I’ve been getting regular updates from her new forever mom this week, and I think she’s summed up Ruby’s week pretty accurately, “Miss Ruby’s already got everyone wrapped firmly around her little twitchy paw.” Apparently she's been busy (I know, shocking but true). She’s been gathering all the toys on one of the pillows in the living room that she has apparently determined is “hers.” (I forgot to warn them one of her hobbies is to “relocate squeaky toys.” Oops.) If she’s not playing, she’s running laps. In fact, she’s been been running laps all week, stopping only to gather toys or the occasional tummy and ear rub. Other than that she’s not slowed down once (well, except maybe to sleep, but just a little). If the continuous wagging of her tail is any indication – she seems pretty happy about this new turn of events, then again when is Ruby NOT happy? She’s also relieved that the chairs there are also comfy for short naps, but as a bonus, her forever dad’s lap is even MORE comfy. He’s already taught her a new word, “Cuddle!” Loosely translated it means: Ruby jump up on my lap, then flop-down-and-roll-over-in-belly-rub-position…..all in the same motion. Yep, sounds like Ruby is truly being nothing but Ruby! She's also been showing off all the stuff she learned at school the last few months, and in fact she's going to start back up in agility classes soon, too!
Ruby’s new family includes two dogs and two cats. Her favorite brother and instant buddy is 1.5 year old Shaka, a rescued German Shepherd, also with a very rough start in life. Shaka LOVES to play with Ruby in that rough and tumble style she’s perfected over these many months. Shaka is MUCH bigger, but Ruby’s found a way to outwit him by running straight under his tummy. They are getting along famously. Doc, her other brother, is 18 and also a rescued Border Collie. Ruby is careful to be gentle and treat him with respect, and their favorite game is for Ruby to run circles around Doc, with Shaka running circles around Ruby. (Herding dogs, what can I say?) Ruby’s decided the two cats, Kazi and Inu are strange, strange creatures and mostly watches them with amazement as they do those odd “things” cats do. One evening, Kazi (who is, as I’m told, part “Tasmanian Devil”) got some bug in her kitty head and dashed around the house helter-skelter. Ruby watched Kazi bouncing through the house with a look of total fascination and bewilderment, and she kept moving around the living room to get a better view of the amazing show. Kazi finally came to rest on the back of the couch. Ruby decided it was best to give Kazi a wide berth for a while. Smart dog.
Ruby liked her new parents right away, and so did I. For one thing, they reacted to her twitch, not with pity as many people do, but instead with a bit of humor. They say it looks like she’s dancing and she’s got her own internal soundtrack to keep her groovin’ (we’re thinking it’s a hip-hop tune). If Ruby could talk, I’m CERTAIN she’d have exactly the same attitude. I was also impressed with the fact all of their dogs have lived to be ripe old ages, and they’ve made special accommodations to their home so the old-timers can continue to be happy, safe and an important part of the family. Doc is pushing 18 and he’s still treated like royalty. His body may not work like it used to, but he’s still their Doc at heart. He still goes on his special car rides with the window cracked. He still gets to sleep on the “big bed” with mom and dad because, “when you’re 18 you deserve to sleep wherever you well please.” Since he’s 18, his Border Collie jumping mechanism is a little rusty. No worries, he’s carefully picked up, all 37 pounds + fur, and put up on the bed, and then when he’s ready to change locations the 37 pounds + fur is carefully put back down again. Now THAT’S a home every good dog deserves, and that’s exactly the kind of home we wanted for our special little gem.
I’m not surprised to hear Ruby’s radiant personality, spunk and endless energy went effortlessly along with her to her new home. Admittedly she’s left quite a hole around our house. It’s strangely quiet, in fact! I haven’t had to rescue stranded and soaking wet squeaky toys from the backyard all week. There’s no rambunctious "trash-talking" between the girls the few minutes after I get home from work, their Kongs and squeaky toys jammed to one side of their mouths. Livvy, Sunshine and even Henrietta have been moping and wandering about the house, sighing and staring at each other as if to say, “Well this is dang boring, now what?” We’ll be a little out of synch the next few days without the Red-Headed Ring Leader to start up a tag team chase and wrestling match, or come “slide into home” just when I sit down on the couch with my morning coffee. But, as much as we miss her, we’re sure happy that she’s found the "job" she was truly meant to fill, and that’s being the one and only “Ruby D. Parker – Certified Professional Canine Wrestler, Comedienne, Fun Coordinator and Cuddlebug.”
BCRT would like to extend a special thank you to all of those who have donated to Ruby, from the generous monetary donations, and the other donations that have taken many forms: those who took special care of her at the shelter, those who relentlessly pushed to find foster home(s), those who helped/contributed to the giant garage sale, those who took her to the vet and watched her carefully when she was sickest, the doctors that treated her and refused to give up, those who provided "Ruby" sitting services, those who let her out at lunch to play, those who let her participate in training classes, and all those that otherwise showed her how nice a dog's life can be.
