My Fire Hydrant

It’s 2 weeks today since Tyler and I first met in Phoenix. and I realize that I have not told Tyler’s story. 

Tyler has started advising me on canine matters and my job at Iams.

Tyler was found one morning in late April on busy street corner in Phoenix, Arizona. He was starving and nearly comatose. Some good Samaritans took him to the local shelter, where they discovered he had parvovirus. The folks at the shelter had very good intentions, but parvo meant that he would be euthanized. One of the shelter people called Small Paws Rescue–because Tyler was a Bichon, and they knew that Small Paws helped Bichons. The nice man who was the regional representative for Small Paws went right away to pick up Tyler and take him to a local veterinary clinic, where he was placed in isolation and given lots of meds and IV fluids to fight the parvo–all paid for by Small Paws. Tyler recovered.  

Forget work! Let's play!

I had put myself on the Small Paws puppy waiting list back in March. I knew when I did it that my puppy would find me. Around the time that Tyler was recovering from his ordeal, I was preparing for a business trip that would take me to San Francisco. Ten days before I was scheduled to leave, I got an email from Small Paws–a puppy was just about ready to be adopted. Did I want him? 

DUH! OF COURSE!! 

It was karma. Instead of flying straight home from San Francisco to Dayton, I rearranged things to make a side trip to Phoenix.  

Tyler’s very wonderful foster mama brought him to me at the Crown Plaza near the airport (an excellent hotel for traveling pets!) He was so tiny, and had a very bad haircut (I think because parvo is so messy and contagious). But I could see his potential in his sweet face. 

I was almost afraid his foster mama would keep him herself cause he had wormed his way into her heart! But she left him with me, and we spent the rest of the day getting to know each other and getting Tyler used to the bag he would need to fly in. 

The next day we flew home to Dayton by way of Atlanta. 

A well deserved snooze after a hard day on the job!

That was two weeks ago. Tyler has settled into our routine with all of the energy and excitement you would expect from a puppy. His antics lift our spirits and make us laugh. I think the thing that touches me the most is that he has bonded so well with my mom (we share the house).  And I find great joy in watching him charm her with his silliness!

The chewing menace

(Yes, that terrifying face to the left is my sweet Tyler.) Puppies chew things, this is a fact of life. Once I knew Tyler would be coming home with me, I realized I needed to do some puppy proofing. Because of Bailey, I felt confident that we already had a dog-safe environment. But I knew I needed to look again because Bailey was an older dog and trained to what she could and could not touch. Tyler would be interested in everything, and would want to explore his new world using all his senses—especially his sense of taste.

Things I looked at:

• Shoe storage
• Exposed electrical cables and extension cords
• Stuffed animals on the floor
• Puppy-available boxes of tissues or rolls of toilet paper
• Baby gates
• Plants 

Tyler is lovin' da chew!

I focused a good deal of my attention in the area of my office and my bedroom—two places I knew Tyler would spend most of his unsupervised time.

I’ve grown sloppy about where I leave my shoes. Where ever I take them off, that’s where they sit. Bailey hadn’t bothered my shoes for many years, but I knew Tyler would be different. So I set a new habit for myself. I cleaned out the bottom drawer of my dresser, and the shoes I wear most often now live here when they’re not on my feet.

Shoes in the Drawer

As I looked around I also realized that we’ve got several places in our house where there are exposed electrical cords.

Before: Loose Cables

I purchased some clear plastic boxes that fit underneath furniture, and that don’t look too obtrusive. The cables can all be bundled into the plastic box, and if needed, a small hole can be cut in the lid to let the cable through, leaving the bulk of the wires and cable unavailable to puppy teeth.

After: Cables in a Box

We had taken down some of our baby gates after Bailey left us. I put them back in place.

Babygate

I think it’s really worth the money to buy good baby gates. They’re stronger, and they look nice. For me, it was definitely worth making the gates permanent by attaching them to the doorways. We have one on each of our three bedrooms.

What is it about tissues and toilet paper that drives dogs wild? I know Bailey was not alone in her habit of grabbing a tissue and eating it whenever the opportunity presented itself. And you could not let that dog near a roll of toilet paper—she would decorate the house and then eat it all! Tissues and TP were not going to be an issue where Tyler was concerned because we never got out of the habit of keeping both out of doggie/puppy reach.

I had to move some stuffed toys to a higher level in my bedroom. And all of our houseplants were up on tables—so Tyler would not be able to chew on them.

Lastly, I got down on my hands and knees for a puppy-eyed view of stuff that might interest an inquisitive and energetic little pooch. Seemed like I had everything covered.

Wrong! I forgot our patio and terrace. So I’ve spent my weekend puppy proofing the garden.  

It started with the gate. I was doing some yard work last Sunday and Tyler watched me open the garden gate and go through it. That was all it took—he wanted to follow me and tried to go right between the slats of the fence. So a quick trip to the hardware center and I had some plastic ornamental garden fence which I attached (upside down) to the gate.

Tyler at the Gate

But now he knew how easy it would be to slip through the fence slats. So I spent this weekend puppy-proofing the fence.

The wild jungle we thought would hold Tyler back

I needed to clean out the weeds along the bottom of the fence anyway.

Adding the plastic fencing

To fix the fence so Tyler can’t squeeze through, I purchased some plastic fencing and some zip cords (like electricians use to bundle cables).

Attaching the plastic fence

Plastic fence

Now, Tyler can’t slip through. I think he’s annoyed.

Tyler can't get out!

My new little man is settling right into our daily routine, and every day he just gets cuter and cuter!

Tyler in bed

Look at that sweet face!

He such a big tease!

Such a sweet boy!

Sitting pretty!

He loves to look out the window in my office.

hello!

Something really interesting going on out there....

In the bed, under mom's desk.

Snooze City!

Less than 48 hours and already Tyler is settling into his new home. I did some catch-up yesterday at my desk, and even though the bed says “Bailey” Tyler had no problem using it!

Tyler relaxes under my desk.

Tyler on duty, ready to answer all your dog-related questions.

Bailey still holds her spot in my heart. But Tyler is making his own space there, too.

I think I’m going to have to break down and buy a new video camera. My Flip cam is just not as friendly as I want it to be, and the quality is not as good as what I can do with my cheap digital camera.

Here’s Tyler’s first Bichon blitz in his new home!

Happy Easter everyone! Or Happy Springtime if you prefer!

Bailey would have been very pleased with what we have accomplished for Small Paws Rescue this past month. Like all of those Hollywood awards ceremonies, I have a list of people I would like to thank for their contributions.

First and foremost is our good friend Romeo. Thank you Romeo, Puglsey, and all the staff for making Small Paws your March fundraiser. I love you guys!

A really huge THANK YOU must also go out to the company I work for P&G Pet Care. I found out on March 31 that my company will be sending a check to Small Paws for $1,000 in memory of Bailey!! I love you guys, too!

I also want to thank Romeo’s fundraising sponsors, Wellness and Feline Pine for their generous donations. And a big thanks to Romeo’s staff, who sell really cool Rescue Mom and Rescue Dad magnets!

Tuffy and Lil Joe--ADOPTED!

Next, I want to thank the following people who went to Romeo’s site and made a contribution:

Kim, Bunny Jean Cook, Christina Capadona-Schmitz, inezmj, Sanjee and Georgey, Jacky O, lyzzal, Gracie & Bob Canedo, Skeezix the Cat, James D. Wood, Mac’s Mom, Di & Howie Siegel, DaisyMae Maus & the Feline Americans, KaBooM, Lesley, Yvonne Ostby, Aunt Colleen and Zeus, Mandy Kelley, Ginger Geronimo, Rena (The Pet Wiki), Sue, Chris, Shelley, Amy, Julie, Jen, Marti, Cathy, Kim, Em

 Your generosity and kind words are greatly appreciated! 

Mr. B and Mugsy--ADOPTED!!

I also want to thank the bloggers and tweeters out there who helped us spread the word. I tried to keep track of who was posting what during the month of March, but I know this list is incomplete:

The Poodle (and Dog) Blog, Dog Show Poop, The Cat’s Meow,  DaisyMaeMause and the Feline Americans, Petside, The Fantail, Dogs and Dames, @TeenysFriends, @ThePetWiki, @FrugalDougal, @1SassyChick

Together, we raised over $2,400 for Small Paws Rescue.

Thank you all very much!