Remembered

Greta... Everyone is stunned when they hear that Greta is around 10 years old   She is one of our Golden Gems– she looks half her age.  Her youthful good looks must be genetics, because when we picked up the stray beauty, she had been terribly neglected.  The poor girl was filthy.  Someone had cut off her long tail feathers & pantaloons, probably because they were so badly matted.  Greta had ear infections & eye infections, and her skin was scabbed & sore.

 We went to work, medicating & bathing & trimming.  Greta’s doctor checked her over.  She heard a heart murmur, grade 3 of 5, and noticed arthritis.  We ran blood work, discovered her to be anemic, and started her on iron supplementation.  Just to be careful, we ran an ultrasound of Greta’s insides.  Happy surprise!  For a 10 year old girlie, Greta’s interior looks to be in very good shape.  We cheered in the back of the doctor’s office at the happy report.  Miss Greta gets healthier every day.

 Greta has been an absolute pleasure.  She gets along famously with the six(!) other Golden Retrievers in our house.  She pals around with the 12-year-olds Hogan & Abby, and has a flirtation going with Special Agent Cooper, age 11.  Greta is a tennis ball fanatic who tosses the ball back to you, to entice you to play.  Her favorite nap spot is on a nice soft pad in my office, next to the printer.  If I ever can’t find her, that’s the place to look.  Greta rarely barks, except to yell, “Mix lunch faster, my tummy is hungry!”  Conversely, she may yell, “I’m done with lunch, open the baby gate!”  Greta follows the canine stampede toward the garage for our nightly 5:00 p.m. dog drive.  She hops up the step stool into our Explorer & snuggles tight with the rest of the gang.  As we drive through the neighborhood at 15 mph, Greta gazes out the windows, smiling & feeling adventurous.  She is especially tickled, because she knows what comes after her ride – supper.

 Greta was good with an 8-week-old Sheltie puppy who pestered her.  She was polite at the vet’s, although she spent much of her time plastered next to the door, wishing she could get out of there!  Greta is a calm patient when I apply her eye & ear medications.  She is good in the tub at bath time.  Greta likes car rides and is polite while I drive.  She is trustworthy loose in the house & does not require a crate.  Greta does not bother human items.  She stays off our furniture without being asked.  Greta does not beg at the table, and she usually falls asleep nearby as we eat.   Greta really, really likes head rubs and massages and kisses on the temple.  She sits very still, absorbing the deliciousness of the attention.  I can almost hear her thinking, “I am so very happy.”

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