Between the time Crystal went away to college and Jon's going was imminent we got a puppy for Daniel. A yellow lab (is there any other kind of dog?) She was named "Annie" after the dog in
Where the Red Fern Grows). She is luvable and an eternal knucklehead as labs tend to be. She was so little when we first got her, we had to net her pen to keep a hawk from carrying her away---we do live at the edge of a woods. She is now 9 years old and weighs about 75 pounds. When we are camping, she loves to swim in ocean, river or lake, but does not swim at home. She's gotten into trouble for getting in the pond, and never has been in the pool, even when we have tried to coax her to join us. She hates taking a bath.
Last weekend we went to the Troutdale McMenamins for Cousin (reunion) Fest disguised as a wedding. There are photos on Lee and Tina's blogs (click the sidebar links) if you want to look. Annie was left at home in the care of our good friend Brendan.
Annie does not care to be left behind. Whenever suitcases come out, she sulks and sighs---very dramatic. If, however the kennel is loaded into the Mountaineer---she is a happy dog, and has been known to sit in the kennel, in the car, for 2 days straight to insure she gets to go along. Odd things have happened when she has been left alone too long---so we don't tend to let her stay at home by herself.
When we got home, Brendan was here with his mom. "To survey the damage" she says. When Brendan got to the house on Saturday, he could not find Annie. He called and called. He could hear her dogtags tinkling and he heard her wimpering, but could not find her anywhere around the house. He finally went up on the deck and looking down in the direction of the whining saw the pool was empty, the lining shredded, and sure enough, the dog was at the bottom of the pool. He got in the pool to lift her out---she is physically fine. We cannot imagine what caused her to get into the pool, she has always refused to get near the steps or the deck. I just imagine some critter must have gotten near it for a drink in the heat last weekend---and she was doing her guard dog duty. She has a bear scratch scar beneath one eye--but that's another story.
Anyway, we've decided to sell the pool and decking on Craig's list. To sell this place, we would have had to extend the deck and fence it---more trouble and expense than it's worth. Doug is mourning the loss of his pool though. He works out in the heat, and loves to float at the end of a day.
