House sitting isn't your ideal job upon graduating but I don't believe doing the ideal thing is always the best thing, so I took the job. Here I am in San Diego watching two dogs and two cats and a house, the house being the easiest of the five; as long as it doesn't move I'm doing my job. The dogs and cats however have tested my patience, and it's a good thing I have it or I may have skinned the hair of their hides by now. When I say this I'm totally joking because the dogs have no hair.
Yeah the dogs are hairless. Although I'm not aware of their breed, when first meeting them I almost felt as though I was meeting one of the hyenas off of the lion king. They barked at me wildly. With each ferocious little yip I could tell they thought I was invading their space. Well they would have to get used to it because I was moving in for two months. I've never pet a dog without fur before, but if you'd like to know what it's like just roll up your pant leg and feel. No, better not. I'm assuming your legs have more hair than these dogs, seeing as it's no shave November and all. But if you haven't put lotion on for a month or two, you might be able to relate. Bare, dry skin. So needless to say it took me a while to want to pet them. I think the whole reason anyone wants to pet a dog is to feel their fur. Humans like fur because they don't have it. Most humans can't grow fur I mean, otherwise we would sit and caress our arms all day. If I wanted to pet skin I would do just that.
My stand offish attitude towards them may seem very judgmental and cold I'm aware, but what do you expect from a farm girl who thinks of dogs as labs, collies or heelers? One of the dogs could sense that I was ill content with her and approached me saying, "I feel as though you don't like me, so I can't be comfortable in my own skin." I looked at her and replied, "Honey, that's the problem, you're just skin." Right then I remembered I wasn't prejudice or racist and decided dogs could fit that category too. So I pet her. And it wasn't that bad. They wake me up every morning just before six. They must be able to tell time because they are quite consistent. They whine and jump up and down as to be sure to make their dog tags jingle so I can hear them. So I've turned into a morning person.
Since the dogs are hairless it should be no surprise that they don't want to go outside at all if it's below fifty five degrees or raining out. This causes me a problem sometimes because they won't take their "messes" beyond the doggie door. They have their own door that leads to the back yard so during the day when we are not on our walks they can go take care of business whenever the urge comes. But on those days when it's rainy, and heaven forbid they shiver, they leave their doo right in front of the doggie door, like, "Oh shoot, it's raining again, it's cold, this is as far as I go." Not cool dogs.
These dogs do have names, I almost forgot. They are both female with the names Coli, and Miska. Coli is the leader dog, when I say leader I mean that Miska cannot make a decision on her own without first consulting with Coli to see if it's okay. Coli is boss. She's also extremely nosy. Wherever I go, she is at my heels, so then Miska tags close behind. I can't be in the bathroom for more than five minutes without them scratching on the door and whining wondering if I've fallen in. Coli would follow me into a fire if I walked in, she literally has to be right beside me at all times. I wish I could find a man that loved me that much, but anyhow she's the definition of loyal. Miska on the other hand is a little bit more shy. One of my complaints of this dear dog is that she will not poop in one pile. I know this sounds picky, but when I am taking them on a walk Miska will let out one little drop after the other and leave a trail for me to pick up. It gets quite embarrassing. One time I literally had to wipe her butt like a child before I let her back in the house. Sometimes I think I'm taking care of toddlers.
Since the dogs are naked they have their own personal blankets that I have to cover them up with when we are in the house so they aren't cold. Yes, these are high maintenance doggies. But these prissy dogs do have the worst smelling farts my nose has ever witnessed. They are rumblers too. Like flat out woopie cushion style. Needless to say I have a bottle of febreeze I keep close by at all times. I've gotten pointed at and talked about several times walking two naked dogs down the street everyday, but hey, what's a dog sitter to do? The critters grow on me everyday.
Enough on the dogs. Cats? Well we have your as seen on tv, fat orange stereotypical Garfield who only thinks of one thing. Lasagna. His name is Deco. In the mornings he can barely muster up a meow because his arteries are so clogged. Some days are better than others though. He usually just hangs out on the back patio soaking up rays all day. At night when I'm eating at the table he makes sure to sit in the chair across from me and watch me eat. I guess you can say I still have a family dinner. Then we have my favorite animal of the house, a dark gray panther looking cat named Trouve. He's the cuddler. When I sit down to read at night he is usually found in my lap snoozin like a baby. He also loves to sit very near to me. He leaves the house during the day to explore the neighborhood but soon finds his way back and meows at me on the porch to let him in.
I had an actual conversation with Deco the other night. It went like this. It was night time so I had shut the door so the animals could no longer go out. I forgot to open the door to the laundry room where the kitty litter is however and Deco got very upset. I was on the couch reading when I heard him bellowing really big sorry meows in the hallway. I said, "Hey what's the matter bud?" He slowly walks out to the living room and then looks toward the hallway and meows again. I said, "You gotta go potty dude?" He then, kid you not answered like this, "Yaaaaaahhh." I seriously died laughing and went and opened the door for him. Sure enough he runs right in and does his business. These cats are smart. The dogs should take lessons.
You must be thinking I've gone crazy over here on the west coast living by myself and talking to animals all day. No. It's actually brought me back to life. Not that I wasn't living before, but I think everyone should have two months of their lives to just get away and read and write and reflect and get in touch with themselves again. In this crazy world we forget the little things. Like thanking God we can see the sunrise. Something as simple as that is worth cherishing. Tomorrow is not guaranteed for me, so I'm living each day as it is, a gift.
