"I sent along a bottle of Fresh Factors - it's a wonderful dietary
supplement for dogs of all ages. I put one broken up in her kibble.
You can use it for treats for Rocky too. Enjoy this little girl. She
is really special." These words were in the last emails I received
from her foster mom. I knew Wagmore had been in loving hands! She is a
blessed hound.
We waited at the terminal, watching the fight arrival board. The
flight was delayed, but only by minutes. The flight cargo guy had
said to give them an additional 15 minutes to unload the plane. As
soon as the fight arrival board changed we went back to the cargo
area. A few packages arrived before ours. A tiny terrier in a pink
pet carrier was brought in first. No, it wasn't near big enough for a
coonhound, not even a puppy. Her crate was next. Kevin paid the
flight fare as I fought with the zip-tie to free her. The crate was
only slightly peepeed so I bet she needed to get out, besides I wanted
to pick up the cutest baby dog ever!
On our way home we stopped at my son's winery, Revolution Wines.
He quickly decided too that she was the cutest
puppy he'd ever seen. She scoured the area for unpaved spots.
Occasionally she'd look at me as if to say, "Is this home?" She's not
cracked up to be a city dog. Sacramento just didn't offer enough open
space. We loaded back in the car and proceeded home.
A couple potty stops later we approached our bumpy gravel road. With
one ear drooped off the backseat, she slept soundly with a chew toy at
her side. We got out of the car and opened our farm gate. Rocky, our
eight year-old Coonie, caught her scent and sounded off. She snored!
After we parked I woke her up and took her out. Rocky stretched his
lead and 250 foot highwire. Wags perked up, "And who's this?" etched
across her eyes. Our three potbellied pigs, Ruby, Reba and Worf,
crowded around. "You're not bringing that in the house, are you?"
questioned their grunts. (Pigs think hounds stink.)
In three days, Ritzy Wagmore Mathews had everything under control. She
knows Reba, the old blind pig, needs space. If Worf, the
230-pound pig with tusks, gives her any guff she just barks and backs
him into the corner. She and Ruby and our two cats are friends.
Rocky loves her but is bewildered that he has to make an appointment
to get his bed back on occasion. She has all of us trained to put up
shoes and go get a chew toy. She loves all brands of food, being dog
food is not required. She had her first vet check-up the day after she arrived and
they fell in love with her and said she is in perfect condition. She
needs to catch up in weight so we are giving her a special supplement
dog food with her regular food. She finishes it and then butts Rocky
out of his bowl. We are working on manners. Ritzy Wagmore starts
puppy orientation next month and is already learning the working dog
routine here on the farm. Ritzy Wags will be a poultry dog and a
beloved daughter!
Lisa and Kevin Mathews
