Why?

I was walking Liwanu today and ran into another dog walker out and about. The dog was a yellow lab mix (I'm pretty sure anyway) that had to be at LEAST 30lbs overweight! The woman proceeded to lecture me on Liwanu's lack of jiggling rolls and I finally blew my top after listening to her for about 2 minutes. I was on the trail so I couldn't easily ditch her and I decided just to be honest with her. I told her flat out her dog was obese and was going to suffer for her lack of common-sense when he got older (the dog is two). I explained to her that his hips and elbows were going to give out and he would eventually be unable to move on his own because of her need to show her love by feeding him garbage constantly. During this I watched her eyes grow to the size of dinner plates (Ok maybe small tea saucers) and then I got to the truly horrific part. All of the health complications that obesity leads to (not only in humans folks!) heart trouble, arthritis, risk of heart attack and stroke not to mention arterial blockage. That's when her lip started to quiver and I started thinking "Oh **it! She's gonna cry!". Well sure enough she burst into tears because she hadn't realized that she was killing her dog by giving him too many treats and not enough exercise. At this point I tried to tone it down a bit and be helpful (I hate seeing women cry, especially when it's my fault). Liwanu and I ended up accompanying her home because she wanted me to help her evaluate her food choices for the pup. An hour later we had managed to get her sorted out and now I'm supposed to meet her three days a week so we can walk our dogs together......*Sigh* the things my big mouth gets me into.

During this time Liwanu didn't try to eat her (which is amazing) he had no interest in her dog or her. Thankfully, since I don't think I would have been up to handling him during his lunging/snarling/'I'm gonna eat you' phase today. I've been sick and worn out lately so my energy isn't up to it's normal status.

This whole situation lead me to start wondering WHY people feed their animals in such an unhealthy way. Why do people see a fat dog and think 'It's well-loved' when in reality it's unhealthy, unhappy and at serious risk for medical problems. When we see the obese walking down the street do we think 'That person is well-loved'? NO We think 'They should go on a diet' or 'Gross'. How is it any different to feed an animal into morbid obesity and think that it is acceptable? A dog (or any animal) should be lean and fit. Not skinny and definitely not fat. They should have a waist and muscle definition rather than jiggling mounds of flesh making their lives miserable. Ever watch a fat dog try to run? They give up and lie down looking pathetic after a very short period of time.

Future Hopes

I'm currently a live-in nanny. Definitely not the job I ever thought about getting and not one I enjoy. It keeps me fed, sheltered and it's how I got Liwanu. One of the things I hate most about this lifestyle is that I have very little control over the treatment of my dog. My boss's husband is borderline abusive towards the animals in this house and towards his own children. He's emotionally abusive to the humans and physically towards the children and animals. My boss has finally gotten sick of it so she is searching for another place for her and her children, the dogs and I. If all goes well Mikazaru will never have to suffer at the hands of an idiot again. Most of Liwanu's issues come from the treatment he's suffered at the hands of my boss. He's only a pup but he's learned to bite before he can be bitten. Everyone please keep your fingers crossed that this works out like a dream.

On a happier note, I'm working on a short story about Liwanu from his point of view (or as close to it as I can get) I will also be writing one from my point of view. Not only about him and I but about my life before Dog. When I get far enough along (I'm only about 150 pages into the Liwanu side of the story) I'll post some excerpts. Maybe you all can tell me what needs improving at that time.

Helpful Life Tips.

Some of the most useful things I've ever been told. Some of them have helped me reach important decisions, others have kept me alive and some have made me laugh when I needed it most.

1) Don't Throw Rocks at Guys with Guns.
2) Check the mirror before you criticize.
3) Anything is edible if you've got a pot of water and a fire.
4) Cardboard and newspaper are great insulation.
5) You get what you pay for.
6) Aggression+Aggression=Escalated Aggression.
7) Courage is facing the music, no matter how bad it is.
8) It takes a strong man to hit someone, a stronger one to walk away.
9) My honor is my life.
10) Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
11) Never worry about tomorrow. Do the best you can each day.
12) Greet every sunrise as if it were the first, last and only.
13) Dance Sky-clad at least once a year.
14) Never rely on a doctor, they've been brainwashed.
15) An honest days work brings an honest days pay.
16) Always seek a personal connection with those around you. (NOT LIKE THAT YA FRIGGIN SICKOS!)
17) When 'it hits the fan, try not to fall apart so fast others get hit by the shrapnel.
18) All are one. What's right for you may not be right for everyone else. Respect it anyway.
19) Two legs are not better than four, six, eight or however many a creature has. In some ways it's worse.
20) Never ask a man called 'Rattlesnake' or 'Barber' why he's called that, you may get a not so lovely surprise. (Personal experience)

On the road with Dog

Traveling with Dog is harder than it would seem possible. Walking from town to town alone or with a road-dawg is cheesecake in comparison. When traveling by foot with bipedal companions people either think you are a criminal (IE rapist, serial killer etc) or they think your a good person who hit hard times. Traveling with a quadrupedal companion has every one screaming NEGLECT! ABUSE! Oh My GOD call the authorities!. Which really gets annoying after the third time you have to stay in a town without work or shelter for three days while the Humane Society evaluates the condition of your furry com padre. Now don't get me wrong, I fully support animal protection laws. I do in fact think there are several areas of animal law that could use a firm hand. Laws dictating animal welfare are laxly enforced which is what starts the whole problem in the first place.

I travel with a dog. More specifically, I travel with a large, aggressive mixed breed who would never be able to find a home in a more sedentary lifestyle. He lives to travel and will eagerly sit and wait looking out the window when he sees the pack and gear come out. Liwanu is a one person dog. He doesn't like human companionship other than my own. If this dog ended up in a shelter he would be euthanized immediately. Resource Guarding, territorial, fear-aggressive and highly reactive dogs with high prey drive are not good companions for those who want a cute little lap dog. They need all the running, physically exhausting exercise they can possibly get. What better way to meet these needs than hitting the road?

Which leads me to my newest mode of transportation. Scootering. Liwanu will be getting a harness as soon as he is 1 year old (February 20th). Then we will start training so that he can pull the Trike with me and our supplies. We'll start small and work our way up to the needed weight over time. Then we'll head out onto the open road again. So please, the next time you see a vagrant with backpack and a dog in tow view it with an open mind. That person may be the only reason that dog is alive. Just because we don't have a six bedroom house to live in doesn't mean we don't love, cherish and protect our furry partners.