The Dog That Inspired: Part I

I was hiking there with my two other dogs at the time, who were also rescues: Phoebe, from the ASPCA, and Buttercup, one of a litter of 5 I fostered from 4 weeks old.

I got a text from a hiking buddy saying that the park maintenance guys were trying to catch two small dogs someone had dumped out of a van, so my friends and I headed over to help. My friend Laura got out the “good” treats (usually hot dogs) and we were able to contain Noodle, who was a friendly sort by nature. But Minnie proved to be a challenge. It took me 3 hours to catch her! First, I took my big dogs home, then returned to the scene, where Laura was keeping an eye on Minnie. I had Noodle with me, and we sat together in the open grass. Minnie had just miraculously missed being hit by 2 cars, so I knew chasing her was no longer an option.

I sat with Noodle on my lap calmly until Minnie circled in closer and closer. When she got within arms’ length, I lassoed her with the leash. She thrashed and screamed, but then sat calmly after what seemed like an eternity but was actually only a few seconds. And then she was mine! Although I didn’t realize it at the time.

Such a chaotic capture was probably a harbinger of things to come. And that’s Minnie in a nutshell.

So, skip forward to a lifetime of hikes and health challenges, so numerous I can’t possibly name them all, and we have today’s relationship.

Noodle died a year ago, and that was tragic for me, even though he made it to 15.5. It took months of grieving to even be able to really function normally, and that level of grief was a surprise. I will blog on that experience separately, because I think it’s really important for some people who are high-functioning one day, then suddenly get completely floored by grief then next, and don’t understand it. But I digress. The story of Noodle will be forthcoming.

But now, let’s focus on Minnie: She is incredible. Diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) 2+ years ago, she is still hopping and running during daily excursions at the Simplot field down the street, or Discovery Park under Lucky Peak Dam, or Sandy Point, or Barber Park. She walks daily, and can still do up to about 2 miles as of this writing. Lest you think I push her too hard - I don’t. I even employed a stroller (she jumps out) or tried to carry her when I thought she might be tired (she screams and “air bites” at the insult). So…. no “Baby Bjorn” for the Mins.

This is vintage Minnie, whose pushiness and stubbornness, perhaps borne of her Jack Russell heritage (ahem), has only increased in intensity since she went deaf, and lost her brother.