Doctors, schmoctors

Obi is re-adjusting well. I think that after 6 months of basically no human contact, he's doing very well. It makes me so sad for all the time he spent scared and alone. But at least it's over now. By last night, it was as if he were never away. He is almost back to normal except that he doesn't jump up on my lap yet. He used to come jump on my lap several times a day when he got spooked. But I can tell he's thinking about it. ;)

Today I get to go in for my annual checkup -- except that it's been a decade. Don't gripe at me -- at least I'm finally going. I got scared off by a lot of the doctors I had to see when Scott was in the military. I could have filed for a few malpractice suits. I'm not saying all the doctors and nurses were bad -- some were quite good. But so many of them were -- losers -- doctors who had no bedside manner and/or didn't know what they were doing. It's hard for me to go to a doctor that I don't know and trust. And of course now Scott and I no longer have health insurance. It's really not a big deal, because we hardly ever get sick. When I get sick, the first thing I usually do is call the health food store. It never fails to help. So anyway, I'm going to see a female doctor today that is my mother's gynecologist. My mom thinks she's wonderful, so I'm not nearly as nervous as I would normally be. I think it's much better to pay for seeing the doctor I want to see than almost all the "free" health care we received as military dependants.

Obi's Homecoming!

That's right, we caught him! I got a call this morning from the camp host telling us he was in the trap. I rushed up there and picked him up. He was very dirty and somewhat thinner, but overall he appears to be fairly healthy. I gave him a bath and took him outside on the leash. He has loose stools right now, but I think it's from his varied diet -- who knows what he's been eating all this time -- and he's stressed. I'm very sleepy with all the Benadryl I've been taking, so I'm going to try to go back to bed. I just wanted to get the news out that I have my dog back. I'll try to post some new pictures of him when I get his coat brushed out. Thank you for all your prayers! :)

Itchy & Scratchy

Yep, that's me. I was setting out the Obi trap yesterday. I thought I had everything I would need with me -- except one thing -- INSECT REPELLENT. And so the CHIGGERS got me all over. If you don't know what a chiggers are, don't brag and make me hate you right now. ;) And so now when I'm not in a Benedryl-induced coma, I'm busy itching and/or scratching and rubbing anti-itch cream all over me -- which doesn't really work, but it gives me something to do. Itching is about all I can think of right now, and it makes me ANGRY. And yes, I did try the nail polish last night. I've already scratched it all off. :(

But the good news is that something visited the trap last night and ate most of the food. And yes, my impatience made me go ahead and set the trap. Whatever it was got away without stepping on the --- thingy that shuts the trap, but managed to set it off later by trying to pull the towel I laid in there through the trap's mesh. I'm encouraged, because the towel had been Padi's, and I think Obi wanted it because it smells like her. Scott and I moved the trap over next to the host's camper. She's a really nice lady that is living at the park and who cleans the restrooms, etc. She has been feeding Obi, but is keeping an eye on the trap for us now. She will have the park rangers call me if he gets caught. This lady is great. She said she would really love to have a puppy someday if Obi ever has any. I told her we have a female sheltie, and that when Obi and Padi (hopefully) have puppies someday, she can have the pick of the litter. I really feel like it's because of her that Obi is still alive and healthy, since she said she has been feeding him for awhile now and trying to get him to come to her. He'll stop and look at her, but he won't come to her yet.

Tripping and trapping

I was doing some searching about trapping a lost dog the other night and found this website. It has some great tips that I wish I had read about 6 months ago. However, I really don't think I would have been willing to try this back then. I really didn't know what to expect. I seriously thought Obi would calm down and let us or someone else catch him.

I bought a Havahart large raccoon trap yesterday. Actually, Jason bought it. It was difficult to find a sheltie-sized trap that was also affordable. This was $60 and was the last one -- as opposed to another feed store that wanted $200 for a slightly larger one -- as if! The "bank of Jason" is always handy in times like this -- a couple of days before payday. ;) I'll pay him back in a few days. I should actually be setting up the trap this morning, but I don't have everything I need. Plus I'm really sleepy. I'm going to try to go up there tomorrow morning. I wasn't about to leave a trap up there without a bike lock or something to chain it to a tree. I can't have it walking off. I'd like to think nobody would steal the trap, but I'd hate to be wrong.

Later...

Okay, I went ahead and drove back up there. I saw Obi again -- running away. I didn't see another living being except countless squirrels, 4 wild turkeys, and a sherriff's deputy. I talked to him for awhile, but he was no help either. Of course, he's seen Obi before and tried to catch him. He, like everyone else I talk to, asks me why Obi won't come to anyone. I'm beginning to feel paranoid -- like they're wondering if I abused him or something. I guess I can't waste energy worrrying what they may think. I know that I would never harm a single hair on my sweet dog, nor would anyone else in my family. He's just terrified because he isn't at home.

When I got home, I called the Forestry office to make sure they would let me use the trap. It will be okay to do that. They also suggested that someone may try to steal the trap, so they suggested I hide it well. (see, I wasn't paranoid that time) I'm definitely going to chain it to a tree. ;) I'm going to put my name and phone number on the trap as well. I need to go up there early in the mornings to bait the trap and hang around and wait to see if I can see him. Then I'll go back in the evenings and check the trap again. ~~sigh~~ I really hope it won't take long.

Obi

I've been feeling a little under the weather for a few days. I haven't been in the mood to blog. I started a couple of posts, but then I didn't follow through.

Anyway, today I finally saw Obi! I got a call a few days ago from a park ranger that some people have been seeing him regularly in the mornings at about 7 am. So the last couple of mornings I have driven the 20-something miles up to the park, and this morning Jason and I saw him. It was just a little more than a glimpse, but it was encouraging. Since he has a routine now, I'm going to buy a large humane trap as soon as I can and set it up where we saw him. I hope that we can catch him. The smart thing to do will be to keep it unset for a few days and let him have the bait. After he gets used to the trap, we can set it. I really don't want to fail. I want my dog back. He's such a sweetheart -- just a very shy disposition. I know that faith and prayers are working, and I appreciate those who have kept Obi in their prayers. We pray every night about our dog, and even though it's been almost 6 months, I feel like we're going to get him back now. And let me tell you -- it will be party-time when we do! :)

More than I can chew

Yes, it's been a week. I can hardly believe I'm really posting. I've been going in too many different directions lately. Well, it doesn't take much for me to get overwhelmed. I have a very low tolerance for stress.

I went to get a Bush bumper sticker at the Republican headquarters and walked away with a bunch of phone numbers to call -- 250 people! -- don't quite know how that happened, LOL. Anyway, I'm letting Jason make the calls. I did a few, but it really freaks me out to call people. I would starve if I had to earn a living making phone calls. I told him to make as many of the calls as he wants. After he gets bored, the list is going into an envelope and getting mailed back. If I don't do that, that lady will talk me into more phone calls.

I also volunteered to hem some baby quilts for a church service project, plus I'm making cloth diapers and diaper covers for my grandson, while also making wedding gifts for a former student in my Sunday School class.

And then I got woke up by a call this morning from a friend who wanted me to babysit her 11-year old -- not a big deal, but it is just one more thing.

Anyway, I've griped enough. I think the biggest stress is the whole phone call thing. I really hate it when I agree to do something and then I don't follow through...

Okay, Jason has also had enough of the phone calls, so the lists are in an envelope with a note to get mailed back. I'm such a coward.