Saturday, March 16, 2013

Anna

Add to Google Reader or HomepageWe have been taking care of a dog for the past three weeks. The owners (our friends) needed to go to Amsterdam for business and asked us if we would like to care for their “berger” (mostly German shepherd). Ellen jumped at the chance.

We have enjoyed having her here. She is well-behaved (mostly) and very quiet - except for loving to chase cats when I walk her. And Vaison has a lot of feral cats!

Since I always enjoyed the routine of walking our dogs, taking this berger out three/four times a day has been enjoyable. Walking her at night around 10:00, I realize how small our village is in winter. It is quiet and there is rarely anyone on the streets – except other dog-walkers and feral cats. This village is truly a “roll up the sidewalks” kind of town in winter. I know that the population will double in summer but in March it is VERY quiet at night.

A downside of the dog-walking routine is bad weather. In the past three weeks, there was one heavy rain day (pleuvoir comme une vache qui pisse) but when the north of France got all of the snow earlier this week, we got the Mistral and its 120 k/h COLD winds.

She adapted well to our little apartment and made herself quite “at home”. In a place this small, one might think that supervision would not be a problem but she managed to clean Ellen’s plate one evening when I was out and Ellen went to wash her hands before eating. Like the deerhounds we used to have, she loves butter and emptied the butter dish that was on the kitchen counter – twice! (we should have remembered that behavior!) 

The owners were supposed to return to pick her up last Sunday but their car broke down (requiring a rebuilt engine that had to be shipped from Spain) and once it was repaired and ready to go, the snow storm closed the roads. They managed to arrive here late yesterday afternoon.

Now that Anna has returned to her owners, our little apartment seems larger – but empty.

3 comments:

  1. Sounds like it's time to figure out a French foster dog. Cute photos. Looks like she is on the balcony with her head inside. Was it that warm or does she hang over and out your apartment? I didn't thin it was that tiny.

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  2. I'm sure after staying at Chez Sullivan she didn't want to go! You guys are the best hosts. I was in Paris during that snow storm and I must say that was a sight to see. I wasn't at all prepared for snow, so even though I made it home to Michigan safe and sound, my shoes (ruined) remain in Paris. I hope you're having a great time in Paris now. xoxo

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  3. Having a dog when it rains is about the only downside to having dogs as pets except for when you have to go away and then you hope you have friends who will help out like you. I guess all dogs love butter because that is one thing we have to keep an eye on when she is snooping around the kitchen. We have lost a few sticks of butter over the years.

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