Shelter dogs and worms

Busy week.  Our house has been taken over by Jester the shelter dog.  The original plan was for us to foster him for just until he went to an animal sanctuary to live out his final days. 

I make plans and God laughs. 

Jester is an 8 year-old stray with high heart worms and double dewclaws.  Seriously, this dog looks like he would fit in just fine at Ernest Hemingway's house with its six-toed cats.  Well, first we were just going to foster him for a couple of days and then we would take him to Marie's Peaceful Surroundings where they would make his last days comfortable.  Then I picked him up on Thursday afternoon and spent the next few hours telling him what a good boy he was.  Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to wait until John made the trip up here rather than us going there, right?  So I figured I bought myself a few more nights with Jester - but remember that thing about God and my plans?  On Saturday night the dreaded email came John and Marie had things lined up and they were ready for Jester.  John was coming on Monday to pick up Teddy (the other rescue they were taking in) and Jester. Although I tried to put on a brave face to the public, tears and sobs ensued at home.  I had fallen for Jester.  How was I going to tell Jim that another male was going to be making his home in our house?  He wouldn't be upset, would he?  So I call John and beg for just a little more time with the old boy.  He and Marie were so gracious and understanding they even convinced me that what I was doing could actually be in Jester's best interests.  Which was a good thing as I was already planning if they said no to go on the lam and head straight for Mexico with the dog - maybe Canada.  I don't think they have extradition for dog napping, right?

 

My darling husband is now walking around telling Jester and anyone else that will listen that he has a way of worming himself into people's hearts (he thinks he is being cute with his wordplay on the whole heartworm thing, but now that he has stopped yelling I am not about to start him up again by telling him otherwise). 

Poor Jester, being a stray is so imbedded into his nature that he apparently believes we put his food in the kitchen garbage can since that is where his head stays.  On the bright side, I may have finally figured out the path to a good diet plan; I feel so guilty eating in front of him that I share everything and only get to eat half of what is on my plate... which is kinda good since I always felt guilty for throwing away my pizza crust!

I do hope he is a candidate for heartworm treatment and we can get him all better so I can take him with us for walks and such!  I mean, after all, we are a perfect pizza eating team and you cannot mess with that.  Either way, he will spend his final days here happy and loved -  and with more garbage than even he can eat because we create a lot of trash. 

Here is the recipe for dog treats I made for Jester (stolen from the Brown-Eyed Baker)

Peanut Butter Doggie Bones

Ingredients:
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup low-fat milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder.
In another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk.
Add wet mixture to dry, and mix well.

Turn out dough on a lightly floured surface and knead.
Roll out to 1/4-inch thickness and cut out shapes.
Place on a greased baking sheet and bake 20 minutes or until lightly brown.
Cool on a rack and store in an airtight container.