Aoudad, or Barbary Sheep in the American Southwest

Aoudad, or Barbary Sheep eating cactus on the roadside in Lincoln, County, New Mexico. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman

I first saw a Barbary Sheep while exploring Billy the Kid country in Lincoln County, New Mexico. I had no idea Barbary Sheep existed and I was captivated by their beauty--like miniature, shaggy, bighorn sheep. I quickly learned that they are an "immigrant animal," as the Bureau of Land Management likes to call any creature they intend to kill until they are extinct.

Where did They Come From?

According to The Mammals of Texas Online, Aoudad were first displayed in American zoos around 1900. In 1950, fifty-seven zoo-bred animals were released alongside the Canadian River in New Mexico. According to Douglas Hampy's "Home Range and Seasonal Movement of Barbary Sheep in the Palo Duro Canyon," in 1957 and 1958, thirty-three Aoudad were collected from the New Mexico stock and released near Claude, Texas. Fourteen additional sheep were collected and released near Silverton, Texas in the Palo Duro Canyon.

Aoudad in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

Aoudad are also located on hunting reserves in eight Texas counties. It is suspected that small populations have escaped from these hunting reserves through the years, increasing the range and number of Aoudad in Texas and New Mexico. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the Aoudad was also introduced into Mexico and Spain with similar success to the U.S. populations.

So, the Aoudad, or Barbary Sheep, were first brought to the US for hunters, escaped the massive hunting ranches in Texas and are now thriving along the border of New Mexico and Texas. That's called "Wildlife Management" in Texas--we import endangered species, sell hunting licenses at shocking rates, lure the animals out into the open with bags of corn, then shoot them. When they are close to being completely wiped off the face of the earth the government finally acknowledges the activists and throws a few pennies their way for breeding programs so the animals can return to their original low numbers and we can start shipping them to Texas hunting ranches again.

Aoudad in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

Aoudad, or Barbary Sheep, vulnerable to extinction in their native North Africa, are thriving on the dry, rough terrain of the American Southwest where they have learned to escape the hunting ranch fences and hide from the hunters. In the arid American Southwest where the prickly pear cactus grow in tall stacks upon the hillsides and Billy the Kid once roamed, the Aoudad, or Barbary Sheep, now pick their way through the rocks and hide from hunters in the thick, live oak forests.

What Exactly is an Aoudad?

Aoudad are natives of North Africa, the only wild sheep indigenous to Africa, and vulnerable to extinction in their native land, but they are making a remarkable comeback in the historic Lincoln County of New Mexico and Llano County in Texas.

Aoudad are a species of Goat-antelope, or caprid. They are also known as Barbary Sheep, Waddan, Arui and Aruiss. According to The Mammals of Texas Online, they live in groups that include both sexes and all ages. Like Bighorn Sheep, they easily negotiate rocky hillsides and prefer a dry, waterless habitat.

Aoudad in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

They are as rough and wild as the land they now inhabit with their long, straggly coats. They have thick, scraggly, tan coats with hints of red that grow darker as they grow older. The undercoat is lighter, and on males, this lighter color also appears on the chest and front legs. Aoudad do not have beards like goats, but they do have hair on their throat that is also lighter in color. The tail of an Aoudad is fringed and 6 to 8 inches long.

One of the most distinctive features of the Aoudad ram is its wrinkled, curved horns rising from the peak of its head and curling back and thinning to a point as they curve around toward their backs, growing as much as 22 inches long. Females have similar, though smaller, horns.

The height of the Aoudad ranges from 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 feet to the shoulder and they are generally 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 feet long. They can weigh anywhere from 70 to 300 pounds!

The Aoudad female can give birth twice a year and they breed any time, but prefer September through November so their offspring will arrive in the spring months of March through May. Gestation is 160 days. According to Brent Huffman's Ultimate Ungulate, newborn Aoudad can be seen picking their way along the rocky hillsides almost immediately after birth.

Those Sneaky Little Immigrants!

Sadly, it is legal to hunt Aoudads in New Mexico and Texas with a valid hunting permit. It is doubtful that they will ever be considered endangered in the US because they were originally imported for hunting purposes and are not a native species. The Bureau of Land Management often refers to animals such as this as "immigrants" in press releases. Perhaps they think this will make us feel more comfortable seeing their carcasses on the side of the road if they can convince us the animals are stealing our jobs or living off our tax dollars.

Hunting permits were first issued in 1963 because the introduction of the species was so successful that it was deemed necessary to "cull the herds." According to The Mammals of Texas Online, by 1966, the Aoudad population in Palo Duro Canyon had increased to 500 sheep. According to the Harding County, New Mexico website, by 1987, the statewide population of Aoudads in New Mexico was over 20,000. Then again, I suppose it's important to keep in mind that in the American South and Southwest it is legal to shoot just about anything.

Sources:

• "Ammotragus lervia." The IUCN List of Endangered Species. Retrieved March 28, 2011. 
• "Barbary Sheep." The Mammals of Texas Online. Natural Science Research Laboratory at the Museum of Texas Tech University. Retrieved April 15, 2011. 
• Garrison, Mary Helen. "Barbary Sheep." Harding County, New Mexico: Northeastern New Mexico. Retrieved April 14, 2011. 
• Hampy, Douglas Brent. "Home Range and Seasonal Movement of Barbary Sheep in the Palo Duro Canyon." Masters Thesis, Texas Tech University, 1978. 
• Huffman, Brent. "Ammotragus lervia." Aoudad, Barbary Sheep. The Ultimate Ungulate. Retrieved April 14, 2011. 

Canadian Geese, Northern Flicker, Ferruginous Hawk, Hot Air Balloons

 Canadian Goose at sunset. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

I've had some health issues lately and my blogs have suffered, but my obsession with nature is thriving, as usual! It's amazing what you can see lying on lawn chairs in your own back yard. For one thing, I've noticed we have a huge flock of Canadian Geese in our neighborhood this year, the largest I've ever seen. Each night at sunset they fly back and forth over and sometimes around our house, sometimes so long I can feel the rush of air from their wings.

  Canadian Goose at sunset. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

This can be somewhat intimidating. I have always loved Canadian Geese, but they are large animals, wild animals, and can be aggressive and dangerous animals. For instance, for some reason they do not like bicycles and often attack bicyclists. I have a friend who has a pin in his collar bone from a serious injury incurred from an attack by three Canadian Geese. He is a competitive bicyclist and riding a bike trail when he saw the geese. They were not close, and he was caught completely off guard when they flew at him and knocked him from his bicycle.

  Canadian Goose at sunset in Rio Rancho, NM. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

Nevertheless, I do love watching them and photographing them, especially at sunset when the famous New Mexico colorful sunsets change the color of their feathers and make them shimmer like gold. I love the way I can hear them coming long before I see them. They are beautiful birds.

  Canadian Goose at sunset. I am always amazed by how close they can fly together without crashing into each other! Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

 
I'd noticed a spotted bird a few times while walking my dogs and thought it was a type of hawk. I discovered it was a hawk, and a spotted bird! I finally downloaded my photographs and discovered I was photographing two different types of birds.The first one I believe is a Ferruginous Hawk, But realized it was not, and it was a bird I'd never seen before. I posted the photo on Facebook and one of my friends immediately identified the bird as a Northern Flicker. My first!

Northern Flicker in Rio Rancho, NM. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

 When I first looked at the photo I thought it was a woodpecker. In fact, it did appear to be picking bugs out of the wood in the tree. However, although I was unfamiliar with woodpeckers prior to moving to Texas, I did see quite a few in Texas and something told me this was not a woodpecker!

Northern Flicker in Rio Rancho, NM. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman. 

Well, guess what? They ARE a type of woodpecker! So, this is the third time I have lived in this area of New Mexico in my lifetime, and I've been in this house two years. Why is this the first time I've seen a Northern Flicker? Where we live there is a county ordinance against lawns. The Northern Flicker is generally seen on the ground because its favorite foods are ants and beetles.

Mrs. Thrasher waiting for her late night snack after the finches and sparrows have gone to bed. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

Northern Flickers dig them out with their curved beaks, which resemble the beak on Mr. and Mrs. Thrasher, my friends who live in the shrub that grows over the brick wall on the side of my house. Unlike my Thrasher friends, the Northern Flicker is one of few woodpeckers who always migrates--another reason I may not have noticed this bird before in our area.

Northern Flicker. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

I may be having trouble identifying the other spotted bird, but I believe it is a juvenile Ferruginous Hawk. I am basing my identification on the beak and the tail, but if you suspect I have misidentified the bird, please let me know!

 I believe this is a juvenile Ferruginous Hawk. It has spent quite a bit of time in my backyard lately and does not seem bothered at all by my four dogs! Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

The reasons I believe it is a juvenile are rather funny. First, because I cannot definitively identify the bird! Juvenile birds are often hard to identify as their feathers change. The second reason is that I often see adult Ferruginous Hawks flying over the mesa in the nearby desert where the dogs and I used to go running before the local residents started using it as a trash dump. (Yes, it is heartbreaking, but sadly true and I wish there was something I could do to stop it.)

Ferruginous Hawk. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

Ferruginous Hawks are one of the most common hawks seen in this area. I can always tell they are nearby when I see two birds flying in large circles in the sky. Once, when I was walking the dogs in the desert we saw two of them eating a rabbit near a cholla. They flew up and around then right back to their food--they were clearly not interested in sharing their dinner! 

Ferruginous Hawk. This one flew up into a nearby tree when we were walking through the desert, then back down to finish its dinner. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

 Hot air balloon in Rio Rancho, NM. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

The weather must be very good for ballooning lately because they've been flying over our house almost daily. A few days ago they took off from all four directions, which meant that eventually all the balloons flew over our house, which was in the center location. 

Hot air balloon in Rio Rancho, NM. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

They sometimes drop down if they see children chasing them on their bicycles, and sometimes I think they like to check out my dogs, too! It's been an exciting, colorful week in New Mexico!

Hot air balloon in Rio Rancho, NM. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

 Hot air balloon in Rio Rancho, NM. Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

What Happens to People who Love Dogs...

 Gentleman Bud, the Alpha dog in our family. He's 110 pounds of pure love. Every animal and person who meets Buddy falls in love with him, and he loves them in return. (Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.) 

"It came to me that every time I lose a dog 

they take a piece of my heart with them, 

and every new dog who comes into my life 

gifts me with a piece of their heart. 

 

If I live long enough, 

all the components of my heart will be dog 

and I will be as generous and loving as they are." --Anonymous

When our four dogs hear my husband's truck coming down the street they line up at the door! (Photo by Darla Sue Dollman)

Brio: Stolen Horse Posting

This is Brio, an Azteca stallion that was stolen from his corral just south of Tecate, Baja California in November of 2013. His owner hopes that spreading the word far and wide will help bring him home. Please look at him closely, remember him, and watch for him at horse sales. Thank you. 

Carey Hannigan (530) 305-1585

If Most of the Country is Against it, why are Horses Still Being Slaughtered?

Bureau of Land Management Horses. Photo in Public Domain.

If you're wondering what is REALLY behind the rush to send wild horses to the slaughterhouses, read this article:

The Wild Horse Crisis Out West Continues

Stop the Slaughterhouses!

Stop the Slaughterhouses!

Santos to reporter: those against horse slaughter oppose Agricultural business ~ Colts Western Shop brilliantly put Santos in his place!

October 25, 2013 at 4:30pm

From Beverly Hughes:

For those of you who may not know who "Santos" is, Rick De Los Santos is the owner of Valley Meats in Roswell, New Mexico. Santos has petitioned for a waste water permit in order to open his plant and begin slaughtering horses. There is a lawsuit filed to prevent him from opening and the Attorney General of New Mexico is also trying to prevent him from getting the waste water permit. He was in gross violation of EPA regulations when he slaughtered cows in Roswell, was shut down for abuse as well as gross EPA violations. 

After the hearing in Roswell this past Wednesday, Santos told a reporter that this issue is a bigger deal than people realize: that the people trying to stop the slaughter of horses - are fighting against the agricultural business. So Colts Western Shop brilliantly put Santos in his place. And it should be shared with EVERYONE who loves horses and who does not want horse slaughter in this country. Kudos to this business for standing up to de Los Santos!!

The owner of Colts Western Shop has given permission to share this post - you could also send the text to Letters to Editors of newspapers, and to legislators and give credit to Colt's Western Shop ! (link in comments with information about Colts)

Colts Western Shop:

My apologies to MR. Santos for the confusion, as at NO time have WE EVER stated this is against Agriculture since WE ARE AGRICULTURALLY BASED OURSELVES. In fact, we apologize that he misunderstands this IS solely and Completely without exclusion about HORSES, Burros, Wild, Feral, Domestic, US born or Abroad Horses Period. 

In Fact, the Fact that the Agricultural Community tries to separate Horse People From their Base across the US just clarifies the crack in the industry. The Horse Industry has a multi-billion dollar following and only a few thousand people are For slaughter, the rest of the United States let alone the Horse Industry is AGAINST this. Cattle men do not want us in their industry nosing around so may we suggest they back off of OUR INDUSTRY and lets settle this as REAL HORSEMEN AND WOMEN and quit pretending that its about MORE than Horses. IT is NOT, we are not trying to stop other avenues of slaughter-we prefer that they are more animal friendly naturally, but that's to be expected, we are after all human.

We are the REAL Horse people, we feed, train, raise, admire and manage OUR animals, seems to me the Extremists are the cattlemen who cannot care for, maintain, or properly afford these animals that they so desire to kill at slaughter for profit. I think it's high time we called this what it is, a public rip off. The public doesn't need the slaughter plant to make the least profitable horses profit, in fact, this just proves that you have to be patient to sell horses, be knowledgeable in your training skills and presentation to sell, and that Auctions now have to put a minimum bid required on the horses coming in-in other words they need to up their standards of how to market horses for auction.

It's high time the industry made some changes, responsible breeding, more concerted training and making sure your horses are really ready to sell. Then people need to understand selling horses is not as easy as posting a picture, it takes planning. I am certain that the best thing that could happen to the horse industry is to close the slaughter industry completely, we then clean up and care for the industry properly, regulate breeding. Did you realize that the less you have of a specific lineage the more the price comes to when selling it, its a demand issue.

As well, we need to allow the economy to rebound and then see where we are headed, prices on horses are coming up steadily everywhere, and to be honest the sales in auctions really do NOT and NEVER have set the prices outside of the Auctions, that just is a spur of the moment mixture of buying and selling-so the market outside of the auctions always has sold much high more consistently. Remember raising your bottom line on your animals, many people are selling horses easier with higher prices. When the prices are too low they assume somethings wrong with animals.

They also believe that people who live in cities and towns have no idea how to manage animals and clearly indicate that they wouldn't have a say in slaughter or not-keep in mind there ARE many stables dedicated to hardworking people who live inside towns and cities and are veterinarians, executives, CEO's, College Students in every walk of life, Physicians, and the list goes on, so to say they know nothing of animals and have no voice you are ridiculous! There are people who study and work inside their larger communities and have their own stalls and pastures but you say they are not worthy of opinions, I am sorry but all this time people have paid for years to become exceptional riders who live in cities and they are coming out to ranches to do it. They know, horses are not for slaughter, so to minimize their opinions or remove their right to a voice has been ridiculous.

Yes we know this is Nationwide, you may not realize this, but its Worldwide, and the world is larger than just your little plant in Roswell New Mexico! We are in Illinois and we experienced DeKalb plant first hand, you don't want this is your beautiful little town, in your wonderful state, around your amazing people, or happening to your incredible horses. We KNOW, we didn't need a picture, we saw it first hand, we didn't need a report we attended the actual meetings, we didn't need to read the responses of who was harmed, we talked to our friends and neighbors throughout our state.

Until you watch a tiny girl hang pictures of her missing pony up at all the Farm stores and cry explaining that a trailer pulled up and took it-the parents were beside themselves, a couple of weeks later the girl and pony were reunited when they retrieved it from a known Kill buyer. They had to PAY him to get it back. Now that's greed! You do not want this. As for the Agriculture Industry-no ones against what WE are a full time part of, through farming, raising animals, and working in the Industry. Sorry- you have IT all wrong, Santos.

Colts Western Shop Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Colts-Western-Shop/142075632585578

Bees, Grackles, Dragonflies and Bunnies

Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

It was a busy day for the little creatures! I stopped at the library today while running errands and when I was getting back into my truck I heard a humming noise. I thought I was going to be swarmed again, so this time I reached into my truck for my camera. The sound was coming from the Sandoval County Veteran's Memorial Garden next door, so I opened the gate and tracked the sound to a large bush covered with branches that were filled with some kind of sunflower.

Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

It was stunning--I have never seen anything like it.

Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

I glanced around the garden and noticed five or six more bushes just like this one. I think they are blooming so profusely because of the recent floods, and we are coming to the end of our monsoon season. Regardless, the bees seem quite happy! 

A very happy bee. Notice the pollen on its legs? Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

My daughter is very allergic to bees and has to carry an epi pen, but I am obsessed with them. I love the sound of them as they swarm around the Russian Sage in my backyard, and the color contrasts of their yellow and black stripes.

Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

After I left the park I stopped at the grocery store and the tree in front of the store was filled with grackles. I love grackles. They are so chatty, and really are beautiful birds, though the females tend to look a bit grumpy when it's cold outside!

Grumpy Grackle photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

Some people view grackles as nuisance birds because they hop around the parking lots searching for food, but the Road Runners do the same thing! I think they're fun. I like the sounds they make when they call back and forth to each other.

Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

As soon as I got home I started unloading the groceries and noticed the dragonflies had returned. We had a few cold days this past week and I thought the dragonfly season was over, but tonight we had some huge blue and red ones flying in front of the house, and a small sparkly one that landed in the arroyo behind my house.

Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

It only has a few spots of color on its wings, but when the sun hit its wings the sparkles seem to have color, as well. It also has a striped body. 

Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

Then, as I walked the dogs around the block, I noticed a few bunnies in my neighbor's yards. I have to remind my dogs that the bunnies are God's little creatures or they try to take a bite out of their tails, which is odd considering we have a bunny living in the house that they don't seem to mind at all! It was a great day for watching God's blessed little creatures! 

Photo by Darla Sue Dollman.

Tweet Storm October 3, 2013

My Pledge

Layla Lou, who came to me in a desperate time of need. Every day she grows more loving, gentle, compassionate, affectionate, appreciative of our relationship, and every day I feel the same for her.

My pets are all rescue animals. I rescued them, and they, in turn, rescued me.

I respect their right to life, safety, food, shelter, compassion, love and kindness.

I hereby pledge that for the rest of my life on earth I will never purchase an animal 

from a breeder or pet store.

When an animal comes to me seeking shelter, compassion, and love,

I will give all that I have to this animal.

For the rest of my life, all animals that share my home will be rescue animals. 

I will rescue them, they will rescue me. 

The Unknown History and Mystery of Mama Dog

Mama spends most of her family time belly up, begging for belly rubs. 

History. The word means many things, but when we hear the word history we generally know there is going to be a story that follows. There are many stories in this post, but this is mainly the story of Mama Dog and the thoughts I have about her when she curls up beside me on the couch and rests her head on my lap. I often wonder what she thinks of me, and why she was so comfortable with me, snuggling and cuddling me from the moment we first met. It's not that I am surprised by her behavior. I have a house full of animals, or as I like to say, a house filled with love--four dogs, a cat and a rabbit, Layla Lou. Technically, we didn't adopt or rescue any of them, they found me, every one of them, even the rabbit who was lying on her side beneath our trailer, dehydrated and starving. No, I'm not surprised that Mama Dog feels comfortable with me. She knows I am an animal person. I just wonder about her past, that's all. I just...wonder. 

Layla Lou a few months after I found her. When I found her I wiped the bugs from her eyes and cleaned her ears, bathed her, fed her water with an eyedropper until she could drink it on her own, and she gradually recovered. She started growing so fast and is now large, long and cuddly.

My husband thinks some animals instinctively know where to come for help, and this may be true, but how? Past experience? There is so much we don't know about animals--what they are thinking, how they know what they know--and there's one thing that often intrigues me about the animals in my life--their past. 

Chewy the Chewchewcabra found me when he wandered out of the forest surrounding our property in Texas. I suspect he was abandoned in the forest, which would be very cruel. We tried for months to find his owner. If he did not find me, he would not have survived for long. 

The homes of my children are also filled with love. They each have two children, two dogs and cats. My daughter and her husband adopted a puppy, Marley, who they were told was a mix of German Shepherd and Rottwieler, but he looks more like a mix of German Shepherd and Polish Sausage.

Marley the wonder dog with my granddaughter, Layla. Marley, who is still a puppy at one year old (dogs grow out of their puppyhood at different ages according to their breed) looks like he swallowed a Polish sausage. He certainly does not look like a Rottie! 

My daughter's family lost our beloved friend, Edgo, last year. They adopted Marley after the children were able to grieve over Edgo's loss. Marley is still a pup at a year old, jumping and running and wrestling with the children, and chewing up anything he can fit inside his mouth (including my computer cord, as I just discovered). My son-in-law decided Marley needed a friend, an older dog to calm him down, teach him to slow down a bit, so he visited the local Humane Society and adopted Mama. I knew immediately why he chose her the first time we met. She is not only calm around others, but also has a calming effect on people, and pups! 

Mama Dog and my grandson, Eli Lou.

Mama is a black and white Australian Shepherd with chocolate brown eyes that melt your heart. When I visit her home she cuddles and hugs me and loves to sneak onto the couch and curl up beside me with her head on my lap. And yes, she is wonderful with Marley. She is eight years old, but has been a member of our family for just over a year, so we know little about her past. 

Marley can be a pest, but we love him. He's still a pup, a Mama Dog in training. 

There are some things we do know about Mama Dog, clues to the mystery of her history. Mama does indeed take care of Marley, though he's a bit of a pest and she occasionally gives him a warning growl when he gets too rowdy, she is actually teaching him boundaries and that he needs to stay calm around the children and strangers. 

Mama Dog grabbed a bag of chips and ran outside for a quick snack. 

She teaches him that there is a time to rest and a time to play, although she also has her trouble-making moments, such as the time she pulled a bag of chips from a shelf in the pantry and ran out the back door with it clenched in her teeth. 

"Oops! I am so busted right now!"

I'm sure she had a rather funny expression on her face when she realized she was caught in the act, but I don't know for certain since the bag of chips was stuck on her head! Yes, Mama can play, too!

Like all well-trained dogs, Mama knows when she's been naughty!

Mama was picked up by the Humane Society as she was wandering down a country road in Colorado. The true mystery of Mama's history began during the adoption process and required veterinary exam, but the veterinarian thought he found a tumor on Mama's side, and my son-in-law agreed to pay the expenses of the surgery to see if they could save her life. During the surgery, the veterinarian discovered it was not a tumor in Mama's side, but a six inch chunk of glass. Her skin and fur had healed over the glass so it had been there for quite some time.

Mama is not particularly fond of having her picture taken!

There are other things we know about Mama Dog, such as the fact that she is terrified of storms. She can hear them before we see them rolling over the nearby mountains. I know there is a storm coming when she starts to whine and climb onto my lap, or head-butt my hand so I cannot type on the computer. She will also sit still to have her picture taken, but does not like the flash. She loves to ride in cars and trucks and opening a car door is a good way to recapture her if she has managed to sneak out the front door! 

Mama also likes to lie on her back for belly rubs and curl up on the couch to lay her head on my lap when she is afraid of the storms outside. 

So, what do these clues tell us? It is possible Mama was a farm dog. Though she does not "herd" the children like some farm dogs do, her comfort with vehicles implies she often rode in cars or trucks. The glass in her side could indicate that she was in a car or truck accident and ran, frightened by the impact and her injury. Though it is strange that no one claimed her, the would was healed, which would lead one to believe she was on the road alone for some time. I could write a book about the stories that have come to me, the possible past of Mama Dog, her trials and tribulations as she made her way to her forever home.  

So sad to think such a loving family dog was fighting to survive with a serious wound, searching for food, trying to make her way back home! 

There are so many questions I wish I could ask her. Did she have pups before she was spayed? If she did, there is no doubt she was a gentle, compassionate, loving mother. Was there children in her first home? I suspect there was as she is wonderful with children. Did anyone stop to help her on her journey before she was rescued by the Humane Society? I am often both amazed and shocked by the way people will treat animals, sometimes feeding strays no matter how aggressive or feral they seem, sometimes throwing rocks at the gentlest little creatures or puppies, or claiming they will shoot them if they come on their property. One thing is certain, though: Mama does have a past. She was loved, and she loves, deeply. It is certain that she feels grateful to have found shelter, to have the glass removed from her side--I cannot even begin to imagine the pain she was in--and to know that she has found her forever home.

The Baby dance.

You may remember Baby the Desert Dog? If you are new to my blog, last summer I drove my dogs to the desert for a walk and had a strange experience. All day long as I completed various tasks the word "dog" would pop into my mind. That evening, as soon as I turned onto the sandy mesa, I started seeing the word "dog" in my mind--the actual word, like a banner. I am not a "psychic" person, I don't have visions or hear voices. Nevertheless, we recently had a few run-ins with coyotes so I naturally felt a bit nervous. Was God warning me of potential danger in the only way He knew I would listen--with words? I will never know. What I do know is that I was so nervous that when we reached our usual spot I realized I could not leave the truck. I was afraid of what might happen to my dogs, or me, so I started to back up on the single lane sandy road. Suddenly, a handsome, skinny, dehydrated, brindle-colored dog crawled from beneath a sagebrush, crawled to the front of my truck, rolled over on his back and stared up at me through the windshield. I was stunned. I called the Humane Society and they told me that because he was a medium-sized dog he would be "put down" in three days, so I added yet another dog to my collection. Baby. 

Baby holding paws with my female chocolate lab, Holly. He wants so much to be part of a family. He loves being a family dog and loves Holly! Holly has a twin brother, Buddy, who is my right hand dog, always by my side. We were walking through a parking lot and noticed Buddy and Holly staring at us from the back of a truck. There were ten puppies in the truck, standing on the hot metal in the afternoon summer sun. We couldn't save them all, but we wanted to, and called the local authorities, but they said there was nothing they could do. She wasn't breaking any laws and would likely disappear before they arrived. Sometimes the apathy of animal "authorities" shocks me, as well. We told the truck owner we would take Buddy and Holly off her hands--they needed water, and shade. Sadly, the next day, the remaining eight puppies were found wandering on a road in Colorado and ended up in the Humane Society anyway. It is unlikely that they found homes as they are very large dogs. 

A few weeks ago I was giving Baby a bath and discovered he has what I can only describe as slice marks all across his right shoulder and down his leg to his paw. I didn't notice them before because of his brindle coloring and the fur has grown over them for the most part. So he, too, has had a traumatic past. Was he abused? He has a fear-based personality, though he adores me. He actually slides his paws around me when I'm lying on the couch, rests his head on my chest and hugs me. Every time he sees me he stands on his back legs and does the "Baby dance." Where did he learn this? He is leash-trained, house-trained, and also loves to ride in trucks. He is so happy to be loved, so thrilled to have a family I can only wonder what horrible experiences he must have had out there in the desert. If I didn't find him, he would not have lasted long with the coyotes! But why was he there? Did someone abandon him? Was he in a car accident, running in fear in the heat and sand trying desperately to find shelter? I will never know his history, but I have clues, enough to tell me that all he really wants is to be loved, to feel safe, and to live as part of a family.   

We love you, Mama Dog.

Dogs have one primary goal in life, to please their people friends, and Mama tries hard to meet this goal. When they are "returned" to a shelter or given away they do not understand. They think it is their fault, but it is always the human's fault, the human who was unprepared for a pet, unwilling to dedicate the time and give the love required by a pet. Mama, Baby, Chewy--they all have mysteries in their histories, a past, but they also have a future with me and my family, a home, and to them, that's all that matters.