Howdy Friends!
Starved, worried and confused Sadie slipped cautiously
through the trees near our barn. Kessy spied her first, then the chickens and
cats scattered. The dangerously, skinny black dog looked at me and I saw fear
in her eyes, but also saw want of, and offer to, love. At first she made a move
to run away, but I think she was just too tired. She offered a feeble tail wag.
I knelt by Kessy and talked to the frightened pup and suddenly she bounced to
me. She fell on her back begging for a tummy rub, which I offered for as long
as she needed.
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| Sadie gobbles her mid-morning snack on her glider |
She and Saturday followed me to the tack room where she
gobbled down two servings of Saturday’s dog food. I sat with her as she gulped
her first meal in who knew how long. She was heavily laden with flies, ticks
and scabs. So next stop, our bath tub and two successive baths. Boy howdy did I
lather her up! She listened pretty darn well, only struggled a little. It was
during the baths that I realized how sharp was this little gal. A slight exaggeration,
but it seemed, if I thought it, she tried to do it.
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| Ravishin' Robbie & Sadie's first meeting |
Ravishin’ Robbie came home a few hours later and was in
total agreement that little Sadie, as she named her, needed to be part of our
critter clan. Worn and tired, standing a frail 20 inches tall, and weighing
only 28 pounds young Sadie had been running on her own for some time, and the
wear showed in her body, and eyes. I’ll never understand how folks can drive to
the woods and just discard a bundle of love like so much unwanted trash. But
they do. Every cat, and every dog we’ve ever had have been strays who have
found us ... Unrecognized by others as gifts from God.
Sadie arrived last
Thursday and in addition to several baths (Saturday got one too) we fed her
every few hours and gave her tons of lovin’—and she reciprocated. We allowed
her in the house much of the day, but she slept on the porch glider Thursday
night. Friday morning the changes in Sadie were not only noticeable, but
downright unbelievable! She joined Saturday, Kessy and me for Coffee Clutch ...
The kitties though did not. Our chickens have taken Sadie under their wings and
treat her like part of their flock.
After breakfast on Friday I planned on a ride, but what
about Sadie? I didn’t want her to use all the energy, but Saturday always goes
along. Before I rode out I checked on Sadie and found her sleeping on the glider.
Saturday was with her, so I snuck out alone.
We were about 10 minutes out when I noticed Kessy turning
her ears back. I’m not able to look back over my shoulder anymore so when I
want to look behind I ask Kessy to turn around and when we did, there on the
trail behind us was Saturday ... and Sadie! I kept the ride on Friday short,
for Sadie. She loved the adventure!
Sadie enjoyed numerous evenly spaced good meals, and lounged on her
porch glider most of the rest of the day Friday, then joined us for TV time in
the evening. We were gone a bit during the day and we risked leaving her in the
house with Saturday. All went well! She is quite the well mannered young lady,
we guess her age at about 5 months. We did leave her out on the porch overnight
though, not sure of the night time potty habits.
Saturday Robbie and I were gone the best part of the day, I had a book
signing, so Sadie and Saturday were on their own. In the evening we had them
join us for TV time—and even had Sadie spend the night inside. Remarkably at
6AM she woke us asking to go out! Seems the potty details are as natural to her
as they were with Saturday when he found us 6 years ago.
Sunday as I took Kessy through her pre-ride exercises and
saddled up, Sadie sat with Saturday and watched every move. When I rode out
they both fell in line and jogged along. Sadie performed as if she’d been a
trial riding pal for years already, always keeping a safe distance, not
straying, and stopping whenever Kessy did. Of course I understand Saturday is a
most perfect example of a trail riding dog, and a fine mentor on all things
dog, horse and human. We rode an hour on Sunday. Sadie again slept indoors
Sunday night; she has been awarded her certificate of excellence in house
manners.
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| Sadie & Saturday on the trail with Kessy & me ... Yesterday Sadie decided she also likes to run alongside Kessy, sometimes under my stirrup! |
Yesterday, Monday, we rode out again, into a light rain. Sadie
has mastered the pre-ride activities and now along with Saturday, monitors
Kessy’s and my preparation with eager anticipation. Yesterday we rode an hour
and a half—and that bouncing, skinny black bundle of fun, silliness and
sweetness simply amazed me. She has in three ride become a trail riding buddy,
perfect in every way.
A bit different from Saturday though, who almost always
trots just at Kessy’s heels, Sadie does that but adds buckets of energy to her
adventures on the trail. She’ll trot behind with Saturday, then on a whim break
away and run lightning fast loops around us, sometimes disappearing from sight
only to explode from the brush next to us, in front of us, or behind us. Kessy
never shows any sign of being startled, her only reaction is an ear turned to
Sadie. I came to two realizations on yesterday’s ride, my bird watching from
the saddle will most certainly be affected ... and I doubt I’ll ever ride up on
a bear again!
I noticed Sadie, like Kessy and Saturday are so in tune to
me I pretty much need only think what I wanted and she’ll do it as we ride. It’s
as if we’d been partners for years. I wondered yesterday was there perhaps a
bit of Sweetness and Jigs’ spirits (my two long gone trail riding pals) in Sadie,
running with her, offering advice. She reminds me so of them. We had a most
perfect ride yesterday and none of us minded the rain!
The kitties have just begun to accept Sadie, some more than
others. Coffee Clutch today was wonderful, Sadie moseys about a bit, but also
lays content with Saturday, Kessy and me. The kitties watch from a safe
distance, Bullet even joined us today briefly.
I weighed Sadie this morning, she’s up to 31 pounds. In a
few weeks when she has really bounced back we’ll have her spayed, get her
rabies shot etc. She is a sweet, sweet girl and I’m sorry for the bad she had
to experience, but she’s home now.
We thank you God for this gift of abundant love!
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| Sadie and me grabbin' a winks ... |
Gitty Up, Dutch Henry
