Wednesday, February 11, 2009

My Martini, neither shaken nor stirred


Oh, what a little dog. He’s two years old, neutered, housebroken, already has learned his new name and is bilingual (understands commands in Spanish and English). What more could you want? Oh yeah, he’s gentle and sweet as can be. He weighs a hefty 6.8 pounds and is very easy going. He acts like he’s lived here all his life.

He ignores Fred the Cat and Fred the Cat ignores him. We have a peaceful kingdom here.

To make Martini’s day, just ask him to go get his toy ball. The little guy lives to chase that ball and bring it to you for you to throw it again. He brings the ball to you and politely sits while you take it and throw it. I think he would repeat this until he dropped.

There has been one problem. Remember how persnickety the foster mom was about being sure I could give him everything he needed, care for him and have the right home for him? She even inquired about how much Fred the Cat weighed. Our vet’s office told us when she called for references about us, she asked how Murphy was euthanized and why. The vet explained to her that he was about 16 years old, blind, deaf and had canine dementia. The exact same thing I had told the woman when I filled out the application to adopt a dog from her.

Well, after taking possession of Martini from the foster mom last Thursday afternoon, we discovered Saturday morning that he was loaded with ticks. Thankfully we could get in touch with Mr. Pop’s sister, who is a veterinarian, she told us to get a package of Frontline. We applied it according to directions and now hopefully we are on the track to tick-less-ness. The only ones we are finding are dead.

While the foster mom was so picky with me, I wonder if she was as picky with her own care of Martini? Perhaps she could be a little less persnickety and a little more responsible.

(this photo of Martini was captured from the foster group’s website)

17 Comments:

Blogger Dr. Know said...

Covered in ticks? Eech. Sounds like he's far better off with youse guys. Kinda froofy looking for a guy dog though... ;-)

February 11, 2009 1:42 AM  
Blogger Distributorcap said...

what a neurotic mess that foster mom was - i know how much better you and mr POP will be

i am so sure martini is gonna bring joy to all of you - including Fred. he already knows that he is welcome in this loving home

February 11, 2009 5:01 AM  
Blogger Forty Paws said...

Oh great. That was totally irresponsible of her! Animals can die from an infestation of ticks!

We are glad that Martini and Fred are doing peacefully well together.

Luf, Us

February 11, 2009 5:06 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You wonder how a sweet little guy like Martini ended up in a rescue home? It is probably better that the little ones can't tell us their stories, there is only so much heartbreak one can endure.

February 11, 2009 6:32 AM  
Blogger robin andrea said...

Glad that little sweetheart found a good home that will take care of his little tick problem. He sure is a beauty.

February 11, 2009 7:32 AM  
Blogger Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein said...

What a little cutie! I'm happy for all of you folks at Martini Manor.

February 11, 2009 8:00 AM  
Blogger Randal Graves said...

The former owner sounds like a gooper. At least he's in better hands now!

February 11, 2009 8:33 AM  
Blogger Katharine O'Moore-Klopf said...

What a cutie patootie! I hope that you, Mr. Pop, and Martini have many wonderful (and tickless) years of loving one another.

February 11, 2009 10:55 AM  
Blogger Sherry Pasquarello said...

he is too cute!

February 11, 2009 12:09 PM  
Blogger enigma4ever said...

okay..we have nursed all kinds of rescues that have had Many kinds of bugs, critters, parasites , etcetc...

ticks and fleas ( if long standing can cause nasty anemia) and make sure to get his ears well checked...
and yes, his butt...( sorry - don't mean to be rude...but ticks burrow...)

We used to wash our Bassatt with Irish Spring..it is great for repelling many bugs...there is something in the smell....

( if Frontline does not work...try Revolution...another one...also eucalytpus oil also repels..also putting garlic in their diet...)

Best of luck with him...he is so lovely...

February 11, 2009 9:05 PM  
Blogger Mauigirl said...

He is so adorable. I'm glad he is fitting in so well with the family, especially Fred the Cat!

The main thing to worry about with ticks is Lyme Disease. Keep an eye out that he doesn't act lame when he first gets up from lying down or shows any other symptoms of stiffness or pain in the joints. Our old dog came down with Lyme and we didn't even know she'd had a tick. Luckily antibiotics worked against it and she was OK.

Ironic about the woman who was so picky about you but let Martini get ticks. One time we were at Cape Cod with Diva and went for a walk in a place we hadn't been before. We got back to the place we were staying and realized she was covered with ticks! (She has such short fur you can see them right away). We got them all off right away and she seems to have suffered no ill effects. Perhaps the Frontline we had on her helped prevent them from really burrowing in.

February 12, 2009 4:07 AM  
Blogger Matthew Hubbard said...

It's amazing how sweet a dog can be when covered with nasty parasites. If I have more than a few mosquito bites in the summer, it can seriously effect my mood.

I had a dog a little bigger than Martini when I was a kid, a mutt who was at least part Corgi. He loved fetching a ball and absolutely would do it until he dropped.

February 12, 2009 8:24 AM  
Blogger Blueberry said...

he sure is cute! What does Fred's weight have to do with anything? Maybe you can send her the weight of the ticks also.

February 12, 2009 9:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Chester used to be alot like Martini, but somewhere between year two and five (his age now), he figured out that as long as he's fed, walked and given a back scratch every once in a while, he'll do his part and guard the house and yard. He's got a nasty bark, but that's the extent of his badassness. Oh, Martini's a very handsome little guy. Chester says hello.

February 12, 2009 8:24 PM  
Blogger Fixer said...

He's beautiful, POP. All the best and give him a scratch for me. Personally, I'd drop the foster mom a call about the tick problem and her attitude.

February 16, 2009 3:47 PM  
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