Phoenix
came to me in the fall of 2007, Nov. 4 to be exact. I went to the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina with my friend Jimmy Ryals, originally looking at a bulldog whose picture I'd already seen. But I wanted to see all the animals, and there were so many there I wanted to take home! But Phoenix jumped up on his cage when I walked by, and didn't bark. He just looked at me, turned dowm his high, pointed ears and started sniffing. He was the only one I took out on a leash. We seemed like a match right from the start.
His HSEC profile page read like it was written about me. "He looks a bit intense in his photos," it read, "but he's a total cuddle bug." Sure, sometimes people tell me I look a little mean and put-offish in my photos, but I too am a real softy on the inside.
It took a little while for Phoenix and I to get used to each other. I didn't know it at the time, but he'd been a shelter dog for over a year. He wasn't right away used to his new surroundings. He returned to the bed I'd made for him in my room often, and he'd spend a lot of time there chewing on whatever bones or toys I brought him. And suddenly, about a week later, he realized he was finally home ... for good! Phoenix took over the whole house! I have couches that reasonably seat five people, and he's god first dibs on four of the spots. He sure likes leaning up against those arm rests.
He
also quickly learned new activities to enjoy. He really likes going down to the dog park at my apartment complex, but I think his favorite place is the trails at H. Boyd Lee Park (that's where the high school cross country teams in Greenville run their home races). A close second has got to be the couch, though. He naps like a person ... with his head on a pillow! He's so smart, too. Not that he knows a lot of tricks, but he's the most leash-aware dog I've ever walked. He'll be on his leash, see a tree coming up that's going to come in between us and quickly dart to one side of the tree so that we both pass without the leash getting caught up. I've had dogs that would just stand on the other side of the tree and just wonder why their motion was being restricted. He also knows how to untangle his feet from the leash. See, he jumps a lot, and sometimes the leash gets between his legs. He usually knows which leg to pick up to get untangled.
He's
so great to come home to. I'll open the door after working, and he jumps off the couch and runs right to the door and jumps up to give kisses. Then he'll bounce and bounce and bounce until I've put all my stuff down and can finally pet him. Sometimes, friends come over after work, and Phoenix really enjoys the company. His favorite thing to do is drag out all his toys and show off how he can throw them up into the air and chase them down. Just the other night, he threw one up in the air and it almost hit the fan! I got video of that one!
Phoenix
has also been known to browse YouTube for video clips of other dogs. He especially likes the ones where dogs do a lot of barking. Of course, I have to help him because I'm the only one in the house with thumbs. Dog clips aren't the only thing he uses the Internet for. Phoenix has a Facebook/Dogbook page where friends can write him and virtually pet him ... though he prefers the real thing.
Phoenix has been a very welcome addition to my home, and even after just two months, I couldn't imagine him not waiting for me at home whenever I get in from work. Together we stay up late, sleep late, watch football on Saturdays and Sundays and make sure each other gets fed. And that's the way we like it.
