Riding in Cars with Dogs

"Is there any felicity in the world...superior to this?"

Marianne Dashwood, Sense and Sensibility

I am listening to the audio book Sense and Sensibility on my iPod, and this phrase came to mind when I uploaded this picture of Emma and Tara in the car today.

Emma had a regularly scheduled checkup at the vet this evening, and Tara came along for the ride. Tara has been limping a little bit lately, but mostly we brought her because there was no way we could leave her all alone in an empty house. They are both in good health (thank God) and, other than getting her booster shots (Emma) and having a thermometer shoved up her butt (Tara), a good time was had by all. The girls are still looking around and wondering where Mellie is, and I wish I could explain it to them. Then again maybe not. Which is worse...hoping for her return, or knowing that she is not coming back...

What a difference a week can make. Last Thursday night we were sitting in the same waiting room with Sweet Mellie, knowing she had just a few days, perhaps hours, left to live, and we couldn't stop crying. Tonight, everyone in the waiting room was laughing so hard, we were practically crying again.

This man brought in his Vizsla (beautiful dog) for an emergency appointment. No, that's not funny. It seems she got a toenail on one of her back legs caught in something and ripped it off - blood all over the floor. Again, not funny. The man was big and muscle-y and had a shaved head, and was giving the poor girl commands in German and jerking on her choke-chain if she would so much as wiggle out of her sit-stay position. Really, really not funny. If you are laughing, kindly leave this blog space. They took her back, and Dr. M. fixed her up (wonderful man, have I mentioned how much I love this man?). They brought her back into the waiting room with this big wad of gauze & tape on her foot. She was dancing and prancing around and shaking that foot like nobody's business. She would hop, shake, and then stick it straight out in back of her like she was pointing game, only in reverse. It was the funniest thing--everyone was in hysterics. Her owner was so embarrassed, but didn't dare correct her with all eyes on him and his silly dancing dog. Hard to be tough and macho when your dog is acting like she is auditioning for the circus!

I'm off to knit some squares on the blanket. Pictures and a full report tomorrow...or the next day...