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Went Home 3/21/11

Popcorn pops home!

On 3/20 little Popcorn had his first meet with a young family and their little boy.

Popcorn, the peaceful, looks calmly content with his new little boy patting his head. 

Knew this lil man wouldn't "last long" and sure enough he's going going gone. 

Very happy since he is so calm and quiet yet playful, i bet he'll make a great match for this family. 

Congrats Popcorn!

Popcorn in the car!

Look at those eyes! Could you say "no" to those?

Today, before Paul's Dog training class, I had the opportunity to transport this little handsome guy.

Part lab, part great Pyrenees, little popcorn was an absolute angel. He started in the carrier and was doing fine, but his occasional mournful whine, his inability to get comfortable, and his adorable eyes (plus Amy said he would ride well in my lap) made me decide to pull over somewhere and move him up onto my lap on a towel.


It was just as I had decided we should pull over to get readjusted that I saw something on the right hand side of the road.... moving...

 Meet George! 

George - the cranky Florida soft-shell turtle (representation, not actual George)

George decide he wanted to take a BIG gamble today. 

He wanted to cross the road! All 4 lanes of it! With cars coming on at about 50 mph. 

George had decided to become part of a lovely statistic stating that only 2% of turtles who decide to take on the suicidal task of crossing the road ever make it to the other side. He was currently 5 feet from the curb. GREAT!

I looked back at Popcorn, "what do you think?"

Popcorn wiggled. It was decided. Blinker on, car over, windows down. Now I needed a plan... why? GEORGE IS HUGE! 

He was about the same size as the turtle shown right (also a soft-shell) but George had two large scrapes in his shell. Had this crazy turtle tried this before!? God why would he tempt fate TWICE!

I tried walking in front of him. He stared. I tried shooing him and stomping to scare him back. He stared. I jingled my keys at him. ... He stared, then squinted at me as if to say "move woman..."

Then George surprised me. He jumped toward the road. Not walked or trotted, leaned back, and leaped into the air, landing a few inches forward with a loud thud. He really was crazy!

Here is someone else's proof that they do jump!

New plan. Went back to the car, Got a large beach towel, threw it over him (waited for him to stop leaping like a fool), and grabbed him in the towel (hands far from mouth and toes). I quickly carried him back across the lawn and put him as far from the road as I could (he was hissing the whole time).

I returned to the car, George staring, pissed, and was greeted by Popcorn's smiling mug. He got up on my lap on a towel and cruised happily there for the next hour. 

When he began to get wiggly I took the hint and pulled over at Burger King. On the way in he learned how to honk the horn! Sorry pedestrians!

I put the leash on him, plopped him on the grass, and he promptly peed an ocean. Such a good boy to notify me. Then we heard a loud "Aw-Ah!~"

Popcorn looked at me like "DUDE WHAT WAS THAT!?"

Then we saw this (actual picture!) A very loud male peacock and his harem of 3 ladies. Popcorn looked at him, cautiously gave a slow half wag, then looked at me like "ok we saw him, you took a pic, can we get away from that loud turkey now?"

I think this trip has included the most wildlife I've seen in a while. Popcorn was great and did well socializing like a big boy at Paul's class. What and adventure.

Saturday Search Party

At 9 AM today many great people met up to venture through the streets and through the woods, searching for dear sweet Indigo, who has been missing since Monday (3/7/11). Armed with 300+ fliers, slip leads, treats, maps, bug spray, and the offer of a reward.

David and Liz have been amazingly organized and handed out maps with his last known location, possible location, and houses to canvas clearly marked. I joined David's crew of 4 to march through the woods that Indigo was last seen headed into, behind the vet.

The woods were dense, the ground was soft, and in places water and "black mud" (which seems stable until you bear weight on it and it promptly eats a good portion of your leg, sometimes to the hip) made it nearly impossible to get through. I think it has been well over 10 years since I climbed through the woods like that. Walking along felled trees, jumping from stump to root hump (falling off the root hump into a mud puddle butt first {doh!}) and snapping several small trees to make flexible bridges over the black mud.

It took me over an hour to make it through about 2000 ft of woods with the aid of one big study stick which was taller than me (on the street this takes 10 min tops). I was glad I was smart enough to put the cell phone in my pocket in a plastic zip-lock just incase it took a tumble in the swamp, my map was not so lucky. >.>

I was alone... had the others not made it through yet? I'd found paw prints on both sides of the swamp and decided to let Liz known. I looked at my cell only to see a missed call from Liz. I called back and was told that not 10 minutes ago someone had seen Indigo! I began to hurry back to the vet, this time on the street when I heard a car horn. David was driving down the road, pulled on to the grass and I ran after hurling my stick back into the woods, and hopped in. Anyone driving by must have thought I was crazy.

We flew down to the neighborhood where he was sighted, 1.5 miles from his escape location. We had all expected him to stay in the woods near by, not hike, but he did. While we were still on the way there, there was a second report of a sighting. Everyone was in the woods this time, it was lucky the woods weren't quite as horrible. David and I trekked in, then down an 7 ft bank, across the stream, and back up an equally steep hill. Over the next few hours we could hear his tag, his paws, but we couldn't get close. It was frustrating and by 2pm the sounds had faded. He was back in hiding, and in these woods, there are far too many hiding places.

We returned to the Wendy's parking lot and reevaluated. We were sore, torn up, wet, muddy and hot, but we'd made great progress.
1. We'd found two people who had seen Indigo, alive and well today.
2. We'd narrowed down his location and now knew how to return.
3. We'd papered the neighborhoods on both sides and had plenty of eyes joining us on the hunt for him.

We were out of moves, and out of energy, and we came to realize, that the best thing for today, was to let Indigo calm down, and hopefully venture back to the neighborhoods. There were sad faces all around and a few tears. We wanted today to be the day. I tried to comfort Liz and David and told them:

 Indigo is just playing "Indiana Jones" a bit longer, and that he isn't quite ready to end his great adventure yet. We are NOT giving up, we are regrouping, and giving him time to calm down. Tomorrow is another day, and Indigo is ok right now. He isn't straying far from the woods, He's avoided major roads, and he is smart enough to stay away from anything that could harm him, people, animals, etc (as he proved all day). He'll be alright.

It was hard to split up, harder to walk back to the cars. When I got home I pulled off the murky shoes and pulled the splinters and thorns from my hands. After getting cleaned up I checked the Facebook... Another sighting! Now two more! Our plan is working. A treat trail has been laid into the yard of a helpful neighbor and should he go in she'll lock him in and call. Hopefully we'll also be able to get a trap in the woods soon (he's so shy it may be the only way we can contain him).

He's not home yet, but we are miles closer to the great reunion! 

Please Pray for David and Liz and all those who are searching for dear Indigo. 

Come home little one, we're ready for you!

Indigo's Grand Adventure

Bye Bye Buddy! Welcome home!

Matt, Buddy, and Russ

Buddy is on the road again, but this time it isn't with me!

Buddy's final trip was to Jacksonville, where he will be staying with Russ and Matt, his new people. So glad this sweet little guy is home!

Home! 3/11/11

Buddy on Board (Again!)

Well this morning I got to see Buddy again.

Found the car!

Nothing can dampen his little spirit!

It took him just a second to recognize me when we met again at the vet, but only a hot second to pick my car out of the 3 in the parking lot! He lead me right to it.

It seems he made plenty of friends while at the vet because just about everyone said bye to him and mentioned how kind, loving, and adorable he was.

They gave me his meds, his paper work and last but not least... his blue "collar of shame" (aka the petunia).

Buddy rocks his blue "collar of shame" (aka the petunia!)

Buddy tolerated it pretty well, especially since most dogs promptly throw their paws over their head or go into a death spiral. Buddy gave it one try to take it off then sighed and returned to walking with me to the front.


Our trip was (almost!) pretty uneventful. It took me a moment to figure out just how to lift him into the car to avoid hurting his little leg (which is looking good, all things considered) but once I figured it out he just held still and let me lift him up. 
Getting into the carrier was a little tough until (that stupid transporter) I figured out he couldn't see the cage he was walking into, and thus was a bit frightened. I think I would be too. We flipped his Petunia backward and he hopped right in. He was not thrilled when I flipped it back to the "full and upright position" but minus backing away, put up very little fight.

Hi!!  Hi Hi- oop, I fell over cause I had happy butt!

About halfway through our trip we had to pull over to flip his Petunia again since the wind had blown it back along with his fur. He pouted when I returned it to the upright position.

At Jesse's we did another photo-shoot and then Jesse arrived (we just barely beat him home). Buddy was so sweet and was so happy to see Jesse again. His tail was flying and his satelight was turning in every dirrection looking for signal!

We walked toward the front door which had 3 steps. Buddy had tried to beat me to the car so he could jump (about 2 feet) up so I was surprised when he stopped at the front steps and hesitated. I tried to get him to walk inside... no dice.

I stared at him a minute. What was the problem?? Then the issued became pretty clear... The stupid Petunia was just big enough to completely hide the location of the first step from him. Buddy was trying to look down, but every time he did the Petunia got in the way. 

You want me to do... what???

I felt like a heel for even asking a dog with 3 good legs and a blindfold to take a leap of faith and was just about to bend down to get him when Buddy surprised me. He looked at me, looked at Jesse, did a little double step and hoisted himself up onto the first step. From there instinct took over and in a split second he was standing triumphantly at the top of the steps, a look of joy and accomplishment on his face. Sometimes they just surprise you.

Victory Face!

Who would have thought the shy little Buddy I first met (afraid of being abandoned or abused who hunkered down when you first tried to pet him) would be the one to face a fear head on by his own free will and come out wagging all over. Then I realize, he is not quite the same little Buddy I first met. 

His confidence has boomed despite injury.

His need to bond has blossomed despite being shuffled from foster to vet and back. 

He has become interested in making friends, not afraid of it. 

Buddy has found what he lost while he was tied to a park bench alone, Hope.

Buddy is hopeful that you will want to meet him. He hopes his wiggle will make you smile. 

He hopes he can run very soon (probably sooner then he will be able to, sorry lil guy). 

But most of all, he hopes to be loved and hopes his next transport will be his last. 

He hopes his forever family is coming soon.

Love you Buddy. Your hope is enough to make me cry.

But always happy tears, because I know it will happen soon!

Buddy, Ever Hopeful!

Buddy Video!!!