What They’re Saying
It’s funny how often the sight of a guide dog turns whatever subject people are discussing onto dogs. Some random things I overheard people saying today regarding a certain GSD include, but are not limited to the following:
- “Look how she sits straight up like that . . . so elegant!”
- “How demure!”
- “She’s got sweet eyes . . . such a kind face. . . .”
- “She looks so friendly, like, she wants to just play with everyone!”
- “What a regal looking German shepherd!”
- “Wow, I just love her markings!”
- “Oh . . . my . . . god! She is just gorgeous!”
Sadly, I also got quite a bit of the normal she’s “too skinny” or “so big” or “really small” or has “HUGE ears” or “strange coloring” as well as the inevitable “is that a guide/service/seeing-eye/blind dog” and “what kind of breed/color dog is that.”
However, more upsetting and yet the most memorable thing said about my dear Yara was, “Oh, my god, oh my god, OH MY GOD! [insert ear-piercing shriek here] I’m so scared of dogs!” Honestly, I wouldn’t have been bothered if the person having a panic attack in front of me had done either of two things (a.) moved out of the handicapped/elderly seats on the bus that she had rested her not-more-than-twenty-year-old hiney in or (b.) not been SCREAMING ALL THIS AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS REPEATEDLY for my entire bus ride home. I get it, people are scared of dogs. I totally understand how being scared of things makes you a bit irrational and all that. But seriously, if you’re more than 10, you can gather yourself up enough to not make my life thoroughly unenjoyable. Especially when the object of your neurosis is laying quietly under my chair with a good four feet separating you from impending doom.
In other unrelated news, in the last four days I’ve met four guide dog users I’ve never known of here in Albany. Not that I know every guide dog user in the Capital District, but it’s pretty monumental to bump into so many new people on the same bus route several days in a row. Even more interesting, all of them were black labs from The Seeing Eye.
Three Pounds
Yara had her follow-up appointment at the vet’s today. She weight 48 pounds. I explained to the vet that I’m actually quite pleased with that, even though technically she lost three more pounds, because I’m entirely sure that she lost way more than that during the month and a half since her initial visit. Judging from how she’s been doing now that I’ve got her just on the EVO kibble, I think she’ll be able to get to a weight that we’re all comfortable with.
She wants us to come back and have her weighted again in “about two months.” Probably we’ll combine the weighting visit with the kitten’s first appointment.
Random Things
I had a dream last night that I gave Yara a bath and flooded the apartment. How the two became related I don’t entirely recall, but I assure you it was the most hilarious dream I’ve had since that one about Crunchy Cucumber December Flakes and Heather will vouch for how crazy funny that one was since she was in it.
Yara ate a tissue today. She got it out of a coworker’s wastebasket today and swallowed it before I could stop her. She’s become rather notorious for swiping things from wastebaskets just to have something in her mouth to carry. “Things” here ranging from tissues and napkins to candy wrappers and a chewed piece of gum! Today, however, was the first time she actually consumed said thing. I’m thinking of pulling out the mousetraps I bought way back when because Dolly couldn’t keep her nose out of the trashcan. We’ll see.
Two people at work today commented that they believe Yara’s gained weight since seeing her last Thursday. Truly these were the highlights of my entire day. Also, my day was boring and water is wet.
Oh, and I’m adopting a ragdoll kitten. Yes, seriously.
Six Months
In my lack of posting of late, I neglected to mention that Yara and I passed our six month anniversary last month. (Also, how did it get to be July already?) I’d been expecting a follow-up evaluation, but have as yet heard nothing regarding it. When I called Fidelco, Des admitted they’re a bit backlogged with follow-ups. Oh, well. I’m sure they’ll get out here eventually.
The food saga continues. I actually postponed the vet visit until this coming Tuesday in part because of this. She is doing better with consistently eating for the most part, but honestly if I had to guess I’d say she’s probably lost more weight. It’s incredibly disconcerting. She’s not exhibiting any signs of being sick or infested by anything, but we’ll see what the vet has to say.
We went to the fireworks last night at the Empire State Plaza and they were very lovely. Yara was very good with all the distractions and only mildly alarmed by the fireworks and the noise. Her biggest issue was that anytime there was a lull in the show, she kept figuring that meant we were going home and she’d get up and be all silly. It was very cute.
And, finally, as promised the long awaited photos I keep being too lazy to post! First up are some of the “outtakes” from the portrait shoot back in May. I have the right one (second photo) framed on my desk at work, though, I’m a bit disturbed that I only now just noticed it kind of looks like she’s licking my chest in it!
