Stuck on trucks

I think the time has come to buy a real truck. I've been putting it off for two years, thinking some day, but not yet. We don't really need it...not yet. 

Well, yet has arrived. Yet arrived unexpectedly in the form of a mini-gelding named Minimi, who I am henceforth going to call Truck. You'll see why. Truck lives, for a few more weeks, at the barn where the 11-year-old 12-year-old rides. This barn owner and I have a lot in common, in that strays and other wayward creatures tend to find us and make us their own. Truck, the mini, found the barn owner by running down the road, loose, in front of her property one day several years ago. Nobody claimed Truck, so my barn owner grabbed him, gelded him (She thinks he was 18 at the time. He is one of the ugliest ponies I've ever seen, so not at all sure what his owners were thinking), and stuck him in a stall. He's lived amongst her warmbloods and boarders' ponies ever since.

Recently, she found herself short one stall. She asked if I'd consider taking Truck to our place, to live with all the wayward ponies in our home barn. To sweeten the deal, she will give us half off the board on the 12-year-old's boarded pony. That works out to just about the price of one truck payment every month. Well, a used truck payment maybe.

New truck must be able to haul this relic of a  trailer.

So, I am learning about trucks and trailers. Half-ton, 3/4 ton, load ratings, etc.. Oy. Here in the heartland, everybody drives a Ford. I tried a couple out. They were fine, but didn't really wow me. Then I tried some Chevys. They were fine too, but I still couldn't pull the trigger. I tried a Toyota that I loved, but I don't think it will haul our old steel, 3-slant trailer, so I'll have to pass on that one too.

Geez.

The problem is, of course, that pickups cost a lot of money, even if they are subsidized by a gelding named Truck. Pulling the trigger is going to be hard, but I do believe it's time. No more hay and lumber deliveries for me. I can haul it home myself, thank you.

Marthajones got her mojo back

After a week of cowering in the corner, eating only leftovers, and generally acting like the herd pariah, I'm pleased to say that Marthajones is back on her game. Here she is joining the others for breakfast. She's the lovely caramel girl -- next to the curious Doc -- with her backside to the camera.

Phwew. 

Whoaaaaa, I stand corrected

When we found Maisy at an animal shelter in California five years ago, American Eskimos were the second most common breed of dog listed on Petfinder. They numbered in the thousands. I don't remember what the most common breed was.

After my post yesterday, I was curious where things stood now, so I looked up the numbers. Things have changed! The number of Eskies listed is less than 500 across the whole country. That is great news. I'd like to say the drop is because the breeders of American Eskimos recognized their errant ways. Maybe, but I'm guessing it's the economy driving the numbers, not common sense or compassion.

The total number of dogs looking for homes on Petfinder is now in the six digits and several breeds have tens of thousands of dogs listed. Yes, Pit Bull Terriers is one of those, with a whopping 20+ thousand, but there are also in the neighborhood of 28,000 homeless Labrador Retrievers! And more than 16,000 Chihuahuas. Eight thousand Beagles. Eight thousand Boxers. The list goes on and on.

This is heartbreaking. I'd heard the stories of people giving up their animals (and I have quite a few of those dumped ponies myself), but I hadn't thought to check the dog numbers on Petfinder. It is a shock to see actual numbers.

And wonders never cease

With all the goings on here, the one creature who has had absolutely no special attention at all is Angel. Angel is a rescued Eskie mix who came to live with us nearly three years ago as a middle-aged, passed around, very unhappy dog. The shelter where we found her told us she was shy, but I had no idea how far shy could be taken by a dog.

I have a soft spot for Eskies. Eskies are one of those breeds that people think are sooooo cute when they're puppies, but then get dumped when they grow up because of their simultaneously needy and ornery personalities. I know this because my first dog as an adult was an Eskie rescue. He was D.I.F.F.I.C.U.L.T.. I thought he'd never adjust, never sit down and never shut up barking. His powers of destruction and stubbornness were things I'd only read about in books. But he did eventually bond to me, and I to him. In the end, he was the best dog ever, etc.. You know how people say. Anyway, ever since he died several years ago, I keep an eye out for Eskies in the shelters. They are, sadly, one of the most commonly listed breeds on Petfinder.

Enter Angel. Like I said she's shy. For at least a year, I couldn't look at her without her piddling. She spent 23 1/2 hours a day hiding under the 11-year-old's bed. She wouldn't go outside without a leash. In fact, we usually had to crawl under the bed to put the leash on her before she would even budge. I eventually put the 11-year-old's mattress directly on the floor because it was so tiresome trying to get her out. When we moved to the farm, she took up residence under the sofa in the livingroom. The secrets she and Tortellini must have shared.

I decided early on, not to push her. Her fear is too extreme and there was simply no need. She weighs 20 pounds. I can pick her up if I have to and do anything that needs doing. So, for the most part I've let her take things at her own pace and not worried about it. She's safe, she's healthy, she's well cared for.  That may have to be enough for some animals.

But in the past 6 months or so, and I don't know why, she has started to come out of her shell. She sleeps on my bed, instead of under it. She goes out with the other two dogs, without a special invitation. She has started to PLAY with Boomer. And why not? Boomer is a great big goofball who loves to play with anybody. Even the cats like Boomerang. And just now, which is why I started this post, she jumped up on the sofa next to me to get a cuddle. These are pictures of Angel enjoying a bum-scratching, by her request.

Meet Angel. Wonders never cease.