I have come to realize that rescues come in not only all ages, shapes and sizes, but varying states of mental stability, intelligence, drive, and just plain smoochie-ness.
Ruby is one of those extra-smoochie dogs. Just a little peanut of a thing, sweet as can be, she was a Rat Terrier trying to have puppies. She had been in labor for more than 24 hours, but to no avail. It just wasn’t working. She was pale and exhausted, and either needed a C-Section NOW, or needed to go see Jesus. We opted for the C-Section.
It was too late for her 3 pups - labor was much too long. However, SHE came through with flying colors; sore and worn out, but otherwise OK. She came to my house to recover, and never left. We found out later that she also had heartworms. This girl had been through it.
As she dropped some of her pregnancy weight, I was hopeful that she might become my next agility dog. However, as time went on I learned that she had a bad back, so agility was out for her. But that was OK - she would just have to be the house princess, and she IS, usually occupying one of the coveted spots on the bed. She has never met a person she didn’t love, and she steals the hearts of everyone she meets.
Although Ruby and Tessa (the Great Dane) get along well, Ruby is not really a dog’s dog. She prefers people. Doggie daycare doesn’t interest her. Just give her a lap of someone friendly, and she’ll be a happy camper.
We don’t require much of the Rubinator. Since she doesn’t get around quite as well as she used to, we have settled on a dual role for her: 1) to bring sweetness and light to all who enter, and 2) to serve as the “play police” for the other dogs; tattling whenever they get wound-up and out of control. She does both jobs quite nicely!
Yes, she absolutely is the house Princess, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
