Y'all, look who's home. I am so relieved! The one mailbox we didn't put a flyer in because it was pretty far off our street has been caring for Rose for the last week and a half. We got a call today; a good Samaritan saw my post on the Talladega Animal Control page.
She seems fine - just a bit thin. We can handle that. Her ID is on and Shaun is securing the fence as I type!
I haven't said much about my life in a bit... for the most part because it's been uneventful (which is a nice change of pace). I'm calm and relaxed on a deep level which is something I haven't experienced in at least 10+ years. Me and Shaun are fortunate to be able to do life at our own pace for now; some days we get a whole lot done, some days we rest, some days we play and enjoy each others company. I have to admit that I'm really enjoying it. After 5 years of school and me putting everyone and everything 2nd it's been really wonderful to reconnect with him as a couple. I feel like I love him more every day and I don't even know how that's possible.
We're almost done with things around the house in Talladega; we're about to turn our focus to the house in Anniston so we can get it on the market. It really doesn't need much work so hopefully we can get it listed by March. The kids are doing a great job with keeping it tidy and safe. We will turn in the keys to their apartment tomorrow so that will be a thing that's officially done. I'm grateful for every bit we check off of our to-do list.
Speaking of things to do - I'm about to start studying for my CSA. It's something that I've been putting off for while... well - due to school and then due to house stuff, but my deadline will be here soon so it's time to get on that. My brain has had a nice break so I can definitely handle it. After that I suppose I'll update my resume one last time and then put it out there into the world and start looking for a job. I have a good idea of what I want to do so hopefully that will work out. If not, I'm sure I'll be good for something after all of this schooling. 😂😂😂
Anyway, we never heard anything on Rose. I honestly think someone scooped her up and is HOPEFULLY taking great care of her. Cubba now has a doggie door to the sun room and only leaves the yard for play dates; he still climbs the fence to get out but now that he has a couch to come home to he's also started climbing back in. I knew he could do it. 😂😂😂 He's getting pretty spoiled and likes to go in the car with us anywhere he can. He's a good boy, though. Always has been. He was easy to house train and still remembers his sit / shake / down from before my mental health got bad. He hasn't had any accidents indoors but has chewed a few of my things (thankfully nothing harmful or major), so that is going ok. I haven't really let myself be close to another dog since I lost Booka, but maybe it's time. Seems like we both have a void to fill.
Well, that's all I've got for now. I hope you all are doing well. I am and I'm cherishing every minute of it. ❤
Shaun and I were out and about today then decided to have an impromptu car date. We curbside picked up some tasty food and ate it parked here with this view of the sunset. Then my car stopped working and the kids had to rescue us. It was cold while waiting for them, but still it was a good day and we are lucky that Shadow and Kira are so awesome. ❤️
Funny side note: My car has been scheduled for maintenance tomorrow since last week. I cleaned it out this morning in preparation for that - including the jumper cables that would have saved the kids a trip. 😂😂😂 I guess that's just how it goes sometimes. 🙃
Y'all, these animals are doing the most right now.
We still haven't found Rose and at this point I have to assume that she's been taken or killed because we've found no sign of her. She's very pretty and I'm choosing to hope for the best which is that someone picked her up and is taking good care of her. If she turns back up I will be happy, but we searched for 3 days on foot and by car, put flyers in all of the mailboxes in the area, and I posted her online and contacted the shelters, all to no avail. There has been no trace of her since 10 am on the morning she vanished. If she was still around I think we'd have heard something by now.
Cubba has seemed lonely but is doing ok. Since he gets out of the fence he's made friends with the neighborhood dogs so there's that. One of the neighbors I contacted while searching for Rose said that Cubba comes into his house and eats his dog food. 😂😂😂 Thankfully he wasn't mad, but I swear we feed him. Anyway, Cubba did push past Shaun into the house the other day so we decided that since I'd trained him before that we'll give him access to the sun room, at least. We ordered a doggie door for him. It arrived today with a funny story so here you go:
Shaun gets notifications on his phone when the security cameras detect movement. I heard him absolutely cracking up and asked him what was going on. He showed me video from our camera of our mail lady delivering Cubba's doggie door. Cubba walked up to her, tail wagging, but she didn't see him until she turned around. I guess he startled her because she used the doggie door as a shield and then hopped in the back of our truck. Cubba barked (I assume she startled him back) and then went to investigate her car. She got down and finished the delivery. While she was busy Cubba got in her car and took her pizza that I assume she'd brought for lunch.
Y'all, the video is hilarious but I'm not trying to embarrass this lady. If we somehow get in touch with her and she says it's ok to post I definitely will. We might need to send it in to AFV or something. I feel so bad but I laughed until my stomach hurt. I called the post office and got her name and they said she would be back tomorrow so we're going to leave her a card / note and some money because we at least owe her lunch. If anyone knows a woman named Phoenix who is a mail carrier in Talladega please have her get in touch with me because I am so sorry about all of this. If Shaun had seen the notification in time he would have gone out there and at least kept Cubba from stealing on her. I promise he is friendly and fed - he's just too smart for his own good!
The universe is kicking us when we're down. The pups new tags arrived today - the day after Rose went missing. I bought this style so it wouldn't be easy for them to snatch off while playing. I had tags like this for each member of my now-deceased pack and I loved them. These tags never came off or made any noise. They are etched deep and were still readable after years of wear and tear.
Me, Shaun, and Cubba just got in from distributing around 75 flyers into mailboxes (I don't even know if that's legal, but eh - I do crimes for animals. I need that on a shirt). While we were out we looked for her and called for her with no luck. I posted her to 2 lost pet websites before we left. I'm about to see if there are any shelters or rescues in the area that she may have been taken to. Aside from that I'm at a loss for what to do. 🙁
I know that I wasn't the best pet parent to her and that hurts. I was in survival mode with my mental health and school; honestly, no one has gotten the best from me in a couple of years and I hate that. But since I graduated and moved things have been a lot better. We brought the dogs here - into a yard with a lot more space. We bought them toys and treats and were spending time with them. We played with them and were socializing with Rose. She'd learned to fetch and seemed to like that a lot. When I CAN do better I do it. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that this timing STINKS. She went missing as things were improving and we were trying to form a closer relationship with her. I really hope our spazzy little Rose makes it home so we can continue working towards giving her the life all dogs deserve. 💔
