Update July 21 2003
Angel is doing well with the children and the house. We borrowed a kennel (wire collapsible type) from a friend, and after a mile stroll and a ride in the car, Angel snuggled down and slept through the night. She has tended to stay there, or just move from room to room. Katie has made the kennel her journal writing abode, spending as much time there with Angel as the very patient and tolerant dog will allow. I hope I can coax her out of the box more and more. We'll give it time, though. She hasn't spoken yet, and your notes have helped. Mostly, we really needed to know that she doesn't ever seek going outside herself, so we remind her. She does come when called from the backyard, and I've seen her dash across the lawn, having fun. She buries her treat bones in her food! The kids love that. We will work with her on her penchant for getting up on her hind legs and shamelessly begging for human scraps. It's not offensive; she just sort of sneaks up there as unobtrusively as possible. It may be the children who need more reminding than Angel! And, the cat - Ghost scrunched up, but Angel hardly noticed her. They are mutually respective when they spy each other, so I'm hoping with time, they'll grow to be friends, learning to trust one another. A hopeful sidebar - the once aloof cat has let me hold her these past two days without wriggling and dashing to get loose. After seven years, Angel has wrought a miracle! If we encounter anything inexplicable, I'll write to inquire. But, so far, so good. Thanks again, Lisa, for doing this work, and helping us find a sweetheart. -- Ellen Update August 14, 2004 Angel is doing well, and I'm grateful that Charley left Savannah alone. Unfortunately, we have moved away from Guyton, where she loved her yard. Chasing squirrels and running "The Angel Derby" was her favorite pasttime... Angel's comfort level with Neil has increased with each passing day. He just doesn't smell like her soldier, and I guess he may always be viewed as a usurper, of sorts. We bought a year's Park Pass, and have frequented Amicalola State Park, and Angel has enjoyed our brief hikes there, as well as the part at Rock Creek Recreation Area. Closer to the apartment, we've made use of the Thunder Road NASCAR Museum - it's in Chapter 11, but there's a nice roadway around about one mile, called Memory Lane, that loops by the Public Library, the middle school and Dairy Queen. Angel knows the loop so well that even in the dark she doesn't lead me astray. The early mornings here have been cool - the grass underfoot is actually cold and wet with dew, the stars sparkle in a royal midnight blue dawn, and we can see our breathe. At nights, we can chase fireflies. The land is nice and the people are quite friendly... So, there you have it - the journey of Angel to the North Georgia foothills. She's been a real trooper, though, like me, we've earned a few more gray hairs! God bless you, Lisa, in all your endeavors. -- Ellen
Update 5/26/05
I'm writing to update you on Angel, as well as ask for insight on her behalf. We have noticed so much improvement in her socialization over these two years. It's been gradual, but while still here in our close environment in the apartment, she seems to feel more a part of our "pack." She sleeps on her bed in Katie's room, and Katie still faithfully dotes on her, though she's outgrown the dress-up parties -no more pink feather boas. Lately, Angel has taken to joining us in the family room, where she sometimes curls up at our feet, collectively, as we all four sit on the couch, or she sits with her front paws crossed, like a little lady, joining our tight-knit conversation circle. She has all but stopped the submissive leakage upon each greeting, which I have taken as a sign of greater security on her part. Occasionally, she's so excited getting on the leash to go for walks, that we still have a puddle, but we deal with that by hooking up just outside the front door.Neil is able to feed her, pet her and put her on the leash now. And, she'll eat with us around, where she had only come to her bowl at night, when we had all been tucked in. -Ellen |
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