It was common knowledge that Jazzy needed a friend to hang out with. A non-human friend. So for years, I played with the idea, however knowing that the odds of adopting two low maintenance, people-like dogs in a row, was not likely, I went for it.
There was open adoption one day about 2 years ago, right when it was about to be time for me to start working from home. I knew this would give me more time to attempt and train whatever new beast I’d found.
The adoption event was at The Galleria Mall in Houston, and there looked to be, a small, low maintenance, three year old Chihuahua named “Bandita.”
She had been a caged breeder dog (who would want more of these, I am not sure) and when the breeder was done with her, she took her to the pound to be destroyed, where the rescue group then came to save her. I paid my $26 pet adoption fee to the rescue group, changed her name to Bella ,and took her home to see what would happen, and hope for the best.
I was told that she was friendly with children and other pets as well as being house broken. None of which, I soon learned, was true.
She soon got along great with Jazzy, but she was not even almost potty trained, and she ran after the UPS delivery man like a wild wolverine.(Actually, he only laughed at her in the beginning, I guess because a wild chihuahua chasing you down, while wearing a pink and white checkered diaper, is actually kind of funny! (Yes, she had to wear doggy diapers for 6 months while I was trying to potty train her.)She tortured anyone who passed by the front of the house if we were outside. She became very possessive over me, and to this day she feels that it is her job to manage the household.
She’s very jealous of Jazzy, and always wants to be the center of attention. She has watched our interactions with Jazzy, and learned some vocabulary and is smart. However, just because she knows what you want, doesn’t mean she wants to do it.
The good part? the good part, is that Jazzy has a friend and they actually do play a lot. Bella is finally out of diapers, and she loves nothing better than to sit in your lap during movie nights at home on the sofa. She thinks she runs things, so we have to straighten out her attitude at times, but from the life of a caged breeder, she has come a long way and we were able to save a life and give a pet a home!
It is sad to see her lick on Jazzy’s fur, as if she were one of her babies. Jazzy isn’t sure what to think about it, but lets it go.
In addition, she does radiate plenty of love in her own little bossy way and fills our home with another little heart that cares when you come back home and walk through the door.
Again I say, it’s a crap shoot, however it is rewarding to know you’ve given a little heart a place to call home.
September 17, 2012
–SDS
