The Adventures of Guinness and Murphy

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Well I finally have my power back.  The past two weeks have been a true adventure for our family.  It started out with my DH's Dad having a serious heart attack....so DH left for Maine and was fortunate enough to be with his father when he passed away.  Then he drove back to CT to get DS and I to go up for the services.  I boarded the boys at their Daycare, so I knew they'd be okay, but I was still concerned.  We left on a Thursday and planned to be back Sunday morning to pick them up.  While we were in Maine, a serious snow storm hit the Northeast.  So, we left right after the funeral on Saturday to be sure we'd make it home by our Sunday morning time to get the Doods.  That was our first mistake, we drove right into the storm....a seven hour nightmare.  When we finally made it home Saturday night, this is what we saw...

We lost two huge trees from our front yard, and there were trees down everywhere blocking many of the roads with lots of "live wires".  There was no power anywhere in our area.  That's when the real adventure started.  The next morning we got our car out and headed for the Kennel to pick up the boys.  Of course they had no power either and I was so worried about them.  Apparently they were just fine and having a ball.  On Saturday before the storm they went to a Halloween party....the owner dressed them as Firemen. She didn't know that they were members of the Naked Doodles Club.  She promises pictures when her power finally returns.  They had treats and played games.  Murphy's favorite game was the "bobbing for apples".  He didn't really want to get his face wet, so he let the other dogs "bob" and then he just took their apples away. That's my naughty Murph.  During the night she gave them extra blankets and in the morning they got to go out and play in the snow, which Murph apparently loved.  So, they were partying while their Mom was worried to death. 

On Sunday it was really getting cold in our house so we took our son to my DD's which is a little over an hour from here...she had power.  Our other DD and her family were also staying there.  My daughter has two of her own dogs, and her black Lab puppy and Murphy do not get along....at all.  So we weighed the option of staying there (six kids, seven adults, and four dogs) and opted to come home.  On Monday, the cold was starting to bother the dogs...Guinness was shivering.  That's when we went in search of coats for them.  In just one day they were pretty much sold out everywhere.  We did find one Petco that was open a few towns away and we were able to buy their last two coats in our guys' sizes...the Manager told me in one day they sold out their entire inventory of Winter Coats.  I fully expected my "naked boys" to give me trouble with the coats, but they actually loved them and wanted to have them on. We are hoping that Jack Doodle does not revoke their membership and understands that this was a "life or death" situation.  Here they are at the Shelter wearing their coats...

For the next day or two we pretty much lived in the car.  We were lucky that we had gas, because there were no stations in our area able to pump for several days....many still don't have power.  We put the boys in the car in the morning and drive around in search of places that were open where we could get lunch...which we ate in the car.  The car was our "home"....it was warm and cozy and we were all together.  It was kind of fun in a weird sort of way.  By day three we knew we had to start going to the shelter.  After Hurricane Irene when the town did not allow dogs in the shelter, they changed their policy and actually created special "accommodations" for all pets.  I was a little worried about Murphy's "reactiveness", but he behaved himself and people even commented about how well trained our guys were.  One day we shared our "dog room" (which was a classroom at the High School) with a very talkative parrot.  The parrot said "hello" and "what ya doin" continuously.  Murph and Guinness were totally fascinated.  Can you imagine what must have been going through their minds?  Big Murph was actually a little scared when the bird would fly around the cage...he'd bark and then run right to me for protection.  Here's Guinness with his new friend..

We spent a lot of time in bed over this past week....it was the only place where we could be warm in the house.  Guinness & Murphy loved that part, especially in the early morning when the sun would shine on them while they were snuggled up in bed with Mom and Dad.  I would charge my IPad at the shelter each day so that in the evening I could get into bed and catch up on DK....I couldn't comment much because I needed to be careful with the charge, but it was great to be able to see what "normal" people were doing.  Well there may be a few DKrs who don't quite fit that "normal" category, but they shall remain nameless....LOL.  Anyway, here are the boys enjoying their time in our bed...

 

This whole "routine" went on for eight days.  We just kept living in hope that at any minute the power would be back...till yesterday.  That's when we were starting to really wonder and getting discouraged.  Because things weren't quite stressful enough, yesterday morning the smoke alarm started a constant beeping.  They are hard wired and go to battery back-up when there is no power.  Apparently the batteries were wearing out so the "warning beeps" were sounding.  DH started his tour of open hardware stores to find batteries....no luck.  So the thing beeped all day...Murph who has very sensitive ears was beside himself.  He kept rolling on the floor and scratching at his ears. My DH was also on his last nerve because he couldn't get the thing to shut off.  I suggested taking a hammer to it, but he wasn't buying that idea.  Anyway the beeping lasted about six hours.....and then THE POWER CAME BACK! 

I think I learned a lot from the experiences over the past couple of weeks.  One thing in particular is that our dogs are incredibly resilient.  They have a lot to teach us.  My guys are very much into having a routine, but they can adapt to a new routine in a day.  By the second day, they knew what was going on, and they were content to just go with the flow.  I also could really see that they were just fine as long as they were with us.  They got to meet so many new people at the Shelter, and they loved being there with us.  There was a real sense of "family" in this community shelter where 350 people slept each night....whole families and their pets.  Murph and Guinness made themselves right at home there, and we did too.  I'm incredibly grateful for all that we have.  I got a taste of what it must feel like to be homeless and cold....for us it was an adventure, but for too many it is a sad and desperate way of life.  I know that I need to do more to help the homeless....something I have never really thought much about till now.  So that's our story...that's where we've been. 

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Wow Jane, that is quite the adventure-I'm sorry for your family's loss.

Glad you and your home are ok. You guys did good with what you had.

This goes to show that NO DOODLE SHOULD BE NAKED!! ALWAYS HAVE A BACK UP!!

Glad you are ok.

[Pat and Traveler]

Loved being able to follow the story with a series of photos.  The one of Guinness with the parrot is priceless!  Like others have said, I'm not sure I would have reacted with your grace and good humor.  Thanks for letting us know what it's like to live without power in the cold time, and what a big-hearted person brings away from the experience.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

First, Jackdoodle says that life and death situations override anything else, so of course G & M are still members in good standing of the Naked Doodles Freedom Club. (And how lucky were you that those last two coats were nice unisex colors and not pink with purple flowers?) However, he hopes that for the sake of decency, you will not post those firemen photos and make the boys' humiliation public. I, of course, can't wait to see them. The owner of your kennel sounds like an amazing person!

We were without power for 4 days last summer, and that was bad enough. I cannot imagine going 8 days, and in freezing temperatures, no less! I doubt that I could have handled it with the grace that you did.

What I like most is your statement that the dogs were just fine as long as they were with you. Of course they were. Thanks for confirming that, although I wish you didn't have to go to such lengths to find out, lol!

How like you, my friend, to come away from the whole nightmare of this past two weeks with gratitude and a desire to help others.

We are so glad you're safe and back here with us on DK.

[Carol and Banjo]

Wow Jane.....I'm sooooo happy that things have returned to normal for you and the doods!   Leave it to you to make lemonade from lemons!    Love the pics!

[Jane Smith]

You had quite the adventure.  And I have to say, they looked darling in their jackets.