ONE LESS Dog on the trail

“Thrifty Hiker thought this should have been outside fuego so more people could read it..so read on dog lovers...in your face!


“One less scroungy mutt to bother folks on the trail, less worry, less fear.....

I ran across a homeless dog on the trail and immediately took it out......

The dog had ticks and fleas, it was hungry, and it had given birth to a large litter of puppies, and I cured all that........

This past weekend I did a paddle trip, and camped on the shoreline, and this scroungy lookin' mutt came into camp...BIG MISTAKE...I looked up, saw the dog and in one fluid motion, I raised my TURKEY AND SWISS sandwich and fired at her.

Abbi, as I have since named her, (Short for Abagail) had been living at the Town Creek Camp Store/Ranger Station for several months, taken in by the young (REALLY YOUNG)ranger because he couldn't stand to see her starving and flea ridden...Abbi had been abandoned because she was preggers...she gave birth to 12 pups, and raised them ALL...all of the puppies had been weaned and either sold or given away to folks who asked for them, and Abbi remained, she had become somewhat of a Park celebrity....

If you Geocachers ever search for the sites in Guntersville state Park, Guntersville Alabama, you will find Abbi mentioned in the log, she followed a Geocacher to the cache, just to make sure he really put something in...and he posted about it....

Abbi had been the reception committee for the Store, greeting each camper, boater or fisherman as if she was gittin' paid...a sweeter gentler dog I had never met....

I had pulled up to the dock to meet my paddle partner prior to the trip, and Abbi
met me on the dock, quietly allowed me to pet her, then followed me to the office, where I bought her a sandwich and a drink (Well they had been for me, but...). The paddle commenced and I was gone for six hours, and did not return to the store when it ended, just paddled on by and rounded the point to my campsite about a mile down the shoreline. I had the fire going and the stove lit, when Abbi came into camp, and there she stayed all night, alternately getting fed and petted or played with.

The next afternoon, I asked at the store, and the Ranger was quick to tell me that her story, and add that if I wanted her, she was mine...

She has been bathed, combed, Frontlined, and a pen built (10 X 10 chainlink with floor and overhead cover). A trip to the Vet is scheduled for Thursday for Heartworm Test, Rabies shot, and a physical for being spayed.....

I now have THREE dogs, Two Cocker Spaniels named Emma and Maggie, and now Abbi...a mixed Lab/Rottweiler (I think...she just has the look of both breeds).”
last edited: 11/07/06 7:47:41 AM”

“Is this a challenge to turn the thread into FUEGO?”

“heck no! had I deleted my post on fuego, it might have insulted those of you who responded..didn't want to do that...”

“Enjoy the new pet !”

“Good stuff ST. Always good to give a homeless one a home.”

“Aw, how sweet. I'm glad she found a human to love her every day. Congratulations on the new family member SuperTroll”

“Nice read and nice actions...”

“Finally, something positive on this board...”

“Dog Lovers Unite!”

“nice.”

“Good story”

“A close friend of mine lost her #&%!$zu of many years to kidney failure. Tough...man tough....”

“dogs rule cats drool”

“my dog rules and drools!”

“Good on you. Better yet, I'm glad it wasn't me. I've already got a house full of charity cases.”

“I am pretty much full up too (LOL).”

“PET RULES
To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door - nose height.

Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack.
Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years -- canine or feline attendance is not required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!
To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on
our front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:

1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.
That's why they call it "fur"niture.)
3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Remember: In many ways, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less
2. Don't ask for money all the time
3 Are easier to train
4. Normally come when called
5. Never ask to drive the car
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends 7. Don't smoke or drink
8. Don't have to buy the latest fashions
9. Don't want to wear your clothes
10. Don't need a "gazillion" dollars for college.
And finally,
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.”

“Congralalations! You got the nother dog! You are lukky!”