Rip Torn

Isaac has had many adventures in his short life. He has finally gone to the beach. He’s gone through training class and received his CGC title. (Canine Good Citizenship) He survived the construction and remodeling at our house. He’s made a lot of car-trips to San Antonio and other day-trips that we take early in the early mornings. He discovered the Civil War memorial out at Spring Creek Park in Tomball – just a stone’s throw from home. He loves adventure and is always ready for fun.

It’s not always fun for him though. He had to have surgery on his head when he was just a baby – about 12 months old. He had a birth-mark on the top of his head when he was born. We all believed it was “Xena’s Kiss” so that we would recognize a little brother for Mercy. We knew exactly who to choose the day we went to Louisiana to pick him out of the litter.

Isaac’s little “Xena Kiss”

You almost can’t see it, but it is there on the very top of his head

The birthmark turned out to be a benign mastoma that grew into a mushroom on his head. We didn’t mind it. That’s how God made him and he was perfect for us. Problem is, he kept opening it when he wrestled with Mercy or the other many friends he made at day camp. It would bleed and scab and reopen again so we had it removed.

The little kiss that turned into a “shroom”

He was a real trooper through the surgery and the healing, except that he opened all his stitches in one second when he rubbed his head on the mat in front of the door after supper one night. I get it. I have had lots of surgeries on my legs, and stitches just plain itch. There is nothing you wouldn’t do to get rid of that itch.

So I bandaged him up best I could and traipsed him off to Dr. Rocky.

The verdict: Isaac needed to get re-stitched. Fourteen more days of the cone of shame.

But he got over that and is as handsome as ever.

And back in Daddy’s arms. Nighty-Night!

Well, Isaac had another go-round at the vet. We had him and Mercy at day camp one Saturday so that we could catch up on the painting and the detail work that still plagued us after the renovation. The pups have been so good through all the noise and dust and banging. During the renovation, we would get them to play camp at least once a week so that they could blow their steam off. We all need an outlet.

We were just cleaning off our paint brushes that Saturday when we got the call.

Isaac would be ok, but he was at the vet. He had a big “owie,” but the vet said she could stitch him up.

WHAT????

Another camper apparently did not like Isaac.

It took seven staff members to pull them apart.

The other dog missed Isaac’s jugular by 1/2 inch.

Mercy was in another play area and did not see it.

Good thing, or you would have had three dogs on your hands.

Paint brushes forgotten in the sink. Paint cans left open. Roller slapped against a half-painted wall, sticking to thick lines that dribble down the old paint. Ratty work clothes, splotched with drops of “Cottage Cream.”

Mismatched flip-flops. Keys jangling. Rush to the vet. Seat-belt signal dinging all the way down the block until it wears itself out.

Where is our boy?

She’s just sedated him. You can come back in an hour.

No. We’ll see him now.

Weak. Dazed. Shaky. Confused. Hazy eyes stare back out of the sedation. Mouth too swollen to let punctured tongue lick lips. Nerves too dead to wag the tail. Eyes close in drugged resignation.

Hands holding tight. Waiting.

Sixty-five pounds feel like six thousand carrying him back to the car. Mercy darts her eyes from Isaac to Mom to Dad. She’s not used to sitting in the front seat. Back home we make him a soft bed. Singing his favorite Cajun lullaby. Sleep, baby.

Four weeks later, his wounds have healed. Fresh, pink skin over ravaged flesh. Tender pink masking the purple carnage just under the skin.

… and so Isaac got better. He only has a slight trace of the incident, tough pink skin under a swirl of fur on his neck. You would never know anything happened unless you  looked for it.

Stay tuned though… because a little brother for Isaac and Mercy is coming soon…….

 

And Laughter Will Be Called Issac

Mercy was alone for a while. Even though we missed Xena so much, it was hard to think about getting another Boxer. How could we replace her?

We knew we couldn’t, and we didn’t want to. We just wanted to fill that hole in our heart. Would it ever get filled up?

We searched the internet, but we were so gun-shy because of our experience  with Mercy. We were very sure we would never again buy another Boxer unless we could meet the person first, see the the dame and the sire, and tour the facility. We were going to make damn sure that the puppies and the parents were clean, healthy, well fed and well-raised. We also wanted to know that the people involved were not just trying to turn a buck on the labor and ill-treatment of the dogs

How could we ever be sure again?

We put a note out to the American Boxer Club and to the AKC saying that we were looking for a Flashy Fawn Female puppy. We were willing to travel the country to find our girl.

Nothing.

Weeks, and nothing.

Then an email popped in from a lady in Louisiana. She got our notice through the clubs. She had a 2 year-old classic fawn male needing a home. She also had a female who might be pregnant, if we wanted to wait it out. She would be in Houston for a dog show if we wanted to meet up. She provided her phone number making it clear that she was very picky about who she sells her dogs to. For her it was all about the dog and the homes they go to. She raises champion show and agility dogs, and wants to know her dogs will be in good hand, even if they are going to pet homes, and not ‘show’ homes.

Yep. We heard that before.

Well, we met with Barbara, and that was the beginning of a wonderful friendship and a joy-filled relationship with our boy Isaac.

We went out to her place in Lacombe a few times. My heart was set on a flashy fawn female, but no go.

Isaac and Mercy fell in love with each other

… and so he came home with us and had his first bath, like our other Boxers did.

… and got his snuggle with daddy

a little bit of sunshine.

…and then a snooze in his own bed

This little spud…..

comes from champion stock,

but because he is white, he cannot compete.But I don’t think that bothers him in the least. He is having too much fun keeping us amused with his antics

and playing with big sister Mercy.

Soon, it was his birthday. Isaac was one year old. He got to wear party beads, and a hat and he got to eat a nice plate of beef stew. Big sister was there to celebrate too.

.. and he went shopping with daddy and got a Jolly Ball for his birthday!!

 Stay Tuned!

Isaac has surgery

and another birthday!!