I remember when Ralph first came to live with us I worried about him greatly. This was a dog that exhibited signs of being abused and/or neglected. He would tremble every time you picked him up, yet look at you with these adoring eyes and try to lick your face enthusiastically.
It's hard to explain but I immediately bonded with the dog from the first time I held him in my arms. A neighbor on our street almost ran over him, and yet another neighbor down the street cared for him until the Humane Society could come and pick him up on the following Monday.
Ralph (the kid's named him) was constantly in my mind but I told myself the last thing I needed was another dog. I already had two, as well as an assortment of other animals, including 2 guinea pigs and 7 fish. But I could not stop thinking about him.
After an animal has been taken to the Humane Society, the waiting period is 5 days until you can pick him up. It has to be a full five days, which meant we could not pick him up until Saturday and of course, they were closed on the weekends. We picked him up Monday.
And it's been a wild ride ever since. Tiny and Bruiser were none too sure of this itty bitty intruder, and Ralph was terrified of them. That soon changed and it was not too long after that both Tiny and Bruiser tried to tempt Ralph to come out from underneath the rocking chair to play.
Getting him to actually eat more than a few bites took me about a week. I changed bowls (different sizes) several times, and each bowl became progressively smaller. It was almost as if he was intimidated by larger bowels. He now eats out of a guinea pig food bowl. I'm proud to say that Ralph is now eating like a champ, and, as a plus, he is eating the same food as the other dogs.
Tiny and Bruiser would play rough with Ralph most of the time, but Ralph would hold his own. I remember thinking to myself; "one of these days they'll push him too far, and it'll all be over with but the crying." Little did I know that prediction would come true.
I was out of town this weekend and when I came home, my husband told me this story:
"I was in the front of the garage folding laundry when all of a sudden I heard Bruiser barking pitifully. When I got a closer look, I found that Ralph had backed Bruiser underneath the car and wouldn't let him get out. He never made a sound, just bared his teeth, and the hair was standing up on his back. When I looked around for Tiny, I saw that she was over on the other side of the lawn. It took me a while to coax Bruiser out, and when I finally did, he kept his distance from Ralph for most of the rest of the day."
All is well though. Ralph and Bruiser are fast friends. All three dogs play together nicely, but if Tiny and Bruiser get a little rough, all that Ralph has to do is show his teeth, and they both back off. It's going to be interesting to see how this fans out.
I'm thinking I don't have to worry so much about Ralph after all. Looks like he's going to do just fine on his own.
Comments
Just like a kid on a playground..they find their way. Good for him!
Posted by: debby at November 21, 2005 06:23 PM
Yep -- he just had to get comfortable enough to be his true self. Funny how much dogs are really like people, huh?
Posted by: Robin at November 21, 2005 08:22 PM
Sounds like a happy ending for Ralph!
Posted by: Heather at November 21, 2005 09:23 PM
I am glad all is well in Ralph's world. I am also glad I am not the only animal sucker on the planet. I haven't mentioned this but I recently acquired a new kitten. I couldn't let it suffer and die in a shelter.
Posted by: Melonie at November 21, 2005 09:31 PM
If only most of us were more like Ralph. :-)
Posted by: Texas T-bone at November 21, 2005 10:29 PM
Yeah ralph reminds me of my last dog, small but oh boy did other dogs not get out the way the bigger the faster the ran, so I can relate to this one.. Once he realises it's okay he'll wanna bigger bowl. Melonie don't you got enough over there, your turning into "wahwer" you do realise (shhhhhh - don't tell her I said that:P)
Posted by: Gopher at November 22, 2005 06:10 PM
I love to watch the way animals interact. They really are a lot like children. Cute story!!
Posted by: donnay at November 23, 2005 11:47 AM
I love to watch the way animals interact. They really are a lot like children. Cute story!!
Posted by: donnay at November 23, 2005 11:48 AM
How wonderful! Another doggie!
Funny how pets are. For instance, I have two cats that are almost like twins, black and white tuxedo cats, and one will pounce the other, wrestle all over the kitchen floor, and then they pause, licke each other on the head, and go back to their everyday routine of sleeping and eating relentlessly. Go figure.
Have a great holiday!
Posted by: Lindsay K. at November 23, 2005 12:26 PM
oooh That stuff above looks troublesome...Glad Ralph is doing fine...Nice story
Posted by: Zoots Mom at November 26, 2005 10:47 AM
He sounds soooo sweet. I so very much want a dog. Maybe soon...
Posted by: Carmi at November 27, 2005 11:22 PM