Thanks to those of you asking about the stray.
My post on Friday was that I had taken him to the vet and that they shaved him nose to tail (hair is only about 1/4" long). It went on to say that I was very stressed; that I knew he was feeling vulnerable (since he was naked) but that the growling at me and at the other dogs had me terribly on edge.
This is him after the haircut.
Little did I know the stress was going to get a lot worse.
Saturday morning I was out working on the fence (I'm putting up a hot-wire to keep Sunny (my 2 year old Shih Tzu) from going through the field fencing into the pasture). I noticed all 3 dogs at the corner of the yard then went on clearing the fenceline and putting insulators up. It was quite cold, so when I noticed only 2 dogs instead of 3 I figured he had gone into the garage and gotten in the heated crate there. Well....he hadn't. Looked all over for him. No dog! Called and called....no dog. Walked the pasture calling him and looking for dog-prints in the snow. He was gone!
The longer I called and looked the more guilty I felt. Temps are supposed to be between 10 & 15 for the next 5 nights, and this dog is out there somewhere with NO protection or natural insulation. I felt I had contributed to his suffering and possible death from exposure. I totally blamed myself for his misery and spent the whole day crying and praying to God to help him.
Got up this morning with a very heavy heart knowing what I had caused.
About 8 o'clock I looked up and there the little devil stood at the door, wanting to come in. OMG I can't begin to tell you the relief I felt knowing he was safe.
Now all the noise and confusion are back. He's still growling at me and the dogs. He's snapped at both Sunny and the German Shepard. Sunny keeps wanting him to play and he just growls. I still don't know what the heck I'm gonna do with him, I can't keep him unless he starts being more sociable. But he's alive!!
Again, thanks to those of you who asked!
