The Dog Blog: Getting to know Dixie

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Getting to know Dixie

SHE WAS LACY; NOW, SHE'S DIXIE.

My wife and I went to the Forsyth Humane Society on Tuesday to look at the dogs, but Holly really didn't want to go. Our darling Lady had passed just 10 days earlier, and Holly thought it was too soon to get another dog.

But I need a companion when Holly's at work, and the dog park has been my main source of social interaction; so I was more interested in getting a dog.

So we went, and one dog stood out to us: They were calling her Lacy. She was a two-year-old beagle with one hind leg missing, but she was the one dog that really interacted with us.

Long story short, we took her home on a two-day trial. She drove Holly crazy last night with her need for attention, but Holly realized that she'd gone through the same thing late in Lady's life.

I took her to the dog park this morning. We didn't interact with any people, and she only met one dog (and that was through the fence). I also walked her three times today. Once, she really wanted to go outside, so I realized she was potty trained.

I really like her, but I quickly realized I can't call her Lacy; too close to Lady. (I called her Lady once on the way home.) Holly suggested we call her Daisy, and I know someone at the dog park who has a Daisy. So that's out.

I suggested Dixie. Our former neighbor, Mrs. Tuttle, had a sweet basset hound named Dixie when we moved here in 2002, and I decided I'd name a female basset Dixie if I ever got one.

She isn't a basset hound, but she's close enough. So, for now, she's Dixie.

She's no Lady, but, frankly, that mold has been broken. She just has to be Dixie.

P.S.: She seems amazingly quiet for a beagle.

NOTE: I got the scared photo above from the Forsyth Humane Society. I'll take better ones when I can.

SEPT. 29, 2016: I took Dixie to the dog park this morning, and the only other person there was a young man with a beautiful husky and a black dog. He said that Jim, my friendly acquaintance, and his husky Willow had just left.

He soon left, too, so we were alone almost the whole time we were there. And Dixie spent the whole time standing, lying or sitting at my feet.

I still can't give her water at the dog park.