Week 12:  The New Adventure

6/28/09

6:30 p.m. - Hard to believe but my little Rapscallion's are starting a new chapter in their lives. Wednesday Peggy arrived from Georgia to choose her puppy. She chose the Teal girl who is now Rapscallion-N-Obie's Cat's Eye, Cat for short. She was a brave little girl on the 2.5 hour drive to Bel Alton, Md., and didn't whine or cry on the drive. The next day she made the trip to Virginia, where she stayed while Peggy attended four days of shows, and kept another basset puppy, who's only brother and littermate had just left for his new home, company. She's making the transition to her new life with confidence and all reports indicate she's being a very good girl. In another couple of days she'll be back on the road and on her way to Georgia where she'll stay for a few weeks before taking another trip down to Northern Florida, where she'll finally be home.  When she's ready, Cat will ultimately make her way into the show ring and begin competing for her AKC championship title.

Yesterday a very nice couple from Ellicott City, Md., arrived to meet the puppies. They eventually chose the Green Boy and he now lives with two Tibetan Mastiffs to call brother and sister. He too is making his transition with confidence. We haven't settled on a registered name yet, but his call name will be Beauregard, or Beau. He too will make his debut upon the show circuit, when he's ready, to begin competing for his championship title.

In other news, the House o'Rapscallion gained an unexpected, if temporary, addition. A 4- to 5-week old black kitten was delivered to our doorstep. Apparently she and her littermates were living under a neighbor's porch. So far, she's the only one who's been caught, but I'm expecting her siblings to arrive eventually. Initially she hissed, spit, growled, scratched and eventually bit me.  I took a little extra care the second time I attempted to handle her and wrapped a towel around her. She's now eating from my finger, licking my face and purring. I've named her Magic.  Hocus and pocus, my 7-year old male cats, are curious, but not too curious. The big dogs and puppies are a totally different story. They gather around her crate to sniff every chance they get. Magic doesn't appreciate the attention. Magic looks like she could be my boy's sister. She's all black with a small white diamond on her chest and little white hairs growing out of her ears, just like Hocus and Pocus (hence the name Magic).  In true Rapscallion fashion, Magic is a feisty little vixen.  She will take a trip to the vet this week.