From March of 2018 until August 13, 2018, folks driving to and from Mendota saw a little dog if they came and went on Nordyke Road.  The little dog was so cute.  It was hard to imagine that it did not have a home, but it did not.  For a bit, Creed Dye fed the little dog, and I believe he called it Brownie.    Unfortunately, Creed died on June 12.  He was 96.   Creed’s neighbor Sherry Fleenor attempted to feed the little dog when she saw it.  The trouble was that it would not allow itself to be touched.  Skittish was the word I  kept hearing.      I tried repeatedly to catch it; and began, along with many others, giving it food.    If I had went to Chick-Filet for the Adventure Mendota staff, I’d be short one chicken sandwich when I arrived at base camp, as I’d leave it for the dog if I saw it along the road.

Its eyes spoke to many of us, and we all wanted to catch it and give it a better life.  I let it be known via Facebook that should anyone catch the little dog, I would take it.    Whatever anyone has heard about Mike and me, one thing that can be said is that we take good care of our animals, so I hoped they’d respond. I just knew the dog was meant for me.  As the summer progressed, the dog grew thinner.  It got ticks on it.  I gave up and started leaving Mendota from another direction just so I would not have the heartbreak of seeing the little dog.

On August 13, a neighbor named Marilyn borrowed a humane trap from Happy Tails;  and lo and behold, she caught the little dog!  She took it to Broadwater Animal Hospital for a flea treatment, de-worming and a rabies vaccine.   She learned the dog was a female.    Then..she called me.  “Are you the person who said they’d take the little dog on Nordyke?”   I replied yes!!  This little girl blew in like a hurricane on the back of Marilyn’s truck.

Here is the wonderful Marilyn who saved her.  When the little dog arrived, she ate a rotisserie chicken, a doggy ice cream and two bowls of Blue Buffalo kibbles.  She was very hungry.

We knew nothing about the little dog so we placed her in a 20 x 18 enclosure and tarped it for shade and bedded it with fresh straw.    Marilyn’s partner Jeff, with help from Mike,  cut a hole in the barn and we placed a large cage inside so that she could go into the barn during the evening or if she wanted to hide.   We ran a fan out to keep it cool and placed two chairs inside so that I could go spend time with her and attempt to bond so that we could take her to my vet and move her into the house.   I made 6-8 trips out there each day with ice water, treats, etc.

Marilyn, my sister, my niece’s daughter, Mike, Gerald and Nancy and others would slip into the enclosure and read and talk to the dog.   A special friend who had been involved in her capture named Peggy came and visited.   The little dog loved this time with all of her new friends and enjoyed the treats.   She’d climb all over Marilyn and me nibbling on chicken that we’d place on our chests, legs, stomachs, etc.

I thought of the lesson I was learning from this little dog.  I wanted her to trust me because I had such good plans for her.   Does that sound familiar?

Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version (NIV)

I started thinking of her as my Jeremiah dog.   How could I expect her to trust me if I did not thoroughly  trust in God myself.    I was certain she and I would be learning trust together.

I thought she’d run away. She never attempted.   I started to call her Miss Minnie,  a shortened version of Miss Mendota, but her name became MiMi and it stuck.

MiMi was about four years old.  Her teeth were worn down from chewing on something.  We surmised she may have been tied up at one time.   I hope not.    She weighed about 35 pounds.

Marilyn and I fell completely in love with MiMi.   Mike was reserved until he could have a better understanding of how she and River would do.   Mike brought River out to the enclosure to test the waters. They were fine!     Mimi was scheduled for her surgery just over three weeks from the day that we got her.   We had wanted to see if we could leash her; then my vet was on vacation, etc.   During all of this time, she never allowed me to pet her unless I cornered her although she did show affection in allowing us to touch her nose, wagging her tail when she saw us, etc.

We could not leash her but we could not wait for that to happen to get her to the vet.   I wanted her out of that enclosure and into the house.   I bought a crate at Pet Smart and started putting bits of chicken in it to lure her in.   We did this for a few days and then, on surgery day, Marilyn popped her bottom in the crate as she went in for the chicken.   She went for her spay surgery and to possibly address her teats which hung down like pears.  The surgery was difficult.  Mimi had tumors in/surrounding her little breasts and infection surrounding the tumors.    We determined not to send the tumors off for a biopsy as, with her mental state of not allowing us to touch or leash her–how would I transport her back and forth for chemo if it were cancer?     Dr. Dotson suggested waiting, and if it was cancer, it would return and by that time, we’d probably have MiMi tamed enough to be much easier to transport.  So..that was our game plan.   She came home.  Our first night we slept in the garage; however, by the second night, MiMi did not want to sleep in the garage.  I believe she was claustrophobic.   Fortunately, the next morning, she walked into the house. She was feeling much better and she liked the house.   She moved in with complete assurance.   She slept near River and stayed near him.  Here they are beside my bed.

She started behaving more like a pet than the “little Nordyke dog” that had ran the road for six months.   We caught her surfing the counter.  We didn’t correct her.  We wanted no set backs on her rising self confidence.   In fact, we thought it was  hilarious.

Marilyn used the name “velcro dog” to describe the relationship MiMi and I were developing as she stayed right with me.   I was so pleased.  Because so many people had seen  MiMi on Nordyke, I kept everyone updated on her progress on Facebook.   It was turning out to be a “feel good” story, and we were all enjoying it.

However, two weeks after the surgery, she asked to go outside and she hid;  Mike went to check on her and found blood seeping from one of her teats.  It was a Wednesday.  I texted Dr. Dotson immediately and he told me to bring her in.    He performed surgery the next morning.  Following her surgery, which was comprised of a complete mastectomy and areas which had mastitis/continued infection, he was cautiously optimistic–only because she had survived the surgery.  However, when I asked when she’d be coming home, he said it would not be until after the weekend.  I was crestfallen.   I stayed by the phone and texted back and forth with worried him to death him all weekend.  There was a neighborhood barbecue at my friend’s house.   I did not want to go while MiMi was in danger.   I was restless all weekend waiting.

I went to see her. In typical MiMi fashion she did not want to be touched and she ignored me.   She was mad at me.  I made this little update for everyone.   At the time, I thought my little one would be coming home and this was just part of her recovery.

On Monday, I spoke with Dr. Dotson and we talked about Thursday as a potential “go home” day.  He had been concerned on Saturday because she wasn’t eating, and then she seemed to get her appetite back.    We were both excited.   She had had a bowel movement and she was sitting on the chair in Dr. Dotson’s office.   Progress!  We thought MiMi would definitely be coming home soon!

However,  Tuesday, things didn’t go well.  She quit eating.   He took some blood and sent it off to determine what was amiss.  He did x-rays.  His hope was it was the medication which seemed possible.

On Wednesday I visited and I asked Marilyn to come as well.  MiMi did not look well.  She allowed me to pet her.    Her ears were so soft.  I snuggled and kissed her.  She allowed it.   This was not her normal nature.

The next morning, Dr. Dotson called early.  MiMi had died during the night.   He asked to do an autopsy and I agreed; however, when he got the bloodwork, he discovered what had occurred — acute rental failure.  Her kidneys shut down.  He was distraught.  I was heartbroken.  He had kept her in his office the entire time she had been there, and he told me how he had become attached to her as she walked about his office and sniffed of him.

I have had several dogs that I’ve loved completely.   They’ve been nothing but joy for me. They lived to be 14, 15 and 16.  They lived such good lives.   When they passed, I grieved, but nothing like the feeling of loss I had for MiMi.   They lived so well, yet she didn’t have a chance.    I had so wanted to give MiMi this kind of life — one of no worries, of boundless love, lots of food, etc.   I wanted to gain her trust and love.   It was not meant to be.

I had MiMi cremated, and yesterday I brought her remains home.    I wanted her to live in the house with me and she will until such time that Mike or I go, whomever goes first.  She will be buried with one of us.

I am so grateful for the friends that reached out to me following MiMi’s death.   A few sent flowers and this meant so much.   Their kind words underscored MiMi’s importance in my life.   It underscored that she was more than “just that Nordyke dog.”   She was valuable.  She was precious.  She had purpose.

MiMi. Loved and cherished by me and so many others during the time she was with us.   August 13, 2018 – October 4, 2018.

And finally…