Two weeks traveling with two dogs!

This is our first big trip since Italy - except for a short trip to a Texas Casino! Seymour, Zooey and I are on our way to Pennsylvania to go to my dad's 90th birthday celebration. We are in a car instead of our camper because my daughter and her 2 children will be driving home with us. There is only room for 2 people and 2 dogs in my camper.

So, I am getting a chance to experience finding places to stay overnight with 2 dogs. But I'm getting ahead of story. We left Wimberley Texas yesterday morning after a stop at the local Diamond Shamrock for coffee and breakfast taco. When I went to pay, they said "it's already taken care of". Thanks, Mary! Nice start to a trip.

The dogs settled into their sleeping spots; Seymour in a small crate and Zooey in her bed. Our first stop was a new rest stop in Texas, near Salado. It had a playground, a storm shelter and nice restrooms. As an after thought, the put in 2 "Pet Area" signs in the weeds near the road. Seriously? Notice the trucks on the freeway behind Seymour?




Zooey could barely walk in the grass/weeds because they were too high for her. This was definitely not a plan for pets in this new rest area. All they needed to do was make a gravel walking path, put in some trash cans for pet waste and maybe add a fire hydrant for fun.


In comparison, we stopped at the Welcome Center when we entered Arkansas and they had a nice pet area, not near the highway. I could walk on the sidewalk while the dogs enjoyed the walk through the nicely trimmed grass. The trucks in the background are parked, not racing down the freeway. Thanks, Arkansas! Also, while we were walking at in the rest area, I was on my cell and a lady kept following me around. She finally tapped me and asked how old Seymour was. She has a puppy that looked like Seymour and wondered how big her puppy might grow. (Seymour is 8 years old and about 7-ish pounds). A little while later, while still on the cell, a truck pulled up beside me and when I looked, it was that woman again. This time she was with her husband and she rolled down the window and said in broken English, "How old to your dog get this size". Because her English wasn't strong, I didn't tell her that I didn't rescue Seymour until he was 2 1/2 and he is a mix so who knows how big a dog who looks like him will get - so I just said "about a year". Dog lovers find each other even if we don't speak the same language.



We then started looking for places to stay. I remembered that Motel 6 was pet friendly and heard that Holiday Inn was, also. We stopped at a Holiday Inn in Malvern and they didn't accept pets but told me that the Super 8 did or I could drive further to Bryant, AR and there was a Holiday Inn that allowed dogs. I decided to drive further since the trip is 1500 miles and I'm trying to do it in 3 days.

We arrived at the Holiday Inn and found that they did allow pets, for $25 extra for each pet, and a long contract to sign. I opted not to stay. They told me that the Super 8 allowed pets and even called them for me. Celeste, at Super 8, was very friendly. We paid $10 extra for each pet and they will check the room before we leave this morning. The dogs were great so I'm not worried. They actually both slept with me. I've never allowed Zooey to do that because she is so small I was afraid I'd roll over on her. We were all well this morning.

I was told that the Super 8 Motel's are all individually owned so they can set their own rules regarding pets. But I will add this chain to my places that possibly allow pets for a reasonable rate.

On to day 2 of our trip.



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I have no affiliation with this dealership except for taking my car in for maintenance, etc. In the past, I always took Seymour with me and the staff was always friendly with us. This last time, I took Seymour and Zooey and I wasn't sure how they would handle 2 dogs in their waiting room.



The staff was equally as friendly with us. More people talked to me, or at least my dogs than they do when I am alone. Maybe my dogs are dressed better than I am normally? Or maybe they just have a lot of dog lovers working there. One person does have a statue of a life sized dog in their office doorway. I haven't checked to see if it barks when you walk by.

It is so nice to go places where pets are not only allowed, but welcomed. It makes the long wait for my car a little more pleasant.
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Location:San Marcos Toyota

Hospitals and Dogs

I am behind in my posts due to some surgery and recovery. I do think my dogs have helped in my recovery and would have been able to help more if I had known one thing.
Having surgery is a stress but for me, worrying about my dogs while I'm gone is almost a bigger stress. I was lucky that 2 neighbors offered to watch each dog. One has a medium sized dog that Seymour is pals with and one has a small poodle that Zooey kinda tolerates. Being a recent rescue and having endured abuse by another dog, Zooey is very skittish around almost all dogs - except Seymour. They are a bit of a handful together, as another kind neighbor found out when watching them for 2 days, so separately them was the best way to go. But back to my story.
I was in the hospital for 3 days and feeling pretty bad both mentally and physically. The last night I was there, one of the nurses mentioned that if I had my physician write an order for "pet therapy" my dogs could have come to visit me. They would have had to be in their crate - at least when the door to my room was open, but at least I could have enjoyed their company for a few hours. Unfortunately, I wasn't told this until the night before I was going home so didn't try to get a physician's order. I am not sure hospitals publicize this, but I recommend that if you are ever in the hospital, you ask your physician about it. I do think that I would have been in a much more positive frame of mind, and maybe I wouldn't have been thinking about my pain as much,if I had my dogs to cuddle. Another good thing about seeing your dogs when you are in the hospital is that you don't have to walk them. It's like having grandchildren. You can play with them and love on them and give them back.
Instead, when my dogs came home after my hospitalization, they considered me the same person I was before; the one who walked them, gave them treats, fed them and held them. I'm sure they were wondering who that strange person was who had to just about roll off of the couch and on to the floor to be able to get up to open the back door for them. Maybe if they'd seen me in the hospital, they would have been more prepared for living with a semi-invalid for a little while.
I am hoping to not go in the hospital for a long time, but if I do, I want to add "dog visits" to my advanced directives.

Feeding Two Dogs

It sounds easy. Put out two bowls of dog food. I can't put them beside each other because Seymour will block Zooey's way to either bowl and try to eat them both. So I put out two bowls of food and two bowls of water in different parts of the kitchen. The bigger bowl with the most food goes to the bigger dog, 6 1/2 pound Seymour. The smaller bowl goes to 3 pound Zooey. Same food, different amounts. Invariably Seymour thinks I am giving better food to his sister so he goes for her bowl first. I could probably put a steak in his bowl and he would still think that Zooey had the more gourmet meal and head to her bowl.

Seymour has been with me for over five years, so if he had some problem with favoritism in the past, it shouldn't affect him now. Cesar says that dogs live in the "now". No one told that to my dog! I now have to put Zooey's food in her crate but Seymour eats his food and then lurks outside of Zooey's crate waiting to lick the bowl clean when she is done. Is is a little heart breaking hearing him licking and pushing each bowl around the floors while trying to get the last dried moral of dogfood into his tummy. Anyone who didn't know the situation would think i was starving him. But today they both went to the vets and Seymour has gained 10 ounces, up to a slightly chubby 7 pounds 2 ounces in less than a month. Zooey gained some much needed weight, up to 3 pounds 8 ounces. I am gaining flexibility from moving bowls around so they both get food!

Mutual Admiration Society

A friend sent this and I had to share it. How lucky we are to have our pets, especially when we have little else.




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Seymour and his Surgery

A relatively common small dog issue is a luxating patella. Our vet said that when he started walking on 3 legs about 30% of the time, it meant that he probably would need surgery. He wasn't quite up to 30% but he wanted me to carry him more - and he is 7 1/2 years old, so it was time.

Seymour had his surgery on Monday and since he was going to be sedated, I also had them clean his teeth and clip his nails. I'm sure when he woke up, he was thinking "What the heck hit me?". He is on pain meds and an antibiotic and will go back in 2 weeks to get his stitches removed. Here is a gross picture of his leg - back, driver side :)




He was pretty out of it the first 2 days but would still go to the bathroom outside when I carried him out. I think he is holding "number 2", although I saw him go once, because it is a difficult position to get into with only one back leg. TMI?

The first morning after surgery, Zooey jumped in his bed with him and I heard the worst screech. She has quickly learned that she can sleep beside his bed, but not in it. I do think she is confused. She has only lived with us less than 3 weeks so I hate to see her worrying about him.

Today, Seymour has been whining and I can't figure out what he needs. I have brought him water, fed him his dog food on a spoon (so he wouldn't have to get up), taken him outside and given him his favorite treat, and nothing is working. I took that picture of his wound and sent it to the vet to see if he needs to come in, but I haven't heard back yet. And of course it is almost weekend, so if he needs any medical attention, he will have to go to the expensive emergency vet. I will be happy when he passes the 2 week mark and I can start doing physical therapy on that leg. I am missing my sweet little Seymour. But I was out at my own doctor's appointment yesterday and when I came home both Seymour and Zooey were waiting at the door for me. I was surprised and delighted.

For now, this is Seymour's primary position:




I know that it won't be long before my frisky travel companion is back to normal and ready for another trip - this time with his little pesky sister. I can't wait!

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And Sister Makes Three

I was getting "traveling with one pet" down to a science, so what did I do? I got Seymour a little sister we named Zooey. I saw her picture on www.petfinder.com



I have always looked but never had a plan to get another dog. But I guess when one looks, it is inevitable that a dog will catch your heart. Zooey is a 3 pound 2 ounce rescue from Abilene Texas. I was told that she was an owner surrender with another, more aggressive dog. She was very timid, very underweight and did not walk on a leash. She is what one of my friends call "a cute, ugly dog". Seymour was hoping that she was just visiting.

We have now had her for 10 days and she has already been to the vet twice. The first time for an update on immunizations and ear infections. She is too skinny to get a microchip yet. The second time was for suspected kennel cough, which she received steroid and antibiotic shots. I think she also has hip dysplasia since she is beginning to hop on three legs. BTW, Seymour is getting surgery for his hip dysplasia on Monday.

Everyone thinks that she is between 18 months and 2 years old. She looks like a feminine little girl and barks like Danny DiVito. No one is exactly sure what her "mix" is, but we think chihuahua, yorkie and maybe one or two others. She is fluffy but looks like she could be Benjamin Button's dog with her wispy, need of hair plugs, head.

Zooey has loved Seymour from the first day they met. She is constantly trying to get in his dog bed with him and follows him everywhere. Seymour, on the other hand, is still hoping she is just visiting! He puts up with her. He is used to being an only dog, so it is a big change for him.




I am doing my best to give them both lots of attention. They both love riding in the car so I think it will be easy to go on camping trips with them.

Seymour, Zooey and I have already visited Ace Hardware and the Senior Thrift store in town. I have carried one in the sling and one in my arms but in a pinch, I can actually carry both in one hand. Between the two of them, they weigh less than 10 pounds.

So, I am now going to be traveling with two little ones. Let the adventures continue!

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