Every single time I look at Rita, I think of her living in the woods, eating acorns, searching or water and dodging coyotes. I can’t believe she made it for at least a week and, knowing how every little sound startles her, I just can’t imagine what that time was like for her. But . . that’s all in the past now. She has a cushy life and she rules this house. Even Speck takes a wide path around her. She loves to play (she’s probably about 1-1/2 years old now according to the vet), she’s light on her feet, and Speck, being a 14-1/2 year old dachshund . . let’s just say he isn’t very agile or light on his feet. Speck is deaf and he can’t see Rita coming so she often slips up on him and scares him but she’s not being mean, she just wants to play.
Rita
Rita sleeps (day and night) on the sofa. Vince takes this old blanket and kinda twists it up and makes it almost like a cowl and it forms a nest, of sorts. She loves it and I never take the time to do all that . . I just toss the blanket up there and she makes her own nest. By about 7 p.m., she’s snoozing and if left to her own schedule, she’d wake up around 10 a.m. That’s the same schedule I’d like to keep!
Once she goes down for the night, she is not happy about being unwrapped for her late night trip outside, nor is she happy about being awakened before daylight for her early morning trip out.
Rita
She seems to think that if she just falls back asleep, no one will disturb her. I agree with that idea. That’s how I felt for sure this morning when Vince had to go back to work for the first time in 2 weeks.
Rita
It’s an ordeal getting that girl out of bed. I could just grab her, snap on a leash, carry her out and put her down on the icy ground but that seems a little abrupt so I try to wake her up and make sure she’s thinking clearly. It doesn’t matter . . she runs outside, does her business and races back inside to wrap up in her little nest.
I’ll bet that at least for a while, she wondered if she’d ever have a good life. She’s definitely living a good life these days. We love her!
Sherrill says
Yep, that is ONE LUCKY PUP!!
Sharon in Michigan says
Two things I could not live without……quilts and pets. There’s nothing better in life for me. Lucky Rita, she looks so content and warm. But actually you and Vince are the lucky ones.
Pamela Johnson says
Sweet girl!!! Pets and such blessings in our lives!! So glad she found y’all !!
Sheri says
She definitely looks happy! I’m glad you found her. Did you ever find out where she came from? (And wondering how you know she was outside for at least a week? Poor girl!)
Mary Jo says
What a lucky little dog to have found such a wonderful family!
Diana in RR,TX says
I am reading this and looking at my 2 each on a couch half asleep. Life is rough!!!!!
Theresa says
Rita looks so sweet in her nest! At her size, I’d be tempted to train her to use a litter box.
Dorothy Schreyer says
Rita sure looks like our 7 year old male, Bubba. I am so glad you took her in! She is a lucky girl!
Rebecca in SoCal says
I can’t imagine you sleeping until 10! I’m trying…
I remember my darling long-hair tortoiseshell, small cat that we rescued from our parking lot! She was there for weeks. People would leave a can of food for her, but she couldn’t eat it all at once and the ants would take over. When we pet her, our hands would look like we’d been rubbing newspaper! (And you know she was trying to clean that off herself-ugh!) She started following us around to the back (where our apartment was) to be fed, and finally came right into the door and our hearts. We only had six years with her, and I could never forget what a nasty life she had been living. It always made my husband angry to think of someone abandoning her.
Judy S says
We have a rescued kitty with a similar story. She was cast into the woods to fend for herself after having her claws removed! Needless to say, she wasn’t in very good shape when we took her in. And now almost 8 years later she still approaches every meal as if it’s her last and has retained the “ferocious” hiss that she used to protect herself. Now she uses it on our other cat, Ginger, whenever she gets too close. They usually co-exist, but I guess will never be friends. I just don’t understand how people can abandon their animals either!
pat miodonski says
My friend had taken in a fero cat. And when ever my friend would unpack her groceries, the cat would claw open a closed pkg of bread. Packaged meat was the most attacked of all. My friend would put it out of the cats sight, and the cat would eventually find it;and learned to open the refrigerator door and run with it and hide. This became a real problem and she was ready to give the cat to the SPCA. A behavorialist had several sessions with the cat, and got her to trust psychologist. The vet had told her that once a animal is fero, it never forgets and will react the same when ever they come in contact with food. Just like it is the last bite they will have. The cat got better with food in the house and became more trusting with its owner. My friend said the cat would not bond with her or her husband, and it was after several sessions with a animal behavorist, that some of the cats behavior had mellowed. The Vet had said she probably had to develop this fero attitude to be able to survive on the outside. Pat
Eileen says
Sweet Rita. Happy ending for everyone. Speck might say no. So happy for her and y’all!
Dottie N. says
So happy for all of you!