This picture arrived on my cell phone around noon yesterday. I knew my daughter and her fiance were visiting their friend’s farm and that their friend professionally shows and breeds dogs, so I thought hmmmm, okay. She’s just showing me a cute puppy, a long-haired daschund. There’s no way she’s going to take it home, because she just got two sugar gliders to add to her menagerie of two bulldogs, six fish tanks, and a cat. Then came the phone call:
Daughter: Oh mom. You have to take him! He’s blind in one eye, and they can’t find a home for him. ____’s wife wants to put him down!
Me: I don’t know, Lis. . .blind? Was it injury or disease? Did they have his eye removed?
Daughter: No, no. He was born that way. It’s a birth defect. He’s got his eye, it’s just cloudy.
Me: I don’t know. He may need surgery, and that’s expensive. And there’s neutering, and shots. . . And how has he been raised so far? In the barn? You know, Hanna is very peculiar about dogs she’ll socialize with. . .and boys are harder to train than girls, and then there’s the whole breeder issue…
Daughter: Hanna loves small dogs. He’ll always be small, and he’s a total lap dog. All he wants to do is be held. He was so meant to be with you. Trust me on this, mom. You’ll love him.
Daughter: If you don’t take him, they’re probably going to put him down next week.
Daughter: I remember how much you loved the daschund you had when you were a teenager. Sam. Wasn’t that her name?
Daughter: If you were here, you’d take him. You wouldn’t let him die.
Daughter: I know you wouldn’t.
(Long Pause)
Me: What’s his name?
Daughter: He doesn’t have one yet.
Me: He’s three months old and they didn’t even name him? That’s sad.
Daughter: Isn’t it? He’s so cute, Mom. And such a mellow dog. You’d love him so much.
Daughter: Really, he’s just a love. A total bundle of cuddliness.
Daughter: He’s licking my hand right now. Aw. . .I think he knows I found him a home.
Hudson the one-eyed wonder dog is coming home Tuesday. Whether for the short term, until I can find him a home, or the long term has yet to be decided.
In any case, the vet has been called, puppy stuff has been brought out of storage, and the only thing left to do is break the news to the very well-behaved, settled-into-middle-age, and happily singular Hanna, whom I suspect will not be as easily talked into an unexpected adoption, no matter how cute, cuddly, or pressed for luck.
Maybe I’ll have Elisabeth talk to her.
10 responses so far ↓
1 dee // May 5, 2008 at 3:41 am
Awww Jane… whats one more? Actually Hanna may surprise and this be exactly what she needs.
I’m glad your daughter doesn’t have my phone number.
2 Jeanne // May 5, 2008 at 11:06 am
did your daughter and my daughter go to the same daughter school? it is the exact same conversation I have had with Cassidy - who at 23 has three dogs! Hudson sounds wonderful and it probably is fate…enjoy!
3 Alison // May 5, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Hudson the One-Eyed-Wonder sounds like a terrific starring character for a children’s book on finding acceptance and love despite having a disability. Hopefully Hanna will go along with the script, but I see income potential here!
4 Doris Rose MacBean // May 6, 2008 at 11:39 am
a dachsund, awww. They can worm into anyone’s heart.
5 Jane Devin // May 6, 2008 at 1:14 pm
The girl is persuasive. Hudson is almost here. I’ll update when the boy arrives!
I feel like a new parent!
6 Katies Mom // May 7, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Aw Jane. You old softie! Bless you for caring.
7 VIVIAN // May 11, 2008 at 9:26 am
Happy Mothers day to ya Jane. How is HannaJo taking to Hudson.? I bet Hudson, just keeps trying to cuddle with her. They are so fun.
8 VIVIAN // May 11, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I stayed home with my two little girls today. They miss me so much when i go away for a while. i take them with me, as much as possible, but now that it is getting hot, they have to stay home,because the car gets too hot. They either ignore me when i come home, or thay will not leave me alone. The girls are now 12 years ol, but like their mama, they feel and look younger. Must be in the” jeans” they are here by me right now, wanting to say happy Mothers day to ALL.
Happy Mother’s Day back atcha, Vivian! To answer your previous question, Hanna is not liking Hudson very much at all, but tolerating him with typical big dog attitude. Hudson is oblivious to her dislike and her growls, and sneaks off with Hanna’s toys and bones. Time will tell who prevails. - Jane
9 Patty G. // May 14, 2008 at 8:13 am
What a perfect name for your new puppy “Hudson.”
Eventually Hannah will begin to help Hudson get around and teach him the in’s and out’s of the doggie world.
I know when I brought home a puppy for my older dog after her life partner past on, she was not thrilled at all. Eventually she came around and within 2 weeks she had the new puppy house broken!
They’re playing together now, Pattie! Hanna is being surprisingly gentle. - Jane
10 Elf // May 21, 2008 at 12:42 am
Hi Jane, Daughter’s alway know best, yes? Was afraid to ask about Hanna, but I know Bailey(present dog or rodent :>)cross between, Chihihaua(can’t spell it only will pronounce it)Boston Terrior, & Pug. All American& a Heinz 57 I call her(everbody asks about her here in the park), What the hell is she??, etc. Anyways, Bailey wants to know why she has no friends, or put it this way ….no live -in friends? The damn dog is social (more than me)i don’t know what to do, she was raised in a pack rat (meaning amongst other dogs and she loves other dogs), but at gas going over
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