DorkyDeb.com

So today Sam had a little vet visit, to get his Rabies Vaccination. I had a feeling that being put in a vehicle might be traumatic for him, as I feel certain that he was initially set out from a vehicle.  (I did all of his other vaccinations at home, myself.)

My theory behind him being set out of a vehicle before he showed up here, comes from the fact that many strays are set out that way, and due to something else that happened this summer.  This summer while out taking nature photographs on my parent’s property I got too weak to walk back and my husband drove the car to get me (there is a spot near where I was, that is easy to drive to).  Sam was with me while I was taking photographs.  When I crossed the walking bridge to go to the car I thought that he had already headed back, and didn’t realize that he hadn’t… until we were driving off. In that moment, as he stood beside our car as we drove away, I saw the saddest look on his face I’ve ever seen.

Even though he was still standing on property that logically he should have known full well was “home”, the act of us getting in that vehicle and leaving him broke his heart.  It was obvious by the traumatized look on his face that we had just caused him to have a flashback of something very bad in his past.

I wanted to stop and go back for him, but my husband said that was silly, as he might hit him trying to back up and that Sam would probably beat us back to the house.  (Because we had to drive around, whereas Sam would be able to run straight up the property.)  Sam did beat us home. But seeing his face in that moment, made me fairly certain that the way that he ended up a stray by whoever had him before and abused him – was via a vehicle drop-off.  People make me sick!  Anyway….

The vet ended up being very crowded, so my husband and Sam were there forever. This seemed to stress Odie out a bit (waiting at home), as Odie & Sam are buddies.  My husband said that Sam handled the trip well.  The vet bragged on his weight, general health, and appearance. (Some of you may recall that Sam was underweight and wormy when he showed up here.) He handled the shot well and they finally got to come home.

I happened to be looking out the window when they drove in, and Sam was sitting there, in the back of the SUV. I could see him through the back window. He looked like he was in shock, totally zoned out, and sad. I didn’t know his little beagle ears could hang so low!  Then he heard Sniffer bark, and he raised his head up, looked out the window, realized he was home, and got SO EXCITED! He smiled so big, perked up so bright, and started wagging all over.  Not just his tail. He was wagging all over! This warranted a full-body wag!

My husband let him out and he came running to me as fast as his wagging little beagle legs would take him.  He ran all the way up to my feet. Then he started to whine, and whine and whine and whine.  He whined in ways I have never heard him whine before. All of the whines were so emphatic and had so many different tones and inflections. It was like he was trying so hard to “talk” to me.  I said to him, “Tell me all about it, Sam.”  And he just carried on and carried on, while I petted him.

I’m guessing it was some sort of doggie version of… “You’ll never believe what I did, what I smelled, what they did to me, and then I ACTUALLY CAME HOME!!!”      :)

After he was done whining out his long vocal story to me, he ran off to greet the other dogs.

I thought it was so sweet!

Later Will asked me, “Mom, why did Sam have to go to the vet today?”

I said, “Just for a shot.”

And in a very worried voice Emma asked me, “Did he cry?”

I thought that was so cute!  I said, “No baby, he didn’t cry. He was very brave.”