Thursday, February 09, 2006

I have a new home now!

Before I left the country I had to give away my dog Max aka Maxwell (when I was mad at him) aka Maxi.He was a great dog but his high spirited personality made him quite a handful.In his younger days as a pup when he could fit under the gate on trash day he would rummage through the neighbours trash for food messing up driveways and trust me they were not pleased at all!As a young pup the other dog we had (one of those minature breeds) and the cat would gang up on him and beat him up.They were shocked when due to his breed (some labrador crossbreed) he became bigger then both of them!I remember his pulling the cat of the bonnet of the car with it's tail in his teeth while the cat growled with it's claws unable to grip the smooth surface of the car.He would also bug the other dog which was getting testy as it was around 70 in dog years.
The car for a long time used to have a big depression on either the roof or the bonnet as at night he would climb on the car to slumber.I think a car thief would be shocked at the security measure we had taken.But he was a great guard dog!No-one could get two steps near our gate without him barking.But he also had some interesting habits!If you made the mistake of leaving any laundry on the line he would take it down and sleep on it, I remember we had this gal who used to live in our extension and he would take her petticoats off the line and deposit them on the front of the driveway (I think he was trying to say something coz she had really cheap petticoats).He would also chew socks if you left them hanging out there, also a few buckets served as distractions for him while he dumped shoes that were left outdoors in unexpected places.
He was also had a very large appetite.He would inhale his food in the few seconds that you served it.He was not allowed in the house but due to his keen sense of smell he knew where the dog food was kept so you could never leave the front door open.I remember once my mum wanted to put some clothes out so she opened the door slowly and walked to the backyard.So a few minutes later my mum says she can't see Max and that he must have gone out of the compound.So I put on my shoes and go searching, after 15 minutes I of course didn't see him and it dawned on me where he could be.So I went to the kitchen to find him polishing off bones and vegetables that were meant to feed him and the other dog for a week.The classic moment came when my mum had gone for one of these ladies meetings and as usual there are loads of food at those gatherings.So my mum carried some for herself and gave a friend a lift.The two of them decided to come home and chat.So my mum drives in, carries her food and they go upstairs.When it came time for leaving my mum goes to the car and gets in with her friend but her friend can't trace her food!When they got into the car none of the doors were open so they go upstairs to see if maybe the food had been brought in by mistake, but that wasn't to be.As my mum goes back to the car she sees Max crunching some chicken bones and licking his lips, it seems that one of the doors was left open so he got in took out the bag and closed the door somehow.I am dead serious because I was there!Anyway you can see how much trouble and fun he was and with me leaving my mum knew she couldn't handle him so I had to give him away.
My mum told me to dump him on the road, but I was like there is no way!I took him to the KSPCA.Whenever I saw someone with a dog here I would remember him and I had been mailing KSPCA for progress reports and wanting to know how I can help.So I got this in my mail lately.

Dear Aco,
Sorry for being so long in replying to your e mail. Your dog was rehomed to a housing estate down the Langata Road (it might have been Dam Estate). He was checked up on later and was found to have settled well and looked happy.
If you want to make a donation you should send a cheque made out to the KSPCA and post it to KSPCA P.O.Box 24203, 00502 Karen, Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa. If you want to sponsor a kennel, it would cost you roughly $20 dollars a month per dog - and usually there are two per kennel. Let me know what you think.
I hope you are enjoying the US.
Regards,
Jean Gilchrist,
Director of Animal Welfare.



This was him at the KSPCA a few days before I left, he almost jumped over the fence to get to me; it was so sad.But it is good to know that he is tearing up someone else's underwear and sleeping on their car, sniff sniff......

19 comments:

Bee said...

ohhh!! That was such a sweet story :( I would never be able to handle owning a dog, they are soo loving and trusting and therefore so vulnerable and I really hate seeing anyone's (or dog's) feelings get hurt. I read this sad article about dog fights which said that since the dogs in these fights love their owners so much they do their best and fight hard despite the fact that during the fight they get hurt painfully and sometimes even get killed. All the dogs want to do is win because that way their owner gets pleased and shows them a bit of the affection they so want. If the dogs lose their owner screams at them and withholds any love leaving the dog feeling sad and depressed so ofcourse the next time they try to fight even harder :(. I thought this was so sad...anyway, maybe thats why I might own a cat instead coz cats are independent and don't try to please people or allow anyone to hurt their feelings

S said...

Awww! He looks so sweet! Sad ! :( Acolyte you made me sad now..my cat died.

Since then i'm scared of getting any more pets, you get sooo attached to them. They don't speak back..and after a long day at work..they run to meet you at the front door..makes it worth coming home.

I'm honestly saaad!!


:( :( :(

Anonymous said...

@ kenyangal
I hate ppl who do such things to their dogs ie making them fight.I dont like cats coz of that reason, they dont love as much as dogs.
@ sanaa
pole 'bout your cat, she musta been old!Yeah it is heart rending to have to leave a pet coz of the way you get attached to their unconditional love....

Whispering Inn said...

Good dog!

Mocha! said...

AAAWWWW!

KenyanMusings said...

sniff sniff..I so feel you. Love dogs. he so cute!

Anonymous said...

@ Whispering Inn
Yeah he was a good dog!
@ mocha and kenyanmusings
I miss him so......:(

Farmgal said...

that nearly brought tears to my eyes sweety.
lookat his eyes poor thing but am glad he was rehoused.

Anonymous said...

@ farmgal
Yes I am really happy for him as least he has a new home now!

Anonymous said...

@ keguro
I can see you with one of those Paris Hilton like dogs with the small bag to boot!

Spidey/Tato said...

i'm surprised they even replied.

by any chance do u love those walt disney movies that involve animals: u sound like the fox and the hound kinda guy

woiye hope u find another doggy when u settle down

Anonymous said...

@ couch tato
It took them several weeks but I guess the fact that I mentioned money spurred them on.I wouldn't mind another dog time and space permitting.Disney is evil.....

Spidey/Tato said...

BWAH HA HA HA ati EVIL!!!! kwanza i'm seeing ati there is Bambi 2 what the Kcuf?!

Anonymous said...

@ couch tato
Damn bastards couldnt resist milking the story for all its worth!

Milonare said...

Woishe Aco

Pole bout your mofi...

Lakini I have never liked pets. Too much work and then too much emotion when you lose them...

Prousette said...

aww you have a soft side...I cannot stand living with dogs (am a cat person ) if they pull stunts like maxi did, i would make it my mission on this earth to see that they are relocated.

Anonymous said...

@ Milo
Kids are alot like that only that you never lose them they keep coming back to ask for money....
@ prou
I don't like cats much, way way too boring!

Anonymous said...

I love dogs, we had one since before I was born and his name was Teddy - he died of old age and we kids held a funeral for him, it was so sad.

When I was home in Dec, the builder guys gave me a dog - he is so cute and they couldnt understand why I kept talking to him and playing with him. I got adopted by a dog last night, he was soooo huge and he greets you at the door and sees you off - oh and comes for a rub every so often, he is the real landlord of the place.

Your dog looks sooo cool - I woulda had him but I hate havin to leave dogs at home all day alone - so I cant have one in my place.

Hope Max gets to be happy..

Anonymous said...

@ Guess
Seems I am not the only dog lover in KBW!Yeah life in the west makes it hard to keep a dog!I hope that he is happy too!