Welcome Nala

These blog postings are about Cuba, its animals, and its people.  But occasionally something happens worth telling here, even if it doesn't fit the usual topic.  So it is with Nala.

Charlene monitors the websites and emails of dog and cat rescuers, especially one in Miami.  For the most parts the animals needing homes they help don't fit our situation, and anyway with two dogs and six cats, it isn't like we need more pets.  On the contrary, we pay a big price for vet care, grooming, immunizations, and pet food, and Charlene pays an even greater price keeping the house clean and caring for them.  We don't need more animals.

But, a few weeks ago, she saw a picture of a little unfortunate six year old dog who couldn't accompany her owner on a move, and something tugged at her heartstrings.  Her name was Nala, and when she told me about her, I knew Nala was very likely to be added to our menagerie.  I thought that this could be a risky situation, and I knew I couldn't get away with opposing our taking Nala.  Charlene decided to tell her rescuers we'd take her if no one else could be found.

A few days later Charlene told me Nala's rescuers hadn't been successful in finding a home for her, and so we were going to have another resident in our house.  I knew it was going to happen and that I had better make the best of it.  When the rescuers made plans to drive here from Miami on a Sunday, we offered to meet them halfway, as the trip is 250 miles or more one way.  But they were good rescuers and wanted to see Nala's new home before they gave up control of the dog.  Really it's comforting they are so dedicated to the welfare of the animals they place.

So, on December 16th in the late afternoon, a red Toyota pulled into our driveway with Lucille and Vivian in the front seat and Nala in the rear.  The dog seemed a little too long for her legs, suggesting a Daschund in her history, and when you petted her, your hand felt greasy.  Lucille apologized saying her owner should have bathed her before releasing her.  I wondered if she had ever had a bath.

She had an old, dirty collar on her and a good sized rope for a leash.  The collar bore a beat up old tag with her name and a phone number on it.

Lucille and Vivian stayed for an hour or more while we all chatted and watched the interaction between Nala and our dogs and cats.  It soon became clear there wasn't going to be a war, and they may all really like each other.  With a long drive still in front of them, Lucile and Vivian left for home, and we settled down with a new family member.

Nala has a pronounced limp on her right front foot.  We knew about it before we agreed to take her.  Early the morning after her arrival, Nala met Dr. Marty who had been scheduled to spay her.  We had x-rays, and Marty said the limp was due to an early growth plate injury, and there isn't a surgical fix for her limp.  Actually, she is kind of cute as she walks with her head bobbing up and down to lessen the weight she puts on that foot.  Sometimes when she runs, that foot won't even touch the ground for several paces.

Nala has been here 11 days as I write this.  She tears up and down the stairs now after initially not knowing what stairs were for.  She is still curious about the cats, but they clearly are not her enemies.  She was slow to come close to me, but she immediately took to Charlene, following her from room to room as she moves through the house.  Now she sits long periods with me also.  She took over two dog beds—one in our bedroom and one in the living room.

It's still a little surprising to see a reddish-brown dog in the house, for many months we've only had Peachy and Princess—both white.  When she is in the sun, you can see there is a lot of red in her shiny coat.

I knew it wouldn't take long for Nala to become part of the family as she certainly has.  If she were suddenly gone, we'd feel a big loss and an emptiness.

Of course we don’t expect that to happen.  If we have anything to say about it, ours is the last home she'll ever need.

Les Inglis