back he was waiting to walk me home and partake in a 3rd meal! Really big meals at that. He is probably in need of fuel for the cold. His house is out there if he wants to use it. And since he will venture halfway into the garage, I put a bed and a space heater near his dish so he might notice it could be warmer if he’d stick around. All I can do is be patient and worry about the guy.

Thanks Crystal. I do have to be patient. He’s my guy, so no matter what happens he’ll be well fed. That may be all I can do right now.

Romeo is now home! Warming up on the electric blanket. It’s raining and cold and he was not coming out of the neighbor’s doorway where he was huddled. I literally had to crawl under a truck, go back home and get the food. Lure him to the house and into the garage while I slipped into the yard. Then close the garage door quickly. He growled a little but then went into the Oasis. I had to partially dismantle the garden fence, climb over, and rewire it closed. After that he accepted his fate and let me pick him up and bring him in. I predict a better life for him from now on.

Hiya Crystal and Beady. It was a busy day yesterday. We all hit the bed around 6:30. Tears keep coming to my eyes, which is kinda crazy because all is good now. Noodle Soup is indifferent to the new addition. Henri did a little nose bumping. I’m not sure what that’s about in the dog world, but it was brief. Everyone is getting along. I’m fine Beady. I just got pretty wet. It dipped down to freezing Wednesday night, and with the rain and not so much as a dog bed or blanket, this guy might not have lasted much longer, so I had to chance scaring him. He is wearing a sleeveless sweater of mine pinned on the fit. I’ll order him his own sweater today. He’s resting on one of the electric blankets and I already ordered a new one for us, so we have enough. I can’t stop crying. How stupid. He’s kind of itchy so I put some hot spot medicine on him. We’ll try to do a bath later. I’m quite amazed at how fast he is adjusting. He’s one tough little guy.