My neighborhood has an enormous number of dogs. A lot of folks around here like the idea of a dog, but have no clue what a dog is, how to care for it, or what to do with it. Consequently, there are stray dogs around. There are a lot of things that I will tolerate, but animal cruelty is the one thing that will bring out a side of me that you really do not want to experience.
The other morning, I was woken up to the heart rending sound of a dog crying out in pain. I flew out of the house and discovered a small puppy that had got his paw and wrist entangled in a piece of prickly pear cactus. The guy at the house the pup was at had no clue as to what to do. So I removed the spur and pulled the spines out. I had no intention of adopting anymore dogs. I have three and that was enough. I told the guy that I would check back in a couple of hours to see if the owner showed up. No soap. sigh….
I took the pup home, and put the word out that I had this pup. The backstory was that the dog followed one kid home, whose parent said no, who gave the dog to another kid whose parents said no, and so on. (discovered that I am known as the crazy white dog guy now) So I ended up with another dog.
Yesterday morning, Pecan had a large fast moving swelling on his paw and wrist. In Arizona, we have ticks, brown recluse and black widow spiders , all of which will kill dogs in a very short time. Packed up Pecan, and zipped to the vet. My vet is open 7 days a week.
700 bucks later, we have rehydrated, tested for the usual suspects, discovered this dog is about 8 weeks old, and will probably grow into a monster dog. This is Pecan. coat looks like a pecan shell.
His expression of gratitude? If you look close you can see the streak of urine by his right rear leg. Yep that is my thank you.