Mudge

Okay, so we agreed that we would wait until after summer to start even thinking about another pet, despite the girls' daily pleading and wailing about wanting one, because we still feel the loss of our beloved Chief. Clint and I were united in this matter, and that was a relief. So this is what united parenting feels like. Ah, but it didn't last long, because two weeks ago, I found this little guy trotting up the back road on my way to pick up Maisey from school.

He's the cutest little Chug--chihuahua and pug mix. We tried to find his owners, spoke to the neighbors, called the kennel lady down the road, as well as the local adoption agency, and no one had reported him missing. It's as if he was set down on that back road, just waiting for me to appear (This is how some some college kids and local eejits deal with an impulsive adoption decision and/or their unspayed and/or unneutered pets' offspring. And it happens a lot).

The girls were attached instantly. Evie especially, as I had to put the puppy in her lap so that I could drive the rest of the way to get Maisey that day. Who could resist this adorable cuteness?

Even Clint fell prey to the cutness factor.

After an immediate checkup to treat his cold and worms, the days began to slip by and we were caught up in puppy's, feeding, potty training, playing, and sleeping. We started calling him Mudge. But throughout that first week, there were several "incidents" where the kids at various times and ways dropped poor little Mudge. Then it happened.

He broke his leg.

I rushed him to the vet, and got him patched up. I felt so guilty. Clint was angry. The biggest lesson I learned this week is that my seemingly precocious 3 1/2 year old is not quite ready for a puppy. At least not without constant supervision.

You'd think I was smart enough to know that already, but there it is. Evie and I both learned something the hard way.

We now employ a three pronged approach to the new addition: training puppy, teaching children about pet responsibility and safety, and adult adjustments to even more responsibility.

Little Mudge is doing just fine, and I am hoping the new rules keep everyone safe and happy. The upside could be that we have a pegleg puppy to play pirate with. If they were allowed to play with him now. They're not. He's not supposed to run or play until his leg is completely healed, but Mudge doesn't agree with that treatment plan. He's been a challenge to stop when he gets wound up--which might provide a little insight as to why I found him on the road in the first place. He's a bitey little tasmanian devil sometimes.

As of yesterday he was his bitey, running, crazy little self, running on three legs, his pegleg just skimming the grass, his little growl very close to a pirate's arrrgh matey.I had to laugh. He fits right in here.