Best Girls Ever

My two beautiful girls. Well, only one of them is really mine, but I do love that Charlotte too, yes I do! Abbie is my sweet, adorable white Cocker Spaniel who loves to eat grass and Charlotte is the equally adorable black and white Springer Spaniel who pretty much stares at me like this all day long.

I gave Abbie to Lauren for Christmas 10 years ago and when I wasn’t fond of the idea of her taking her when she went back to school in Fort Collins in 2008 (seriously…from the only home she has known to living the college life at 9?), she went and got Charlotte against the best judgement of the folks at Denver Dumb Friends League (didn’t ask me, wise choice). Seems that warning from previous owners that she had snapped at a neighbor once was a bit underplayed. But also seems they forgot to mention that they must have been hitting her; you can just tell by how she cowers if you look at her sideways, makes me so sad thinking of someone hurting her.

Lauren had several incidents when she snapped at someone, even biting the hand of her step grandmother. Seems it was a natural progression sometime in March or April to have her stay here a bit; she’s not left for long periods of time by herself and as the weather got warmer, she and Abbie have the freedom of a larger home AND the backyard…and Char baby loves that backyard. She follows me from room to room to room so comes in when I do but when we’re outside she is in constant exploration mode.

She’s been meeting a lot more people living with me and we haven’t had an issue in months, but I am admittedly more cautious and she is good about a muzzle for things like visits to the vet. Just took her in for heartworm check and meds (doesn’t paying for food and doctor visits qualify for dog ownership, hmm?) and she didn’t seem to be troubled by the dogs or the vet; so I’m cautiously optimistic that more socialization combined with being around people that love her is really making a difference. She is such a sweet, adoring companion.

Abbie doesn’t much care for Char…but then she has never much cared for any other dog, ever. She loves people, period…well and tennis balls; with a passion. She and I have enjoyed countless afternoons having her chase balls I hit with a tennis racket. Sadly, she hurt her ACL two years ago and I just had to remove that program from her life but she will still occasionally get ahold of a round green spherical object (yep, that’s what we really have to call them here) and her passion obviously remains! Anyway, after a couple of months, Abbie and Char have found a relative peace.

There have been the occasional moments on my bed when they are within eyeball distance of each other and Abbie’s not grring at her (can’t actually call it growling, but you know what I mean) so I’m encouraged that although never see Abbie snuggling up next to her, there is something of an acceptance going on! Char will probably stay the summer with Lauren having visitation.

Don’t get me wrong…Char LOVES Lauren, is so excited to see her, but she will also lay flat on the foyer floor when she tries to take her home or will jump on the couch next to me and give me that ‘please, please, can I stay a bit longer?’ look. Got to wonder? Is it the cookies…or companionship? I hope the latter.