Animal behavior

I took Roux with me today into Home Depot. I've taken many dogs into the Depot and never get any complaints. My feeling is many of the people (kids and adults) that I've seen in there should have been on a leash as well, so why can't my well behaved mutt be allowed.

Anyhow, at this particular time it's important because I'm trying to socialize Roux as much as possible. Dash has gotten pretty used to humans. He's like me.... he can accept them or ignore them..... as long as they stay out of his face. Roux took to the shopping cart right away and immediately started posing for all the other shoppers. I couldn't make it down an aisle without being stopped and questioned about what she was. The funniest was this one lady who asked me "What is it" and before I could say I wasn't sure of her breed, her husband asked "are you that dumb..... it's a dog" which was immediately followed by an elbow into his ribcage. Most of the employees love pups in the store. The ones who don't are probably puppy killers... I'm kidding of course..... ok!!!

We finished up and headed for Briggs Animal Shelter to get a Spay Today certificate for Roux. She's scheduled for surgery next week and I wanted it to all be in order.

Well when I walked through the front door there was Bruiser the little chihuahua we rescued and surrendered to Briggs, a couple weeks ago. Apparently today was his first day out of quarantine. He was behind the counter but could easily be seen and petted by any visitor. I immediately went over and said hey little boy. The Lady, and I'm being VERY generous with that description of her, said he was a bit shy.... to give him space. I reached down and he pretty much climbed my arm to get to my shoulder. he was SO happy to see me he kept whining and licking my face and was so wiggly I almost dropped him. The "lady" said WOW, he's never been this receptive to anyone.... to which I replied... "I can't believe he remembers, and missed me this much, I only had him a week.

The look on her face went from happily surprised to absolutely disgusted in a mili-second. Exclaiming, "Oh Great.... you're the one who surrendered him, now we'll have to put him back through therapy". I asked if she learned her customer service manners in some sort of boot camp and she continued to harass me, still assuming I was the one who had abandoned such a sweet little pup. Finally, after I'd had enough of her tragic mouth, I had a trailer park moment and told the bitch to shut the hell up...... "Bitch, Shut UP.

I rescued the damn dog and brought him here, now get the hell out of my face with your self righteous attitude. By now, more staff had arrived, they removed the COW from my sight and escorted me into a room where I could arrange the Spay Certificate.

Bruiser had been removed from the front desk by the time I returned and satans receptionist was also gone. I can't imagine the dogs there are getting the best training when I see what kind of venomous creatures run the joint. Her like or dislike of any human will only influence the animals she has around her. Hopefully she can't own an animal..... well maybe a badger.

I also am completely aware of the trauma a dog must deal with to see its old owners come visit, but I only had Bruiser a week. There shouldn't have been that much of a bond between us. He looked and acted as if he were about to suffer a breakdown. He tried to climb the desk to get over the partition to me. I was really surprised to see him, and am still shocked at his response to seeing me. A week... that's how long we had him.... a week, and he remembered me as if I had given birth to him. The hard part was leaving him again and in such a bad mood.... damn her.... DAMN HER!!

I wasn't going to elaborate on my other choice assumptions of her, but lets just say, she looked like a bottle blond cross between Liza Minnelli and Annie Lenox..... and she was about 6 ft tall. Obviously the surgery was a success.... that is until she opened her mouth and the gravely chain smoking baritone fell out.

So my day continued. Roux has her surgery ticket and will be going under the blade on the 8th.

Bruiser was lamely renamed Rufio by some Briggs employee..... I guess he's a Freakin French Chihuahua now.... either that or he couldn't have the same name as the receptionist.

Roux sat in the truck with cat food, bird seed and groceries for half an hour. She touched nothing. She laid there and waited for me to return..... not even getting in my seat when she saw me.... just bouncy happy little puppy in the back seat. She's 3 months old and is perfectly behaved. Grumpzilla the shelter receptionist was the perfect example of unacceptable animal behavior. I guess I was too, but damn-it, I've got scars from too many unprovoked attacks from the opposite sex. I guess I just reacted without realizing she too was probably the result of some life drama. The difference being, I was the customer, the guest, the innocent in this situation. The way she acted was unacceptable, and woman or not, had she continued... I'd have knocked her out. I must appeal to the gods for forgiveness. Mother Hera may you forgive my wicked thoughts today the same as you forgave Zeus, and bestow grace and elegance upon the gravel chewing Grumpzilla at Briggs.