Over Christmas break, my daughter found a neglected 6 pound scrap of elderly Pomeranian wandering outside our neighborhood in the dead of night. His collar had to be cut out of (color indeterminate) matted dreadlocks, his toenails were so long they looked like curling Indian slippers, and something was VERY wrong with his hind legs so that he listed and bobbled like a sailor under the influence as he attempted to gambol in the kitchen. We were all afraid to touch him in case we caught something.
I was smitten. So was the Hubby, though he made gruff manly noises.
We did the right thing, and after a disruptive night (with our other dogs freaking out) we took him to the Humane Society.
The first thing they did was shave him, leaving a bit of fluff around his head so he looked like a tiny lion, or a hermit crab removed from its shell. He was examined, medicated, wormed, neutered and doctored, and after a week (during which the neglectful owners never called) the Humane Society pronounced him ready to adopt.
That’s how we got a third dog. Yes, I know, I need my head examined, and me a shrink.
He has some health issues: a heart condition (due to unkempt teeth that had rotted and affected his heart) is missing a half-dozen aforementioned teeth, and has spontaneously collapsing knees.
“Spontaneous what?” I asked.
“Spontaneously dislocating knees. Because of inbreeding, this type of dog often develops them. There is no cure.” The vet looked worried I was going to renege on my adoption after this litany and produced a waiver documenting the problems. “You have been informed.”
I took a deep breath and signed.
I brought home my new project, and my daughter, who’d already left for college, named him Pono. Pono means ‘righteous’ or “do the right thing.” Pono is also Lei’s trusty partner in my novels, a two-fer, and I love two-fers.
(My son thinks Xerxes suits him better, and continues to call him that. He says a majestic name can compensate for a lot. I disagree)
Why did I do such a ridiculous thing, with the hours I work and two other dogs?
Because. Just because.
Maybe I’m atoning for something—people who would breed a dog until it’s nearly unable to survive to get “desirable” traits, like fluffy fur and bulgy eyes. Maybe I’m atoning for people who would spend money on a dog like this and then neglect him to within an inch of his life.
Mostly, though, I adopted him because he grabbed onto my heart with his tiny, mostly missing teeth and wouldn’t let go. In spite of his handicaps, he frolics with joy until he falls over on collapsible joints. He’s a survivor, and he sits calmly on my lap, fragile heart fluttering while I write, wheezing with happiness just to be there. He’s the perverted result of man’s manipulations, and gruesomely, utterly adorable.
The mug is there so you can see how small he is. Also, shaved body is hidden.
I’ll enjoy having him as long as he lasts, that’s the deal I’ve made with myself—though I can’t promise I won’t add a few more tears to my tear bottle when the silly little guy expires, hopefully much later than sooner.
Now that the kids have grown up and left, the empty nest has been filled with ‘ankle snapper’ dogs. Be warned, it could happen to you.
Bahaha he is so cute. I am glad you guys took him in, the poor stupid little thing.
Pono says thank you for rescuing him. *pant pant wheeze*
Oh, the poor baby. I’m so glad he found a good home with you. But not as glad as I’m sure he is. Give him a hug for me!
Definitely! Thanks for commenting!
He is a cutie (I say grudgingly, as I only like dogs bigger than a Labrador, and I also have a personal grudge against Poms).
Trust a man to think a majestic name compensates for anything! 😀
I think it’s wonderful you could open your heart to another dog. I can see my house overrun by cats when my kids move out.
It would have been cats, undoubtedly. But then I became allergic. SO SAD.
He’s lovely and you’re lovely for taking him in. It’s that mothering instinct! I found myself adopting two goldfish that had been left on a doorstep (in water, you’ll be glad to know!) and I have NO affinity to fish whatsoever. And there was the crow-pecked pigeon, the lost baby Goldfinch wandering outside the off-license, the wobbly field mouse that appeared to have lost its nest, and so on and so forth….
What did you do with the field mouse???
Pono yes, Xerxes no.
LOL! Amen to that.
Blub. How can people do those things to an animal they undoubtedly paid big money for? And I’m with you on the dog breeders. It’s wrong, wrong, wrong.
My lurid imagination (you understand that right, Greta?) invented a whole story of how he belonged to some old lady who fell on hard times, became bedridden, and the caregivers tied him up outside without caring for him… course all in my head but potentially plausible!
Your wonderful for doing that and you are going to be blessed with much love from him.
My kids brought home a black, sad, tangle of dread locks from the humane society only because my son in law thought for sure he would not be wanted by anyone and be put down. The people at the society thought he might be a Polish Lowland Sheepdog but it was hard to tell because we had to shave his fur down so there was no way of telling what he was.
After his fur grew out and he was fluffy and shiny I looked up a photo of what this type of sheep dog looked like and sure enough, he was a replica of a rare breed. He is a wonderful addition to our household and I am so glad we have him. I can only say take the chance on an abandoned dog you’ll never regret it.
So glad you have a furry love hound!
My only worry is he’ll *gack* after I’ve already fallen in love with him, after costing us a fortune in vet bills!. He’s still coughing from the “kennel cough” he got at the pound after a round of antibiotics. Oh well, everything is a risk, right?
He looks lovely. You were right to take him in. Didn’t know the meaning of ‘pono’. That’s interesting. There’s a brand of ukulele called Pono, and I’m hoping to purchase one.
Oh, get it! Thanks for stopping by!