Bodacious Boomer

Annie at the puppy mill

Three months ago or so Evelyn adopted Annie, an Australian Cattle Dog. Annie was a rescue. She had endured a harsh existence prior to being rescued. It was thought that she’d had at least 10 litters of pups in her short life already. She had lived most of her life in a 55 gal.drum either in it, or chained to it, for 4 years. Her only protection from inclement weather was the barrel itself and if the storm happened to come from the direction in which the opening was facing that was just too bad for her. No one knows just what she went through- snow, sleet, rain. It was horrific. Initially Annie went to a foster home for ACDs (Australian Cattle Dogs) to be assessed and try to regain her health. Please read on, things get better.

Annie was kinda shy when she first arrived at Evelyn’s house. She wouldn’t go outside to potty alone, instead having to have someone next to her at all times. She didn’t know how to play, didn’t understand it. Annie couldn’t have gone to a better mom. Evelyn sat on the floor with her for extended periods teaching her to play and eventually Annie learned how. Now she loves it. Evelyn said she wanted a “velcro dog”. Well she got that in spades. Annie follows her everywhere she goes, even into the bathroom. If Evelyn had a pouch, Annie would happily climb in, all 45 lbs. of her.

Thanksgiving was Annie’s first big holiday. She really made the most of it. Tuesday afternoon I went over to Annie’s. Her mom and I started getting things ready for Thanksgiving. The first batch of zucchini bread was no bueno. The somewhat briquettish loaves were left out on the kitchen table while we were in the den. Thirty minutes later we didn’t see Annie. Where was she? She was hiding in the corner of the dining room eating overcooked zucchini bread like she was going to the chair. (She had downed two loaves before we found her). The next day I looked away for a second and she snitched a fry off my plate. A pattern was starting to emerge.

I roasted acorn squash for Thanksgiving dinner and Annie really enjoyed it when I offered her a little. She was on her best behaviour that day. However, she made up for it yesterday. After turkey dinner all the desserts were put on the kitchen table. It was quite a spread with three pies, brownies, vanilla ice cream and some of my coconut cupcakes from the day before. People were in the living room, the craft room, the bathroom. No one was still in the kitchen, or so we thought. A sneaky Australian cattle dog named Annie had quietly gone back to the kitchen. The next thing I heard was “ANNIE!- GET DOWN”! When I got to the kitchen I discovered that Annie had wolfed down two of the Barefoot Contessa’s coconut cupcakes and also had sunk her choppers into the apple-cranberry pie.

Annie was stricken with remorse after being chastised; or so we thought. We were wrong. Annie should go to Hollywood. That girl dog can act! She waited til the house was quiet with everyone in bed, then commando Annie sneaked back into the kitchen for one last mission. This time she went for the big score, raiding the overstuffed trash can itself. Now in all the time prior to Thanksgiving week, Annie had been really good, never filching food she wasn’t given or raiding the trash. Evelyn couldn’t be exactly sure of everything that Annie actually ate last night in her midnight raid. However one thing she knows for sure. A picked-clean turkey carcass was on the couch this morning and Evelyn was sure she didn’t leave one there before going to bed.

She can't believe she ate the whole thing.

What else did Evelyn find this morning? A very happy, but very bloated, Australian cattle dog named Annie laying on the couch. Annie hadn’t thrown up.  I found that amazing. What was also amazing what the prodigious amount of poop left in the den by only one dog.  Rememebr the old Alka-Seltzer ad- I can’t believe I ate the whole thing? I betcha Annie felt just like that late last night. Evelyn and I are taking Annie to dog park today so we can all start working off some of our holiday calories. We may be there an incredibly long time.

The good news is Annie doesn’t seem to have suffered any dire consequences from her excesses. The bad news is (for her) is that from now on the louvered doors to the kitchen will be kept closed. All good things come to an end eventually.