COMET'S
STORY
Comet was another guest of the Manhattan Center for Animal Care and Control.
After a brief stay, he was sprung by our Staten Island volunteer, Kevin Lewis.
Comet spent quite a few weeks at Kevin's, during which time, he repeatedly took
issue with Kevin's Border Collies over food! We quickly branded Comet "food
aggressive". When Tanya Bryan and I picked him up from Kevin's, along with Chloe,
we were expecting the worst! But, we were delighted with Comet's friendly nature
and outgoing personality -- although he did not ingratiate himself too much
with Tanya when he puked all over her backseat. Comet's next stop was foster
care at Lynn Esty's in Vermont. The Esty's drove down to Quincy, Massachusetts,
to pick up Comet and Juno, and I gave Lynn the entire "food aggressive" lecture.
Lynn called me the next day, scoffing...."Puhleeze"...she said...."Comet is
the biggest mushy baby! No food issues at all." Go figure. After a short stay
at Lynn's, an ideal home for Comet turned up!. Dr. Bob Hesse and his wife, Lucille,
of central Massachusetts, seemed like the perfect parents for Comet. Lynn Esty
arranged the adoption and the Hesses went to meet their new Eski in Vermont.
It was love at first sght! Here is what Dr. Bob tells us:
When
we visited Lynn Esty in Vermont and met Comet, it was love at first sight.
His playful personality and sweet temper were captivating, and he reacted
well when introduced to our small Sheltie, Lassie. I was delighted to find
that he allowed me, a complete stranger, to prevent him licking and chewing
a recent injury without a threat or growl. He didn't want to leave in the
car, but my wife, Lucille, sat with and comforted him and he rode home quietly.
He quickly became accustomed to our home and the second night joined us on
our bed. (Since he was wearing an "Elizabethan" collar this was quite an event!
When the Elizabethan eventually came off we were as relieved as he.) From
the beginning his attitude was loving and ingratiating, but as he gradually
sensed that we were "his people" and would keep him (no matter what), his
mischievous side began to appear. For a time he became quite insistent in
informing me that I had finished my meal and that it was time to "sweeten"
his. He seems incorrigibly committed to probing the contents of the kitchen
waste basket and exploring the kitchen stove, counters, and dining table for
delicacies. He is quite dexterous at this and, most recently, climbed onto
my chair, reached over my place, and finished off a pan of raviolis (without
disturbing my plate, pile of correspondence, or the wine glass over which
he must have reached). He shows considerable guilt and remorse when confronted
with this behavior, but little inclination to mend his ways. He loves to play,
but is learning that there is a time and place. In spite of his great energy
he never challenges us and accepts scolding, correction and restraint gracefully.
He and Lassie have adapted well to one another and most important of all,
he and our three year old grandson, Jake, got on splendidly from the beginning.
Jake refers to him as the "white doggie with the black nose and pink under-ears."
In many ways Comet embodies some of the most endearing qualities of the past
dogs we've lost along with his own sweet ways and a lively personality distinctly
his. As Rick says at the end of Casablanca, "This looks like the beginning
of a beautiful relationship."
Bob Hesse
 |
June 9, 2001
Dear Audra,
Thank you so much
and thanks to all who helped you to rescue Comet in New York. We love
having him with us. I am sending a picture of Comet visiting with
us in Pennsylvania with my grandson. We brought our Sheltie along
with us - both dogs travelled well. And we visited with a Golden Retreiver.
We suffered only one or two minor misunderstandings among the doggies.
They got on well. Thank you and your group again for the wonderful
work you do!
Lucille Hesse
|
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