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| It takes a village |
So finding a good pet sitter is essential, one who cares about your pet deeply, one who is willing to put up with the unexpected. Finding one who writes you a hilarious mini novel to read when you get back? Priceless. This time we didn't have to wait for our return to read the novella, we received it via email. An email that was read with dread and side splitting laughter. Here it is, written by our friend, neighbor and pet sitter Melene:
Well, Miss Molly has/had been her sweet self. We had two studies cancel this week so I have been home more and with the heat I've kept her in more. So I thought that her 'emotional' needs were being met well. Then yesterday afternoon I walked back into the living room and there was Molly, soulfully sitting in the middle of the rug with most of her stuffed animals pulled out of the basket and artfully arranged around her. Did I not immediately feel that it was some sort of of message. Signaling some lack she was feeling in my stewardship of her? What could I do? What do drama queens appreciate most? Paparazzi attention. So I took a picture of her. Which I will send. When I figure out how to do it.
But evidently her indoor friends were not meeting all her emotional needs either, because she felt the need to reach out for some outdoor companionship - wild and odiferous. I think she has been feeling the heat. Even in the house she moves from place to place. After she has warmed up one spot she will move to another. So Tuesday night when she woke during the early morning hours and wanted out, I didn't worry when she didn't want to come back in. 'Enjoy the cool while you can.' In the morning she came right in and all was fine. (Until, of course, the incident yesterday of the indoor animal friends spread out on the floor.). So last night when she wanted to stay out again, no problem. She didn't seem to be barking. Until about 5:30 this morning. Her barking woke me up. I stumbled over to the sliding door, opened it and the screen door, and was assaulted with (what is inelegantly known as) a 'snootful of skunk stench'. "Oh, no! Skunk alert! Get into the house as quick as you can!" But it was rapidly apparent that it was too late. The smell came in with her. And back out she went. And back to bed I went. To rest up for and research what I needed to do.
But evidently her indoor friends were not meeting all her emotional needs either, because she felt the need to reach out for some outdoor companionship - wild and odiferous. I think she has been feeling the heat. Even in the house she moves from place to place. After she has warmed up one spot she will move to another. So Tuesday night when she woke during the early morning hours and wanted out, I didn't worry when she didn't want to come back in. 'Enjoy the cool while you can.' In the morning she came right in and all was fine. (Until, of course, the incident yesterday of the indoor animal friends spread out on the floor.). So last night when she wanted to stay out again, no problem. She didn't seem to be barking. Until about 5:30 this morning. Her barking woke me up. I stumbled over to the sliding door, opened it and the screen door, and was assaulted with (what is inelegantly known as) a 'snootful of skunk stench'. "Oh, no! Skunk alert! Get into the house as quick as you can!" But it was rapidly apparent that it was too late. The smell came in with her. And back out she went. And back to bed I went. To rest up for and research what I needed to do.
I got the ''de-skunk" recipe from the internet. You have all the ingredients- thank you thank you! (I had visions of trying to slink down to my house wearing my pj's to gather what I needed and then to slink back hoping no one would see me. I was still very tired when I was envisioning this. Although, with the current fashion mode, I probably wouldn't have gotten a second look from anyone seeing me.).
I didn't know what you usually mix it in. But I remembered seeing an empty plastic ice cream container in the recycle. (So I did slink out to the garbage can to dig it out. With Jessica's robe covering the pj's.). I mixed the solution and took it and Molly into the pool yard. With the gates shut. She let me pour it over her and work it in. But when it was time to rinse it off, I couldn't get her to come close to the hose I had which was running nice warm water. So I got her tennis ball and threw it into the pool a couple of times. That had to do for her rinse.
She keeps hanging around the back door obviously ready to come inside. So I had to have a little talk with her about consequences of one's actions. (When one is wet and residually stinky, especially as a direct result of one's own risky behavior, one cannot expect all the rights and privileges one usually enjoys.). Her head was in the attentive position, but her eyes kept sliding from side to side. So I am not counting on her rehabilitative retention of either the experience or the chat. But she can be sure that there will be no allowance of any late-night carousing tonight. No way, Missy.
What could we possibly bring home from our European vacation to make up for this? All the beer in Germany? All the plum brandy in Romania? We may need to get a bigger suitcase.
