Yesterday, while out walking during another rainy day, Ray and I met blind dog Beamer and his sister dog, Ladybug. Unlike Ray, who is not obviously blind, Beamer has no eyes. While the dogs shook hands all around (sounds so much better than sniffed butts, doesn't it?), I chatted with the owners.
Beamer, a four-year old hound mix, was a new-hire. He was adopted in January to keep Ladybug, an eight-month old puppy, occupied. The owners said that it was working out great. Their description of Beamer's and Ladybug's backyard playing was a dead-on match for how Ray used to play with Murphy. (We miss Murphy).
But the reason I bring this up is because of my reaction to the dog with no eyes. I found myself strangely tentative in petting Beamer. I didn't want to startle him by putting my hands on him 'out of the blue.' I've seen this reaction in other people when they've never met Ray before, and I always tell them the same thing "Just put your hands right on him, otherwise he doesn't know you're trying to."
After a minute of examining in my head the difference between a blind dog with no eyes and a blind dog with eyes (there isn't one), I realized what a complete idiot I was and gave Beamer his due. (Truthfully, Beamer did not seem that interested in being petted by moi. He was more interested in sniffing, and being sniffed by, Ray.)
It's a good thing that we met the dog with no eyes. I didn't even realize that my notions of "eyes" vs "no eyes" were different. Now, if Ray ever gets there, I'll be ready.
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We just cut down a small tree in the yard. Now Ray only has to worry about 2! Maybe when our backyard isn't a pond, we should have a play date. And one special puppy may need a puppy sitter....may 18-19.....she comes with free licks!
ReplyDeleteWe really need to get Ray and Murphy together. He has been so bored lately. I think now that he is no longer a superstar, he feels the lack of excitement in his life.
DeleteIts weird isn't it, even though I know Conor can't see us just the fact his eyes are there make him seem more 'normal' - we are fooled by their presence. When our terrier had to have an eye removed due to glaucoma we were told that some people opt to have a false eye put in to make the dog look the same, but we really thought that was going too far.....like the prosthetic testicles you can get for male dogs...I am not kidding !! Like the dog cares what it looks like !
ReplyDeleteIt is weird! Most people are convinced that Ray can see. I think part of it is because of his eyes. The other part is that he just navigates so well. Heck, he even convinces me sometimes (until he bonks into something.)
DeleteAh, yes. Neuticles. We have a vet friend that told us about Neuticles (prosthetic testicles). I'll bet you didn't know that you can get earrings and necklaces made out of Neuticles. And Tshirts, hats, and aprons with the Neuticle Logo on them. (Begs the question of WHY you would want such things - but there ya go).
I don't understand why anyone would waste their money on a Neuticle or two. But I can kinda understand the eyes. (I wouldn't do it to Ray).
Oh great! You know all about the Neuticles earrings, necklace, and t-shirts. Back to the drawing board for presents for your upcoming birthday, I guess...
ReplyDeletehahahahahaahahaaa. (have you seen them? they look like coconut flavored jelly bellys)
DeleteMmmmmmmmmmmmmm, coconut flavored jelly bellys, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Deleteoh now I am going to HAVE to google that....:-O
ReplyDelete