Nashville, TN:
Actually, let HIM be frank:
Meet Frank, the latest (temporary) addition to the snellycat household.
A few weeks I signed up to be a foster volunteer through
East CAN. In addition to feeling the need to put my money where my mouth is on the whole "
we're put on this earth to help others" theory, let me truly be frank: I know it's in my best interest to have some companionship right now. Alone is not a very comfortable space for me and although a furry body won't exactly fill the specific void I'd like to fill, it would at least provide me with a sense of temporary purpose.
So, last Tuesday, as I was frantically trying to finish last week's assignment for my Spanish class that was happening in the next 20 minutes, I was cc'd on an email from Elizabeth with East CAN. It read:
Found Friday in parking lot.
Vet and they said they think he's a puggle and about a year old.
He does have grey on his snout and a white star on his chest.
No owners yet. Didn't have collar on when found.
Finders are selling their house and can't keep him there.
Are any of you willing and available to foster this guy?
Carolyn, might be a great fit for you!
Of all the fifty-some people she emailed, she thought I would be the perfect fit for this foster situation. Granted, I had just emailed her the night before in a bit of buzzed desperation if there were any needy dogs ready to accept my love, but I'm still convinced she knew I was the perfect person for the job.
I sat through two hours of practicing greetings and saludos en español, just dreaming of what my future pup would be like. I envisioned cuddling on the couch watching black & white movies, showing off new tricks at the dog park and going for energizing runs daily.
Post-class, I drove like a responsible bat of hell. Feeling like a mother waiting to meet her adopted child for the first time, I arrived at the current temporary parents' home and was greeted by a small black dog jumping up and snapping at me. This overzealous (and un-neutered) ball of energy was posing as my cuddly lap dog.
They told me they were calling him Buddy, but that didn't seem like it fit him. Though I had
the name for the dog of my dreams in mind, when I got him home, I knew he was someone else. Someone who was tough and you didn't mess with and could possibly smoke cigars and play poker and love velvet in his adult years. Someone named... Frank.
Over the last few days as a new foster mom, I've realized a few things:
- dog crates are awesome, even if they look like a cage
- when I wake up at 6:30am to go to the bathroom, going back to sleep is actually not an option if he sees me awake from his crate
- running down the street with a dog is not actually as sexy as once envisioned when you're carrying a plastic bag of poop with you
- there is a LOT of poop, even for a small dog
- post-neutering / still slightly drugged dogs are the most cuddly... though it will eventually wear off (and by eventually, I mean the next morning)
- having a being at my house actually takes up a lot of head space & worry when I'm out & about, complaining about my circumstances
- This shit is a lot of work
Though he's definitely helping me snap out of "woe is me" moments, there's also a new stress in my life. I feel like I am failing as a parent. I am leaving too much, I'm not discipling enough, I don't know how long I can do this for, etc. When I talked to Mary, the Foster Coordinator at East CAN, she reminded me that if it weren't for me, Frank would be on the streets or in an over-crowded shelter or even dead. I am trying to remind myself that it is not my job to love him perfectly, it is only my job to love him as best as I know how and in this moment. Life lessons by Frank, I suppose you can call it.
In the meantime, I reached out to my own Cesar, who has five dogs and seems to live his own life as well. He gave Frank a human voice and helped define the life lessons a bit more:
"Progress, not perfection." - Frank
"I like to see how strong you are. It reminds me that someone is in charge and makes me feel safe." - Frank
"It's funny, but as soon as I moved in with this chick, my nuts started getting smaller." - Frank
So for now, I will do my best to enjoy this new creature in my life and try to pay attention to the learn life lessons Frank is trying to teach me.
And like any proud parent, I leave you with some photos....
and if you feel a little tug in your heart to meet Frank and potentially bring him home forever, please email info@eastcan.org or moreinfo@snellycat.com.
