Friday, February 17, 2012

the mystery novel

She's young, but worldly and wise. She was scooped up by rural Louisiana deputies after some local boys were caught fighting their dogs. (News) She's completely comfortable around people and reads our signals, verbal prompts and body language like a book club junkie devours a new title. She gives fabulously loud and perfectly timed corrections to the rowdy pups who came to us from the same case. She's been caught kissing the adult barn dogs through the kennel walls and is nonplussed during close contact dog intros. She's seen some action - Both her cheeks and one shoulder show the tell-tale white flecked dents from old war wounds. She doesn't appear to have ever been bred. She was already spayed before her rescue and she's heart worm negative (both shocking discoveries to her LA rescuers). She has what looks to be fly strike on the tips of her ears. She's nearly house trained. She's thin and hungry. She's patient, thoughtful, and she knows how to sit politely and ask for permission. She's got some luck: She managed to avoid certain death more than once. She was embraced by an impossibly under resourced rescue group in the middle of nowhere, and just as one of our far, far away barn kennels was opening up. She even lucked into finding a problem-free ride straight from Louisiana to Oakland. The Big Easy.

She's some dog!

We're still waiting for her to tell us what her name is and have what seems like a hundred Creole-inspired possibilities typed up and shared around the group. Nothing's stuck yet but we look forward to knowing what to call her so she can officially start her next set of adventures in the land of the oaks.

11 comments:

  1. What a lovely girl. Your description of her reminds me to treat all dogs as individuals. Her past does not dictate who she is, and who she will be.

    Hope her name - whenever it arrives - is as peacefully powerful as she is.

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  2. Once more I am impressed by the lengths folks will go to assist a dog in need. All the way from the land of Spanish moss and soft gulf breezes... She's a beauty alright and she's one lucky dog to have landed in the BR Barn. All my best to you mystery girl.

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  3. Beautiful dog. Like other people here have said. She is one lucky dog to have ended up with you. I have no doubt within the next few days a perfect name for her will come to you.

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  4. What a sweet face. She looks relieved. Dogs know when they are safe. Thank you for taking her. Thank you for letting us see her journey.

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  5. Donna, I love your writing and storytelling. I'm always glad to read when law enforcement officers understand that the dogs are victims and try to help them. Blue Girl is gorgeous and will do everyone proud.

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  6. A Cajun inspiration would be simply "Cherie".

    Beautiful girl!

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  7. She's such a lovely girl - and a wonderful start to a beautiful novel! So brain-storming at work tonight after reading your blog - I came up with five names to throw into the pot - with a new start on the West coast 1) Berkeley, 2) Pearl, 3) Angelica, 4) Bella Bleu and 5) Myrtle - a bit old-fashioned (it was my Grandmother's middle name), but I loved one of the definitions I read - "a shrub or low tree with green shining leaves, snow-white flowers bordered with purple which emit a perfume more exquisite than that of a rose"! I imagine she is sweeter than a rose! Thank you for her and all the rest of them!

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  8. Just saw on your facebook page you named one of the sweet victims of cruelty in the dog fighting bust catfish. What a great name. Wonderful what you do to educate people about these dogs and how to be a great dog owner. Love it.

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  9. She's lovely. How about Jolie, a pretty French name for a pretty girl?

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  10. according to the internet, Desiree is a very popular creole girls name....

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Thanks for your comments, questions and feedback!