The wife and I had talked about getting a dog. Since we are van people, it would have to be a van dog. That is to say, as we considered the dog possibility, not too big and able to ride safely and well, preferably short-haired.
My wife was already in Florida, and I was getting ready to take the ride down from Detroit to join her. Suddenly, the call came in about a stray from the streets of the city. One of our professor-daughter’s students had found the young black and white dog, huddled against a curb in a tough neighborhood. With a couple of quick calls, we committed to a dog. She was just too cute – and frail.
First, the van dog-to-be needed vet care
I was in hurry to get to Florida, to help attend to the wife’s father. However, preparations now included dog tasks. From minute one she stuck to me like velcro, burying her face against me at every opportunity.
She weighed in at nine pounds, with her skeleton showing. Judging from muscle loss, the vet estimated she had been on the street for 4 of her 12 months. Amazingly, besides severe malnutrition, she had no major problems. In fact, her ears are quite the specimens.
Getting acquainted on the road
Maggie turned out to be a van dog natural. She is great on her feet and is cautious but not timid. I placed a plastic box between the front seats, and made up her bed on top of it. This gave her the ability to roam across the front. Maggie’s “stuff” went inside the box.
She appreciated being rescued and is quite smart. Readily, you can see she is a rat terrier. The computer says she is a rat terrier-Italian grey hound mix.
A rest-stop routine on I-75 South
Maggie is sweet and pliable, and claimed the van as her home. At the rest stops, she would see the van in the distance and run straight to it. Plus, she sat in the driver’s seat waiting for me. Over the couple-day trip she got strong enough to climb in on her own.
Destination Florida
None of this was by plan. However, she met our basic criteria and fit in great. She even provided Christmas joy for the the old WW2 Hell Hawk.
Van dog yes, perfect no
In the six weeks we have had her, Maggie went from nine to twenty-two pounds. She is sleek, muscular, and oh-so-fast.
For the first three weeks we had her, she never once barked. Now though, her bark sometimes gets stuck in the on position. Add to this, a list of about every typical bad dog behavior you can think of. Maggie went from being eager-to-please, to being eager to have everything her way whenever she wants it. Still cute, but almost a bully. We are threatened with being outsmarted, and we have our work cut out for us. Still though, no regrets. Maggie is most definitely a van dog and a good dog in general.
Hope you had a Merry Christmas!