Monday, March 23, 2009

My 10,000cfa Dog Just Pooed in the Living Room

Wow, what a night after a day of uneventfullness. After dinner I came home and went on a walk with Buddy like I've been doing when the sun sets because it's not very hot and he can make it through with out stopping. So we went down into the quartier and crossed over the river and went back up into a different quartier. It was in this place that I had originally seen Buddy and had asked if he was for sale, he was not at the time, so I went on with my life. Then a couple of weeks later the creepy guy was standing at my door to sell me this dog.

As we started on the last leg home, a guy comes up and asks me where I got this dog. So I told him the same story I've told you and he, some of his family, and a small crowd gathered around us (not like for a fight but just to watch). The man said that that is his dog and he wants it back, then tomorrow I will have to go and find the guy who sold him to me and we will go to the police station. I said I have no idea where to find that guy, and I told him that I will gladly go to the police station with him in the morning with Buddy, but I will keep him until then. He didn't want to do that and after a few minutes of arguing, I started to walk off and they grabbed Buddy's leash and wouldn't let go. So to avoid any type of physical confrontation, I went with them to their house and left the dog until tomorrow. Now, this is something that did not sit well with me for more than 2 seconds. So instead of waiting until the morning, I jumped on a moto and went to the police station immediatly.

The Police Commissioner was there as I pulled up and since he is such an awesome guy, I got to explain what happened in English! English! It made things a lot easier. After that, we got in his car and went to the guys house. One thing I noticed is how much respect the people here give the commissioner. Even the angry guy who was a confident asshole and took my dog was a completely different person in his presence. He's definetly deserving of it though, he handled the situation well, listened to both sides of the story, and he never seemed to give off the idea that he had more power than anyone else. Also, he is my neighbor, lives just a few houses down, awesome. Anyways, the Commish decided he didn't like discusssing things at this man's house, it was dark and there were some fools around (crazies), so we went back to the police station.

At the police station, we sat and talked with the original owner who wanted to keep his property. It was a difficult situation, I'm pretty sure buddy was his dog and most likely someone did steal him and sell him to me. However, I've had buddy for a month or so now, cleaned up and made him healthy, he's definitly made life better for me here, so I don't want to give him up. I offered to pay them what they gave for Buddy and then once they found another dog I would pay for that one too, but they didn't want that. Then, they finally said that if I give them 10,000cfa they'd let me keep the dog (equivelant to 20.00USD).

What could have been the case: It could have been that it was a conspiracy to get more money out of me. They told someone to take the dog and sell it to me. Then at a later time they would do exactly what they did tonight and try to take the dog back knowing I would want to keep it and give them more money...so if that was the case then it worked well.

Now, Buddy is asleep on the floor next to the bed as I write this, I don't think I'll have to worry about those guys trying to take the dog or rob me(I mean the Police Commissioner is only 2 houses down), we shook hands when they left the station. They may be a little bitter though and I'll avoid walking past that way for awhile.

The king's a beggar, now the play is done:
All is well ended, if this suit be won,
That you express content; which we will pay,
With strife to please you, day exceeding day:
Ours be your patients then, and yours our parts;
Your gentle hands lend us, and take our hearts.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Meet Buddy


Buddy Reperton is his name. If some of you don't get the reference, then you"ll need to watch Christine. I will tell you that Buddy Reperton was a bully in the movie, but that dog doesn't look like a bully, well he's tough. Plus, Carol and I just started calling him Buddy because he didn't have a name and in the sense of intuition, Buddy Reperton is his formal name.

How did I come across this animal? It was about 7 a.m. and his owner was creepily standing outside my front gate saying, "knock, knock" while holding this dog. What the hell? It's 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning and this guy is just standing there, who knows how long he was there before that.

So, I had seen this dog before but he wasn't forsale, so I just didn't have a dog. But, something changed and that family didn't want the dog anymore and here we are. When I saw him before, he was pretty nonchalant and he still is, you could pick him up and carry him anywhere and he wouldn't make a sound, he'd do nothing except look at you. Now that I've been around him for a minute, he's actually a pretty lively pup....peeing, pooping, tearing things up, the usual puppy things. I've decided to put up my big rug until he's better trained, he's got a small small bladder apparently.

He had never had a bath until yesterday and had a terrible case of fleas and ticks, I mean terrible...yuck. So, we went to the VetAfric and he got a shot for worms, another shot for vitamins, and I bought some flea bath. I acutally had to give him two baths because the one didn't get rid of all the fleas and dirt. He seems to be doing really well though, there are only one or two ticks that are hiding in his ear that I may have the vet get out.

I think that Buddy's around 6 to 8 weeks old, and I'm sure that his entire life was spent fighting for food, because when we gave Buddy and Honey their dinner, soya and potat (basically beef skewers and a type of sugary potatoe), he ate the potat calmly but when the soya was put in his bowl he basically did a head dive into the bowl. Then, Honey finished her meat quickly and went to check out Buddy's bowl, he went nuts growling, barking, biting, basically fighting like he was 8 weeks old and never eaten a meal. After he eats, his stomach gets really big and gets wide. He looks like the pregnant goats I see here. This probably means that he has some sort of worm growing inside (not uncommon here), so I'll have to take him to the vet and see what needs to be done. His time with me has been pretty short, I only got him yesterday but it seems like a lot longer. His presence will obviously complicate my life much more now, I have to feed it, let it outside, and feed it...I think he'll be worth the trouble though. School will be over soon, at the end of this month we have 2 weeks off then I think the middle of May is end of my classes, which will be wonderful!

Side Note: If anyone can send a few tennis balls or dog toys this way I would much appreciate it, I'm already tired him trying to chew on the curtains, rug, my shoes, and anything else he thinks might be fun....however, I'm sure he's getting tired of me hitting his nose for that stuff, lol. Jon, send a shock collar!! His true nature is shown below, lol.
Other pics can be seen at the photo link on the left in the "dogs" folder.