HEMI!

Posted by Conrad Barman on April 7th, 2009 filed in Domicile

so….where do we begin?

well….you know the story of Priya.  the world’s most wonderful dog.  seriously - she is the best dog, ever.

joy found her here.

well, it turns out i’m addicted to the site.  and….for the longest time i’ve been wanting to adopt another one….spread the love, give Priya a permanent play buddy…..you know what i’m talking about.

so, i visit the website.  everyday.  several times a day.  if i could clone myself i would just so i could adopt them all and give them the love and affection they need. but no, ever since i saw that horrific arnold movie i can’t bring myself to entertain the idea.

anyway….

we decided to get Priya for a few reasons: 1) it was time 2) she stole our hearts 3) she is a mix 4) she is the best dog EVER.  to even entertain the idea of getting another dog, the mix-criteria was an absolute must.  thus, most of the utterly sweet dogs you’ll find on ABR were not an option.

then one day i read about these two puppies, Zach and Hemi.  the full story is no longer available, but suffice to say it broke my heart.  two sweet brothers abandoned on the side of the road, in the middle of a Texas “winter” (it was 20-30 degrees F).  alas, i could only read, as ABR requested the two be adopted together…..  until one day i noticed Zach’s bio had disappeared.  apparently, in an effort to find all dogs a forever home, ABR had agreed to split them up.  a seed was planted.

after discussing some with my better half, it was agreed to attempt a meeting.  we tried this once, a while ago, with Herman. unfortunately, Herman was a little too aggressive and strong for us, or Priya, or anyone who isn’t super strong (again….super-human strength is NOT a default for every superhero.)

we went into it with no expectations.  ha!  funny thing is, as soon as we got out of the car and saw little Hemi from a distance, it was over.  “i’m such a sucker” sighed the beautiful lady at my side.  i could only agree.

Priya is a boxer.  sure, mixed with something else, but she possesses the best of boxer traits: kidney bean wiggle, happy dance, loving slobber, and, of course, boxing skillz.  but she’s never been comfortable boxing with another boxer.  this i can’t explain - whenever we visit the dogpark and she happens to meet another boxer, it’s only a matter of time until she looks for a different play partner: she can dish it out but refuses to take it in.

and then….

i can’t explain how my heart overflowed with joy to see her dance with Hemi.  it was beautiful. they stood on their hind legs and boxed away.  he’s about 9 months younger than her (being only 9 months old) and yet somehow Priya is more the puppy.  they played until he’d had enough.  and of course, when she demanded more, she got it.

his first night at our home - was bliss.  Priya and Hemi played and played (some more).

until….exhaustion

we slept all night long…. morning came too soon.  but what fun to have these two best friends wake up with us

that first day….well, it was interesting.  i chose not to strictly follow the advice of wise one in our relationship, and have paid for the results.  i left for work, intending to come home at lunch and check in on the dogs.  of course, “checking in” would involve more than i bargained for….

my *barricade* was a joke.  my wife knew better, but relented (i think she knows the best way i learn is from my own stupid mistakes).  of course Hemi got out(what’s in a name?) and tore open his unprotected bag of food.  and spread it all. over. the. floor.

no big deal.  but i did happen to notice a little piece of magic.  somehow he got under one of the bamboo curtains and attacked the plastic blinds behind…..getting the couch dirty but doing no real damage to the bamboo or the leather.

well…no harm done, right?  riiiiiiiiigggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhht.

a little bit later i have to take Priya to the vet.  apparently she managed to sustain an injury fighting crime…but the only problem with superhero dogs is it can be tough to figure out what kind of injury that is.  (still is a mystery, but we’re working on it) .  anyway, in a fit of desperation to keep Hemi out of trouble, i replace the {cough} barricade with a door.  yup, a door - complete with a lock.  i figure no way will little hemi be able to open a door and wreak more havoc upon our domicile.

which, technically, is true.  dogs can’t open a locked door.  but they can eat it.

i mean, seriously - does that look like a picture out of a cartoon or what? yeah boyz - Hemi has some superpowers of his own!

so…now Hemi has made our home his own.  he’s making Priya both jealous and content.  he’s posing for photos. and of course he’s eating.

needless to say, he is meant to be a part of our family. he IS family.

destiny: you can’t fight it, so why try?