Lady Belle - Adventures of a Blind Doodle #2

[Thomas, Chari, & Lady Belle]

Hello, Lady Belle Here, 

In my first post I filled you in on my first 2 ½ years – Life with a family, going blind, being turned in to a shelter, adoption 1 for 90 days, back to a shelter, then being rescued by my foster mom, Melissa.  I ended the post with a statement that my life was about to change again.

About this name thing. First I was called Bell-a. Then Melissa called me Belle. In my new home they are calling me Lady Belle. That’s OK. I am a lady. Besides they can call me whatever they want as long as they don’t forget to ring the dinner bell. I know, “bad pun."

My last two days have been very eventful. Saturday, July 17, started out like any other normal day. I woke up when I heard Melissa stirring. Then I hung with the pack in the morning after a quick walk.  Melissa went off and did her mobile vet thing.

Around 2:00 these two people showed up. Unlike other visitors, they wanted to only visit with me. The man had treats in his pocket, Orijen dried beef. Now there’s a good treat!  He asked me to sit.  Who wouldn’t sit when treats are being handed out?   We wrestled on the floor a bit.  He’s fun to wrestle with. They talked with Melissa about me quite a bit. Then it was out to the yard. Melissa put me on the retractable lead and showed them how she uses the lead to allow me to roam and get some exercise. 

Then they wanted to take me for a ride. How cool is that? I almost never get to go on rides. I had a bit of trouble getting in the truck as the rear seat is way off the ground and I couldn't see the step to get up. I got part way up and the man helped me by lifting my rear end. They had a dog comforter and pillows. And they bribed me with more treats. Then we were gone.

I thought it was going to be a short ride. It wasn’t. It is the longest car ride I’ve ever been on. They stopped a few times so I could get out and stretch my legs and take care of business. Then more driving. I thought I was a really good girl. I’ve never been a drama queen. I just settled and napped. About 2/3 of the way to Madison we stopped in a small town park for a picnic dinner. They had tuna salad sandwiches at a picnic table. They put out a dish of kibble and some water for me. But I just wasn’t interested. I stood there listening to the unfamiliar sounds (a baby crying, cars going by, a bicyclist) and smells. Where is Melissa? Where is my pack? Then back on the car for more driving. What is going on?

We arrived in Madison about 8 hours after we left my home. The man immediately took me for a 20 minute walk to stretch my legs and take care of business. Then he led me into the house. The woman had taken my dog comforter and laid it on the floor next to a kibble dish and a water dish. I sampled the water but just wasn’t interested in the kibble. Then they walked me around so I could explore the ground floor of the house. There is a single step in three places, the kitchen, the dining room and the living room. I still haven’t ventured into those areas. But the rest of the ground floor is all level - dinette, a walk area by some windows in the family room, the area where the furniture is in the family room, the hallway to the laundry and bath and door to the garage, and the hallway to their bedroom. The first picture is me sitting in front of the breakfast counter in the dinette area. The man had just asked me to sit. I’m trying really hard to please so I planted my butt right on the floor. I love it when he says “good girl.” Some of the area has area rugs, some tile, and some wood floors. I was particularly interested in the large area rug in front of the family room furniture. It smells of another dog. I think his name is Coco. That’s my favorite place to lay down. It makes me feel most like home.

After a bit more exploring, it was time to go to bed. I spent some time walking around to figure out the layout of the downstairs.  They went into their bedroom and closed the door. I decided to sleep on the tile floor right outside their door. When morning came, they got up and took me for a longer walk. About 1 1/2 miles in about 1/2 hour. I’m going to have to teach them about dog walks. A walk to them is a death march. No time to stop and sniff. But it is good exercise and gets me panting. My butt was dragging by the end of the walk because I’m not used to that much exercise.  I thought I handled it pretty well. After some breakfast (yes I ate my kibble) they went to church and I was alone in the house for about 2 hours. I’m not telling anyone what I did while they were gone. It’s a secret. I heard the woman say she noticed some dog hair on the couch. I’m taking the 5th amendment on that one. The man went outside to do some yard work and the woman took a nap after they returned. Then she left in her car. The man took a short nap with me laying on the floor on the rug below the couch. 

Then we went for a ride in his Mini Cooper. It is a lot easier to get into the Mini Cooper than the truck. It makes vroom, vroom noises. We went to this really cool store, Mounds Pet Food Warehouse. They let dogs go inside the store. I met about five dogs in Mounds. We checked out the food and bought a toy. It has a handle on one end, a ring on the other, and a rope between. It also squeaks. I don’t have a clue what to do with it. Maybe I can figure it out later. Until then it stays with the two bones Melissa sent along.

After that we went to the dog park. The man finally figured out how a dog walk is supposed to go. He let me explore at my pace. The next picture is me exploring in the dog park. The man was reluctant to post it because it shows me without a leash. He was afraid he’d get in trouble with the Rescue people. This dog park is around 40 acres surrounded by a tall chain link fence. The entrance is double gated. He started out walking me on a leash but when dogs approached and started sniffing me, I had no place to go. Finally he unleashed me. All the other dogs are off their leashes. As the picture shows this dog park has cut grass and sand paths through prairie and woods. I don’t like weeds in my face so I try to stay on the path. I’ve figured out that the safest way to explore is to follow him and his voice. I’ve come to trust that he’s not going to take me anyplace that I’ll run into something. And he keeps mentioning my name and making clicking noises to let me now where he is.

I must have met 20 other dogs. We sniff earn other’s nose and private parts. The boys don’t seem very interested in me because I’ve been neutered. That’s good because I’m not ready for any of THAT. We don’t move around the park as fast as the other dogs and their owners. But it is a brand new place with lots of interesting smells and he gave me the time to check things out. We must have walked for 90 minutes. When we finished our loop he put me back on the leash and he walked me through the set of two gates. By then I was pretty hot and panting as the temperature was in the high 80s. What is really cool is that nobody noticed that I am blind. Well, the man told one person after she saw me walk into a small tree trunk. I hate it when I do that.

We hopped back in the MINI and headed back home. When we got there after about 10 minutes I had a big dish of fresh cold water. I was pretty tuckered out after the death march in the morning and my dog park experience so I curled up on the Coco rug and took a long nap.

I also have a dog yard, a portion of the yard just for me. It has grass and a tall wood fence. They let me out in the yard to give me a chance to do my business. I’m learning two new commands, “step up” and “step down”. I’ve figured out that step means slow down, the elevation of the floor is about to change. I still haven’t figured out what “up" and “down” means, but I’m working on it. I’ll figure it out as I’m a pretty smart girl. There is a three step change between the garage entrance to my dog yard and the first floor. I’m getting pretty good at climbing and descending these stairs. They also use those words when I’m getting into and out of a car.

Last night they moved my dog comforter outside their bedroom door. I slept on it for the first time last night.

We got up this morning and went on another 1 1/2 mile death march. I have to admit I’m enjoying the exercise. Maybe our routine will be a death march in the morning and a dog walk in the afternoon or evening. They did allow me to stop and pee and poop this morning. The woman’s going to work today but my new dad is staying home with me. I think they are going to reverse roles tomorrow. I like having them around. I’m hoping there will be another dog park trip this afternoon. But it is going to get hot so I hope my new dad brings some water and a dish with him.

My new dad registered me with the micro-chip company and ordered two tags with my name and his phone number. He’s talking about picking up a county dog tag today. I’m really not supposed to be in the dog park without a rabies tag and a county dog tag. There’s also the matter of the annual fee which you can’t pay unless you have a dog tag number. But nobody busted us yesterday.

I still miss Melissa and my dog pack. But this is a pretty nice place for a dog. There is lots to do and lots of other dogs and people to meet and greet. And there is a lot of love here.

Lady Belle

[Robin and Libby Louise]

So glad you are feeling the love, Lady Belle! I can't wait to read your next installment!