October 18, 2006
Yesterday’s CBC, the weekly blood check, had a readout that was so fine I would be getting a blue ribbon at the State Fair if there were a category for such things. The blood was normal in every way for the first time since the beginning of this new life; I walked out of the Specialty Clinic at the hospital clutching my paper and grinning like an idiot.
In the afternoon, we were invited to visit Alphie and see the improvements in his behavior. He did very well and walked and sat and waited for us as well as for the trainer. We got our instruction sheets to study so that we too will modify our behavior when we get him back home. Mostly it is like classroom teaching; have an expectation, be consistant in enforcing every rule and unacceptable behavior has “consequences”. I think for Alphie the consequences are no petting, no treats, and “time out” in his kennel. When we left without him, Alphie had the look of supreme sorrow which is pure canine heartbreak – it was very difficult to walk away from him. Now the trainer will be taking him “out and about” to PetSmart and other such places where dogs are welcome. We will be reunited upon our return from the California adventure.
In Alphie’s absence Cataboo, the little gray and white striped cat that lived on our porch for a while last winter, came back. He was sitting on a chair out there and he purred and smiled when I petted him. He was thin and fit and today, while we were watching out of the window, he came down the path, pounced on one of those squirrels that have been putting away pounds and pounds of sunflower seeds and caught it even though it appeared to be as large as he was. He hauled his prize off into the bushes and we were left to consider the latent jungle properties of this little cat which is definitely not a pet.