A Story of the great Tennessee Eclipse, August 21, 2017

Well, I guess I know how much you all were surprised by the stories I have told of the things that have happened in my life. I thought life would settle down to something slightly normal after turning the ¾ century mark.

Well, I don’t know if you all have any thoughts about an eclipse being some kind of bad omen, but Monday August 21, 2017, I was walking Lambo, my Shih Tzu, in the morning. We were a block from home and Lambo turned around and started making his noises when there is another critter close by like a cat or dog. So, I looked around and at first didn’t see anything, then I saw a small dog about half the size of Lambo following us. As it got close Lambo wanted to go over to the dog, but he looks so intimidating, the dog kept backing away. I looked again and there was this very skinny dog that looked like it was on its last legs. I held Lambo back to me and the dog came over to me.

Upon closer examination it was not too much more than a skeleton with skin stretched over. There were so many fleas it looked like someone coated it in poppy seeds. I went to pet it, and the skin was so dry when you pinched it the skin stayed in that shape. This was a case of complete emaciation. People around here have a habit of throwing away dogs and cats like yesterday’s oatmeal even when it is against Tennessee State Law to abandon any domestic or farm animal with a max fine of $5,000.

I wasn’t thinking much about the situation, so I headed back home and the dog started following us. When I got to my house the woman across the street came out and the dog went over to her. She picked it up and said “ Who the $%^&%^$%!!! did this to it” I said it has been following. So, then she says to me, “Are you going to keep it?” It seemed like time stopped to me, but I said without thinking “oh well bring it over and I’ll put it in my screened porch out back.” Well after a short conversation I said I’ll see what I can do for the dog.

First, I got some water and a little bit of Lambo’s food and presented it to this dog. Well, I had put some water on my hand and splashed it into his mouth. He refused any food, just took a little and licked it. I got him to lap the water a bit. Next, I got a damp towel and began wiping all the grass, dirt, and some fleas off.

Then I put the towel on the patio, and he went over to it and curled up, still scratching and biting fleas. After the eclipse I went and got a bottle of flea shampoo and proceeded to wash him off. He made no move to jump out of the tub and let me wash every part, even inside his ears. He was making some effort to wag but was very intimated. When I dried him off, he did the same thing and rolled all over the towels on the ground. He seemed a bit more relaxed and I got him to drink more water. Later that evening I made some boiled chicken and rice and mashed it into mush with some broth. He wouldn't eat himself, so I kept putting a little in his mouth and he began to swallow it. He would get close to me every time I'd move, and it wag more. Later that night I took him into the garage for the night. He slept on one of the towels and was scratching on the door in the morning. Lambo was on the other side with his nose sniffing the door.

 He had drunk half of the water I left for him over night. He went to the door to the patio, so I let out to the patio, and he went to the patio screen door like he wanted out. So, I went and got Lambo's old puppy leash. When he saw it, he went nuts and jumped and barked. When I got him out, he went and peed on the grass. First surprise, he's house trained! Also Tuesday he got another bath. Tuesday night I got Lambo's doggie bed he won't get in and when I showed it to the stray, he almost pulled it out of my hand. He instantly jumped in it and curled up. He also went out a did a pea sized poop. At least the system is open and working. He also ate more out of my hand. 

Wednesday, I had a vet appointment, when I opened the door to the truck, he jumped in and hopped right over to the passenger side and look at me like "Let’s Go" and wagged. Second surprise coming. The vet checked him over and did some tests. He said he would like a stool sample, and I said, “Well he did a little before we came in”, so the assistant and I went out, and she collected some. Believe it or not there were no parasites at all. Also, the vet said the heart sounds good, so he didn't think there were any heart worms. The toenails had grown in a complete circle and were about to grow into the pads of his feet. The vet said the dog was at the stage it would have died in 24-48 hours.

When the dog weighed in it was 5 LBS it should weigh 8 pounds. It's around 6 to 7 years old and has good teeth. It is about 50% long haired Chihuahua and some kind of Terrier. The vet said he can't do anymore medication other than a flea pill, Front-line which will get rid of the fleas and eggs in 3 - 4 hours, which it did. 

Third surprise! The dog has a micro-chip installed! So, when the vet looked up the number, he found the chip was put in 5 years ago in, ready, Athens, Georgia ! That's 350 miles from Hohenwald, TN. There were two phone numbers associated with it all of the numbers were not in service. The last was from three years ago and was a 615 number east of Nashville, a good two hours’ drive at 55. That evening he was flea free yea! So, I let him meet Lambo and they did the obligatory sniffing, went out on the patio and socialized more, they get along fine. 

Wednesday night he joined us in the house and Lambo took him for tour all over as a guide. I still had to help him eat and got a couple of tablespoonsful in him. He was drinking on his own by now. I tried to make him sleep in the garage that night, but he was "woo-wooing" on one side of the door and Lambo on the other making noises. So, I put the bed next to the sofa and he went in it and Lambo on the sofa in the living room. 

Thursday morning Lambo showed him that I had to be out of bed at 6:00 AM sharp so I was met by both of them. Took the two of them out together and fourth surprise! They walked along together just fine and both did what they went out for. Breakfast went well and a whole 1/4 cup got eaten. Dinner was about the same. More walks, single and tandem. This one does a good job of telling you when he wants to go out. Thursday night the two of them spent the night UNDER my bed. Friday morning, I had two tongues at 6:00 AM in bed with me and routines are getting in place. The two of them as dogs do sleep most of the time, here together on the sofa. However, for a change of pace, I find them on my bed! I started a morning weigh-in, and the 5 lb dog was 6.2 lbs. since the first day here. 

Saturday and Sunday have become almost routine with those two. Lambo is on a diet as he's 18 LBS. The other one is now 6.6 pounds and is eating two full meals plus cookies. So, it's now Monday, a week later, and I feel like domestic help. He's still very thin but happy and active. I am beginning to feel this is not going to be a short visit, and I think I'd get an argument from Lambo if I tried that.

One thing when at the vet's I took "possession" of the dog and the vet asked what his name was. I replied, "I don't know, I didn't ask him." So, what came out of my mouth was ECLIPSE !!!! for the day he found us.

So that was his new name. The partnership lasted until October 12, 2026, after Nine years and Six weeks.