You guys- my heart is breaking.
My sweet Boss is currently wearing the cone of shame and knocking over everything in his path!
I have had dogs my whole life. As a kid, we always had at least one pet dog. Various breeds. When Lance and I got married, we immediately got our first Bernese Mountain Dog. Hugo was our first baby. Then Ollie. Then Boomer.
Berners are big, and kind of high maintenance. So I had no desire for a second dog. When the pandemic hit, our friend Taylor was volunteering at Wolf Trap Animal Rescue. She would post pictures of cute puppies needing homes and while the pictures tugged at my heart strings, I never gave the thought of a second dog any serious thought.
Then she posted a puppy that looked like a baby Golden Retriever. My kids fell in love. He was really cute, but I knew I would be the one taking care of 4 more feet, so I didn’t give it any serious consideration. In an effort to not be the buzz kill I tend to be in this type of situation I simply said “There is no way Dad will go for a second dog.”
As if choreographed - at that very moment Lance walked into the kitchen and said “that puppy is so cute. Should we adopt it?”
What? Were we seriously considering a second dog? Well, 5 of the Schones sure were. I was the only one that was not initially on board.
I don’t know when it happened, but at some point, I fell madly in love with the puppy. We adopted “Asterix” on January 14, 2021. Izzy had just committed to college, and since she would not be living at home, she got to take the lead in naming him…..Boston Baker Schone joined our family in early February and he is seriously the best dog. I mean, he sheds constantly. And barks at every single thing that walks past our house. And is sorta terrible on a leash. And turns out he is 0% Golden Retriever! But, he is the most loving dog I have ever met. He just wants to be near us. And he looks at me with his amber eyes and crooked ears and weird needle nose that somehow lost its color and is pink year round and he just makes me smile. I lived 48 years of my life never letting an animal on my furniture- let alone on my bed. Boss now sleeps with Lance and me. I really have lost my mind!!!
Anyway, a few weeks ago we noticed a red spot on his back paw. I took him to the vet and they diagnosed a Lick Granuloma. Per our veterinarian, there really isn't a cure. I left the vet’s office on a mission. I would figure out how to fix my sweet Boss.
I started by wrapping it with athletic tape. It took 3 hours before he successfully unwrapped it and licked it raw again.
Then I tried a sock, with athletic tape around the top. That lasted 2 days, until it rained and turned into a soggy mess that only aggravated the spot.
So I got a huge balloon, cut off the top and put athletic tape around the top. Yessss. It stayed put and dry for 3 days. When I went to change it, the balloon had created a new sore on his paw! I had successfully made the situation worse. MUCH WORSE.
I felt so guilty, My kids joke that Boss is my emotional support animal. I’m not sure it’s a joke - I love him so much. (And I think he loves me back!!!) As I write this, he is laying beside me. He is always near me. Except when I am baking. I have a no-dogs-in-the-kitchen rule when I am baking.
It’s usually fine- but yesterday I kept going to the other side of the house to check on him. If left unattended for even 5 minutes, he can lick his paw completely raw. Finally I realized we had to resort to the cone. It’s so sad. He hates it so much. He walks into everything. I think it’s too big (It’s Boomer’s hand-me-down) so I ordered a smaller one….but thankfully Taylor got us an appointment on Tuesday with the veterinarian at Wolf Trap.
I never expected this little rescue mutt to take up so much of my heart. But if cloning dogs ever becomes a thing - everyone should have a Great Pyrnese, Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd, Chow Chow, Brittany mix just like Boss!
So, if you are wondering what I will be doing this long weekend- more than likely I will be hanging with Bossy and making sure he doesn’t chew his paw off. Though I would love him just as much with 3 legs….I really have become a crazy dog lady!!!
**And I do love Boomer too- he just doesn’t love me like Boss does. It’s complicated….;)
XO
-H
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