Allie in Boston
Here are some updates. The latest is at the top; read from the bottom up for the entire story.
Click on thumbnail photos for enlargements.
Date: February 26, 2010
6. Allie at dog play group
Today, we have a movie. It's fairly large, so will take a few seconds to download.
Allie meets other dogs at play group
(QuickTime .m4v movie)
Small: 6 MB
Date: February 23, 2010
5. Allie learning about the outdoors
Today's entry:
Recently, Allie went to the vet. She's absolutely fine. The vet thought she wasn't too skinny until I lifted up the sweater, and then she said she's a little skinny. Eating is no problem at the rate she is at, and Allie is figuring out how tasty dry food can be -- no more beef/chicken stock and shredded cheese necessary.
We were out in a nearby nature reservation for a walk, and after she finally figured out how walking works, she really came to life on a frozen, snow-covered pond. She caught me off guard while I was taking a picture and pulled the leash out of my hand -- the pic with the leash airborne is included.
Allie is getting to be a much better dog by the day. She still loves shoes, socks, and assorted clothing, but knows it's not a good idea. She walks up the stairs now, and has recently started not only walking down the stairs, but voluntarily walking out of the door. Putting on the leash and harness is something we neither enjoy. Outside, loud noises are less scary, people are more interesting, and she loves all dogs.
Allie knows "come," and "sit," but is better at sitting and needs more work on coming every time. "Stay" is a little confusing, and she doesn't get "down" yet.
We've been bonding really well lately; if I sit on the couch she isn't allowed on, she paces around and looks at me until I move where we can sit together. She follows me around the apartment and stays about three feet behind me when she's scared on a walk. Allie has a great demeanor and gets a lot of compliments. She also got a good report from the dog walking person that took her out today.
All is well in Boston, but we'll see how cold the slush storms coming up are.
Dig that snow
Checking for mail under the tree
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Runaway dog!
Not sure about this snow stuff
Date: February 11, 2010
4. Allie starting to settle in
Another update from Allie's new owner:
Allie is much more animated today! I think she has had plenty of rest and is starting to get some more energy from food. She ate two big (for her) meals today, and seems to eat kibble well enough if you put shredded cheese in. She prefers beef stock over chicken stock to wet it down.
She is much more comfortable in the park across the street and seems to understand that trips outside involve using the bathroom and being very cold. In fact, it's too cold to enjoy a treat, so training still involves a careful eye on my part.
We still haven't heard any noise out of her beyond the first night when she whimpered to go across the street and into warmth. I consider that a plus at this point, but she seems to be gaining confidence by the minute so I imagine that will change. No videos this time -- I'm still working on the formatting stuff -- so check out some pics from yesterday.
Allie likes her green rope chew toy
Allie naps happily on couch with toys
Date: February 9, 2010
3. Allie in her new home
The new owner reports in: Allie is much happier this morning after a good night's sleep. [ed: which followed a long, stressful day of travel]
She had some breakfast, consisting mainly of the pieces of cheese she was able to pull out of the good stuff (I tried some cottage cheese and chicken broth mixed in, which helped, but she acts like kibble tastes like eggshells in an omelet). Lots of being scared, unsure why things are so cold, and a lot of new surroundings made things harder.
Finally, when she was put in her crate for the night she pounded some water, and we had success right away in the park across the street this morning. She is also much more energized today. Last night fluctuated between her being out cold on the couch (yeah, she gets to go on one of them) and being ready for fetch in the house. She really likes chasing the tennis ball, provided there isn't another toy in her trajectory, as that toy becomes more interesting.
Allie does waste valuable play time when she encounters two toys at once, because she can't figure out which one to play with or how to play with both simultaneously. The cold doesn't seem to bother her nearly as much as the general scariness of outside. I think at this point in her life, Allie sticks with what is good for Allie at that present time, so it will take some work to get her comfortable leaving the house.
Fortunately, she doesn't mind being carried. She is very smart and quiet. The only noise she has made so far were a few whines last night while I was trying to make her relieve herself outside and all she wanted to do was go back to the same stoop across the street and wait for someone to let her in.
This morning she showed more intrigue in shoes, but gave up and just chewed on her pheasant on her bed for a while and is ready for a nap. More updates to come, and hopefully some snow footage on Wednesday. Thank you all for your help. I'll take a bunch of pictures and send them along later. In the mean time check out the video from this morning!
Here is a short movie showing Allie chasing a tennis ball on her first day and playing with her toy pheasant.
Allie settles in (m4v)
5.4 MB
Date: February 8, 2010
2. Allie heads off to Boston
After many fits and starts, it was finally worked out: Continental Airlines would take Allie from Sint Maarten to Newark, NJ and then transfer her to a plane to Boston, where her new owner would be waiting. This was on the only clear day between two snow storms, one of which was a huge one.
Flying a pet from the islands to the US will work if it meets certain conditions. One is a temperature limit, and there are two limits. Obviously one is what we worry about most in the islands: heat. Airlines won't risk an animal in the cargo hold if the temperature gets past a certain limit, such as 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This is obviously to prevent overheating as the plane taxis, parks and sits at a gate. Once the plane is in the air, the hold is pressurized and temperature controlled.
The second limit is at that other end of the thermometer: cold. As Allie's preparations were being made, it was clear the airlines worry about when it is too cold as well. We were given a threshold temperature of 45 degrees. This being winter, that was going to cause problems for flights to the East coast. Plus there were forecasted storms.
But it all worked out magically. After lots of calls and efforts. Allie was put in a crate with all the required labels, Immigration and medical paperwork, food and water dishes, food, and even a leash; all were all taped to the crate.
And off she went. The new owner found someone to meet Allie's ferry at the Immigration office in St. Maarten, who then took Allie (on a dinghy we are told; we hope there are photos of that) to the airport. Once checked in, that person waited until the plane left to make sure they didn't forget to load her on the plane!
Allie leaving Anguilla on the ferry to SXM
After several hours on ferries, dinghies and two plane flights, Allie made it to Boston. Read on to see how well she adjusted.
Date: February 3, 2010
1. Allie gets a foster home
Allie is a very cute, small dog that was surrendered to AARF. We put out the word that she was available, and got interest from someone in the Boston area. After a short while at the shelter, she was taken to a foster home, because she was very shy and afraid of people. She would cower in submission when approached. She didn't eat much and was very thin. Even though she had been spoken for, her shelter experience wasn't positive for her. It was decided that foster care could give her more attention, and with some love, turn her frightened personality around.
And it worked!
After a short while, she really came around. She was given a small pad to lay on, which she loved, and in fact, stayed on it most of the time (Although, she'd move into the sun for a nap). Every time the foster parents came by, she'd go to the ground, but when all she got for that was petting and treats, she began to transform into a kind and loving dog. She soon followed her foster parents around, and would give a soft touch of her (wet) nose to the ankles. She even began to bark (mostly at birds) - a sign she was feeling secure and wanting to protect her new family. Some chasing of moths happened too. We can only presume that moths and other bugs were a staple while she lived in the bush...
While kibble was not a favorite, human food certainly was! Cheese and anything from the local barbeque stand in The Valley were devoured. Mixing some chicken and cheese in with puppy chow kibble got her to clean her bowl after a few days.
At night, she slept inside, on her pad, and was quiet. The foster parents did have to monitor their shoes, because Allie became a stealthy shoe thief. Papers in the trash cans were pulled out and shredded. She was given two rope toys, which disappeared into yard immediately. Every once in a while, she'd bring one up. One still has not been found; being a bush dog makes one hoard treasures, apparently. A tennis ball was a great hit, but had to be taken away lest it be shredded. And, somehow, somewhere, Allie found a tiny desiccated gecko lizard, which also wound up on the bed (it wasn't eaten, just treasured, perhaps. That bush dog thing again...)
Allie on her padded bed
Allie proudly standing amongst
shredded papers filched from the garbage
Allie having fun with a tennis ball
Meanwhile, efforts to try and get her united with her Boston owner were being worked on. The big problem: how to get her there, in the middle of winter?
Read the next installment to find out.
