Saturday, September 10, 2011

dog days of summer


I do not believe in omens.  Just another bit of superstition as far as I am concerned.


Well, almost.


I came close to falling into the augury trap during my highlands trek.  While driving around Lake Zirahuén, I had the feeling it was going to be my next stop in this Mexican adventure.


It wasn’t the mountains -- or the forests -- or the azure lake itself.  Even though all of those were factors.


It was dogs.  Well, a type of dog.  Golden retrievers.  I saw two of them on my drive around the lake.  If relatives of Professor Jiggs could thrive there, so could I.


Of course, that simply disinterred The Dog Question.  Am I about ready for another golden retriever?


And I knew that answer.  It was easy.  If I had a golden retriever during the past two months, I would not have been spending time in San Miguel or Pátzcuaro.  Traveling with a big dog in Mexico is difficult.  Very difficult.


When I get another dog, that will be an omen certain that I have decided to garage the Escape and put down some roots.  But not today.


Instead, today (or yesterday) I became the keeper of a dog.  A house guest dog.

 
Tamara is one of those medium-sized bat-eared beaglish dogs that are quite common in Mexico.  Her Aztec roots may not be strong, but they are there.


She belonged to a family from Guadalajara who left her behind at the beach.  She has been in foster care for a bit.  On Friday, she was spayed, and needed to stay someplace where she would not be bothered by other animals.


My landlady knew who to ask.  I still have not divested myself of most of Jiggs’s dog paraphernalia.  So, Tamara showed up for a stay at the Professor Jiggs Spa.  Eating out of his bowls and enjoying a yard he never saw.

 
She moves on to her permanent home tomorrow.  And she will be ready.  I took her on a short walk around the laguna this afternoon.  Any after-effects of the anesthetic is gone.  She wants to get out there and strut her dog stuff.


And when she goes, I will stow the Jiggs kit until I decide it is time to rejoin the dog class once again.  Maybe at Lake Zirahuén.

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17 comments:

  1. McottonSeptember 10, 2011 at 6:19 PM

    I sat down at the computer and pulled up your blog.  My heart skipped a beat, there was Jiggs, full of life, ready to play.

    I am sure Jiggs wouldn't mind sharing his toys with Tamara. 

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  2. Steve CottonSeptember 10, 2011 at 7:06 PM

    This little dog would have run circles around Jiggs.  But he would have enjoyed the challenge.

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  3. Steve CottonSeptember 10, 2011 at 7:07 PM

    This little dog would have run circles around Jiggs. But he would have enjoyed the challenge.

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  4. tanchoSeptember 10, 2011 at 11:05 PM

    Once you settle down and figure out where your roots maybe, a dog would be a nice addition to you life again. I can't imagine being without ours....

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  5. Steve CottonSeptember 10, 2011 at 11:32 PM

    I have thought about living on the lake with a dog -- several times.

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  6. blogSeptember 11, 2011 at 8:41 AM

    I think you are wise to hold off on the 'new' dog issue. After losing a family member of the canine variety I acquired a replacement  relatively fast. It was a mistake. I was not ready. It takes time to make such an adjustment discounting your moving about issues.

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  7. Steve CottonSeptember 11, 2011 at 9:04 AM

    And there is no getting around the travel logistics issue.

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  8. Teresa FreeburnSeptember 11, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    she is a cutie. glad to hear she's found a permanent home. i'm enjoying my walks with my friend and her lab and feeding the cats whenever i can. i still haven't gotten used to the fact that i no longer have pets. i always feel like i need to close the door quickly so they won't escape.  wish i could bring home some of the kitties that are in bad shape and get them spayed, neutered and in good health. can't
    risk getting evicted though.

    have a great week!

    teresa

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  9. tanchoSeptember 11, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    Well there are a lot of bi-people, lake and beach is doable.....

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  10. Laurie MatherneSeptember 11, 2011 at 2:20 PM

    I want a dog soon. And another cat. I am like you in that I am not home much lately. Maybe after this next trip to the States, I will find a few pets. The little beaglish thingie is cute! 

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  11. cynthia & mikeSeptember 11, 2011 at 3:52 PM

    Hi Steve - we sooooo did not want another dog after life with Sitka.  Yet when the dire situation of Rock was put before us, how could we say no?  And then we got a cat, Squeak, to boot!  I love these 2 guys like I had picked them out as babies although that is so far from how they came to live with us.  Yeah, they're a pain in the butt sometimes, but so is Mike!  HAHA

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  12. Steve CottonSeptember 11, 2011 at 4:32 PM

    It is.  But doing the traveling I have been doing lately would not be possible with a big dog.

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  13. Steve CottonSeptember 11, 2011 at 4:33 PM

    Tamara is still here.  The adults at her new home were not around this afternoon.  She may end up spending another evening.

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  14. Steve CottonSeptember 11, 2011 at 4:33 PM

    She is cute.  And very alert.  She just chased the gardener away.

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  15. Steve CottonSeptember 11, 2011 at 4:34 PM

    One of these days I will get another dog, I suspect.  But this is not the time.

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  16. Kim GSeptember 11, 2011 at 9:18 PM

    What a pretty dog!  And I love that last picture with the tail wagging so fast it's blurred.

    Saludos,

    Kim G
    Boston, MA
    Where, despite growing up with dogs, we have two cats.

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  17. Steve CottonSeptember 11, 2011 at 9:31 PM

    You pinpointed my fovorite aspect of that photograph.

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