The Wednesday after Thanksgiving, we brought home a retired racing greyhound named Finn. We had two dogs before---Molly and Sarah---a golden retriever and a shepherd mix from the animal shelter. Molly and Sarah lived to be about 14 years old. Molly passed away---and Sarah passed away not much later. We think in part because of grief. She and Molly were close---if you can say that dogs are close to each other. They were both really good dogs---sweet dogs for Miriam to grow up with. I have sweet pictures of Miriam walking them on the leash----or older pictures of Miriam sitting on the floor next to them, laughing. She always loved them. And they were protective of her. When she was a baby---if she cried---the dogs cried. And Sarah in particular thought we were never quite fast enough to figure out what was wrong and fix it. I vividly remember hearing Miriam cry---and heading to her room---with Sarah trotting ahead of me, whining in dog that I wasn't fast enough. After the dogs went to dog heaven---Stu and I weren't sure we would have dogs again. Because it is hard to watch them grow old. It's hard to watch them not be able to stand easily---it's hard to watch them in pain.
Birds live longer---so we got a bird.
Iggy bird is a great pet. He sits with me every day. He rides around on my shoulder while I make lunches each morning. He flies back and forth from the top of his cage to the top of the kitchen counter where he can keep a closer eye on me if he wants to. He says: "Pretty bird" and "Hey Iggy" and "Pretty baby".
He likes Stuart and Miriam too. Loves head scritches and any kind of attention he can get really. He loves to attack my yarn while I'm knitting or crocheting. He's been a huge blessing to our family. And he should live 20-30 years---which is really nice.
But---we missed having dogs. Miriam and I especially missed having dogs. I've always loved seeing the greyhounds when the adoption agencies brought out their dogs to the pet shops. They seemed sweet and easy going. And when I read more about them---that seemed to be what they are. We visited the greyhound adoption facility in West Arkansas a while ago---and they brought out several different dogs for us to meet. Finn was the last dog we met----he only came out because he was pitching a fit in his kennel seeing the other dogs get out---and the owner let him come out even though we had stayed later than their closing time. Finn immediately liked Miriam---and followed her around. He was sweet with us too---leaning on me, the way greyhounds do. Seems like they are less likely to jump up on you than to just lean on you when they want your attention. At least this is how it has been with Finn.
Finn has been the same sweet dog at home---he is a shadow dog---following you around wherever you go. He's excited when M comes home from school each day. He sleeps most of the day---and carries around his little stuffies in his mouth. And he's been no trouble at night---he just likes to sleep on his bed in the same room with you. I wake up early---and Finn is happy to wake up early with me.
He hasn't shown too much interest in Iggy bird---which is good. I was worried he'd be obsessed with trying to eat him. But he isn't---though we still are careful and keep Iggy bird behind closed doors if Finn is roaming around. And it feels good to have a dog in the house again.
