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Butler and Dexter
A wondrous relationship has developed between Dexter and Butler , two of the collies from the Houston confiscation. These two boys have forged a friendship, based on trust and shared experiences. Dexter is mostly blind, certainly not the genetic stud anyone would want for their kennel. He is smart and resourceful, which is probably why he survived. Butler is young and was pretty much a blank slate. He does not seem to have internalized the neglect and abuse, as some of the older dogs have.
Dexter seemed cynical. "How do I know that this place will be any better than the last place?" And Butler would celebrate even the smallest thing, like fresh water in a clean bowl. "Wow! Someone cares about me." Because the boys were in exercise pens next to each other from the very first day they landed with us, they were leash walked at the same time. Although I used caution, the boys seemed more comfortable in the company of each other than when they were leash walked alone. Dexter listened for the younger dog's cues to the environment and they began to touch noses to reassure each other about anything that was unfamiliar to either of them. Dexter had the street smarts and Butler could see what was going on. It was a place to start.
The "boys", as they have become, are quite a team. They do most things together. I continue to feed breakfast and dinner with each of them in their own exercise pen and they sleep there also. But the majority of their time is as family members of the Hemperly household. And a crazy household it is! Every one of the dogs, whether permanent members of the family or "temps", has access to the whole house via doggie door through my study into a 6 Foot privacy fenced yard. There are dog beds of every size and design in every room. And multiple water bowls, enough to slurp over every floor in the house. More often than not, I find Dex and Little Butt together, exploring everything with those big honking noses. Dexter is into toilet tissue. If I am lax and don't close the doors to the bathrooms on the first floor, the TP is unrolled and munched on and carried around. Butler joins in the fun with items of clothing that he snags out of thin air. A load of clean laundry, fresh from the dryer, is a challenge to him. How many pieces can he swipe before mom notices? Sometimes the boys tag team. Like the day last week when I heard a ruckus coming from the direction of my bedroom and got there in time to see them playing tug-of-war with my bra! I was laughing too hard to say much and the boys abandoned their game to come over and see what was so funny.
What I am getting at is this. Dexter and Butler have become a team. They like each other and depend on one another. And we would like to continue to nurture that relationship in the hope that some wonderful someone out there will see the beauty in it, also. For the right family, consideration will be given as to adoption donation. And it had better be a family with a sense of humor!
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