Moment in time

Casey was so ill when this moment in time was captured. The setting of Whatcom Falls was always a favorite of ours and the trailhead of hundreds of hikes. He loved it. 

Victoria and I had absolutely no idea that spleen cancer was ravaging his body. In less than a month he was gone.

Cleo with an e, and a purpose

A day short of a year since Casey left us this sweet Border Collie/Lab mix has managed to steal our hearts while deflecting the heartbreak of tomorrow's anniversary.

Unlike our boy, Cleo never knew mistreatment. She fell into our laps because her first family just couldn't provide her with the attention she needed. After six months, she knows she belongs right here with us.

Casey will always be a tough act to follow, but there's always something to be said about a dog's purpose. Tomorrow it'll be simple - Cleo's smiling face and one distracting ear rub after another. We'll need them as much as her.    

No time to spare

A tilt of the head from Casey on a hike with Ben and Ezra, just two years ago this week. 

                                                           "Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow             behind." 

                                                                                                 Nathaniel Hawthorne

Rescued Heart adoption narrative: Hook, line, and sinker

OK, so Cleo wasn't exactly "all smiles."

ADOPTED! 

Meet Cleo!

Cleo is about 4 1/2 years old. She is a Lab Aussie, Border Collie mix so smart is definitely her middle name. Cleo is an active, friendly girl. She loves kids, cats and people but can seem a little shy when first meeting you. Once she learns you are a good person she is your best friend. Cleo loves to play and really enjoys her two stuffed animals, a bear and elephant. She enjoys cuddles, walks and and chillin on the couch. She doesn't like swimming, vacuums and strange dogs. Cleo would prefer to be the only dog in her new home. Cleo is not an off leash kinda girl, in other words her urge to want to run and explore is stronger than her urge to listen when called. So a nice fenced yard or someone who can walk her at least once a day would be great. Cleo has nice manners and knows how to sit and shake. She sleeps in her dog bed at night and is totally potty trained. She loves car rides too. Cleo is an all around awesome girl. If you are interested in meeting or adopting Cleo you can fill out an application right here http://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/co436Skqbd5y6l9a714dVN

Cleo is a courtesy listing. All applications and inquires will be send to Cleo's family.

As it has turned out the adoption narrative was right on the money.  And we can hardly believe that another gentle soul, much like our Casey, has stolen our hearts.

Meet Cleo

It's time we introduce Casey's Worlds visitors to our new girl Cleo, a serendipity adoption if there ever was one.  Victoria and I came across a post on Rescued Hearts that displayed a photo of this 4-year-old Border Collie mix - BC/Lab/Aussie to be exact - all smiles and sitting with a house cat by her side. The narrative essentially said that Cleo liked kids, cats, everyone she came in contact with, and practically walked on water.  We filled out an application immediately, knowing full well that she was too good to be true and that it was unlikely we'd win this lotto.

As it turned out, the owner, a new mother, was having difficulty providing Cleo with the attention she needed. A five-month-old baby and a full-time job made adoption for Cleo the best option and luckily we made the cut.  And what a special, even-tempered kid she is.  Casey would have loved her.

First impressions and hunger pangs

Year-old Casey trolling for collectibles on Bellingham Bay

Casey, aka Quantum Leap Bob, was a traumatized mess. After sorting out the paperwork that accompanied his travel crate we found that he was seven-months-old, not ten-months as we were originally told. We were also told that he had been fed Purina One, and that unfortunately was true. A plastic bag full of this low grade adult dog kibble was taped to the top of his crate. The breeder obviously spared no expense when it came to nourishment. No wonder Casey appeared malnourished. A dinner consisting of puppy kibble, supplemented with decent organic chicken, was devoured in short order. Then our new family member gave every impression to be retiring for the evening, completely sated for no doubt the first time in his life. In less than an hour though our guy awoke from a dream-state to do a faceplant in Victoria's TV tray dinner, before crashing for the night. 

As it turned out, Casey, by nature or by nuture, would never be a picky eater. And who could blame him?

An appointment with our veterinarian in the morning would be the first step in what would turn out to be a long recovery for the kid, both physically and psychologically.

A treasure found today in my device's gallery

Vic and Casey
January 15, 2017

Home

A year-old pooped hiker.

Not the best first impression, but after a quick, nonchalant piss by the back door - the only indoor accident he ever had, by the way - Casey accepted the fact that he was home. 

 Swapping the submissive role as the timid runt of a litter of seven on a farm in the middle of nowhere for the revered status as a joyful arrival with a fenced-in backyard in the Great Northwest had to be a relief for our half-starved new charge. After all, his nose was OK, in spite of getting zapped, and his new feeders were doting all over him.

Cautiously at first, Casey eventually devoured his first meal under his new roof. He was obviously going to be an excellent eater. How long we wondered had he been settling for the leavings of six siblings.

Vic and I noticed right away that Casey appeared to be emaciated, barely twenty pounds. And he was seven months old instead of ten. His paperwork clearly indicated that his birthday was December 7, 2007. Obviously Casey (Bob) had not been the pick of the litter. And who wanted to deal with a fearful, timid Border Collie in a farming community. 

But things were looking up. We'd see to it.

The next chapter in our life was about to begin so it was crucial that Casey's introduction to the leader of our pack Victoria went without a hitch.  The plan: Vic would arrive at home shortly after I got our boy settled.  Treats on the front porch for the meet-and-greet. CharlIe Bears are usually a sure thing.

"Mom" passed through the house and approached a bewildered Casey at the backdoor threshold with an outstretched hand.  A soothing, irresistible, almost lyrical "Hi, little guy" prefaced her Charlie Bear bribe as Casey cautiously went for the offering.

Finger tips to pink and black nose, practically face to muzzle.  Just as we'd planned...until Vic and I heard the snap of static electricity, generated from her glide across the living room carpet.  This best laid plan resulted in our new kid frantically looking for a way out of the backyard. From berm to berm, bush to bush, Casey was probably wondering what he had gotten into.  And just what kind of people were we anyway?

In spite of this inauspicious start, after several anxious moments, careful, very careful, coaxing - I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, little boy - resulted in a group hug on the end of the deck. The first of thousands.  We were a pack.

Homecoming

First photo of "Bob" surveying his new home

After detailing the pet carrier, as well as its bewildered occupant, the Prius started its commuter trek north. I wish I would have been able to take a photo of my stoic passenger's profile, focusing on Interstate 5 straight ahead from his carrier as if entranced.  It occurred to me then that several hours earlier this little guy had never seen a highway, and even two-lane roads near his farm in Kellogg, Minnesota were at a premium. What he must have been thinking.

A couple of hours later we were in Bellingham, Washington.

Home was a single-story rambler with a fenced back-yard, and a front yard just large enough for a Frisbee toss - a must for a Border Collie - on the southside of town. Environs that didn't come close to resembling Bob's free-range existence on the farm. He seemed underwhelmed as I set up his carrier in the living room. A sliding-door opened onto a backyard deck, and after I had finished configuring his new digs I found our boy perched stoically on the far edge glancing at every passing bird and digesting each new sound.

Less than a half-hour later I heard his new mom on the front porch. This ought to be good.

Hitting the road for home

Casey's last romp in Minnesota with Mom

A short walk around the tarmac with Bob was no where near as comforting for our urine-soaked Minnesota refugee as I was hoping. There was no sign that this little guy had been traumatized by his flight, but he had no intention of relieving himself after his six-hour trip (including a stopover in Minneapolis). A sniff here, another there, an occasional glance at Pacific Highway traffic, and rarely acknowledging the existence of the big guy on the other end of the leash.

It was time to hit the road for home, but first thing first. My new charge was in dire need of a bath. After removing smelly, wet debris from his carrier, I installed it in my Prius for a side-trip south to Federal Way. For the record, his water dish was dry, a plastic bag of adult kibble (Purina One) was taped to the carrier top, and paperwork accompanying the crate indicated Bob was actually seven-months-old, all red flags for mistreatment. A discussion for later.

One thing for sure, Bob would be in his forever home in a couple of hours. Before that though, my daughter-in-law Ernie would soon be the first of the tribe to meet the kid, urine or no urine. Some introduction to the family. No where to go but up.