Of SHAME, I tell you

I have made it home with sad, pathetic, cone-of-shame dog. I can't keep from pouting as I type it. He's that sad and drugged out. His eyes are all glassy and he has a shallow hiccup-like cough that comes and goes. It's all normal but it sure does tug at the heart strings. As we crossed the courtyard to get to the apartment every pre-schooler playing after dinner asked, "What's on his HEAD?"

One of the good things about a blog is having a record that's easily searchable. So I'll let you know what went down for him today. The neutering went really well. The incision site looks just great, for an incision site. and it shouldn't need any attention. We go back for a wound check on the 4th. He needs to be kept quiet for seven days. Tonight that's easy. I have a feeling it's going to get less and less easy as the anesthesia leeches out of his body. He cannot work out how to adapt to the cone. As a rule he's an inveterate face rubber. This is really cramping his style. I spent a little time getting out of my work clothes and getting some food together before we sat down and every other step I got whacked in the leg with the cone because he couldn't get close enough to me. He's got anti-inflammatories he needs for 4 days starting tomorrow. He can have a little bit of food this evening but I honestly don't know if he'll take it.

They microchipped him while he was under, at my request. I have to register him so they know who to call if he ever gets scanned and, of course, there's a fee to register and an annual fee for the database but I'm thinking that $15 a year is a decent fee for peace of mind. With a dog this quick I think I need peace of mind.

I got a call just after noon from the vet tech. While he was under they discovered that he had two baby teeth that hadn't fallen out and needed to be pulled. It was only $10 each and they needed to come out so, really, at this point what's an extra $20. I'll write out a more comprehensive budget for rescuing a dog soon but for now I'll simplify it to: save your fucking pennies, it ain't cheap.

Apparently he was the uber cuddler at the vet, whining for attention when he got put away in the cage and sucking up to my favorite tech. When he was brought out to the lobby for me, though, he immediately began crying and shaking as though they'd been handing out hourly beatings. Must remember that this dog is a player, a sweet, cuddly player.

I had some things I thought I had to do tonight. However, the dog needs to be kept quiet and he's all glassy-eyed and out of it. He thinks he wants to chase cats and run around but he can't do any of that. So he's finally found a comfortable spot in my lap and his eyes only open to half mast every once in a while and I think we're going to stay right here. There's nothing so important we can't fit it in another time when he feels better.