The "Axel" Has Landed

Spent yesterday in nervous anticipation of Axel's arrival. Poor Steve, my husband, left at 4:30a.m with a squeaky-clean crate (padded with 5 year's worth of baby receiving blankets)and a pocket full of "jerkied" liver treats. They are home- made by a friend of mine, and have no preservatives.....keep that in mind!:-)

The flight to Seattle was uneventful, Steve's meetings went well, it's now time for Axel's "old" family to meet Steve (in the lobby of his office building) and hand over Axel. All goes well. A ton of instructions, and bags of food are given to Steve, who at this point is "eyeing" his watch, as he has 40 minutes to catch his flight. The previous owner had brought along her two sons, who now proceed to say things like.."Be good to our doggie, we love him, will he have a good home,etc.?" Steve now feels like the BIGGEST heel on earth. He says a polite goodbye before he has time to give Axel back.

So far so good...Axel is in his crate, and Steve is doing the last minute check-in procedures. The girl behind the counter says,"Gee mister, your dog sure stinks!" Steve looks at Axel, who has been beautifully cared for, and probably bathed that morning....but, be that what it may, there is, now that she mentions it, a rather offensive odor! Not seeing anything glaringly obvious, Steve takes Axel out. He knows from experience with children and dogs, that do-do has the proclivity to hide in mysterious places. There's zip, nothin', nada, but....Axel is all over Steve like a dog possessed. It's the non-preservative added liver treats! They have been slowly congealing in Steve's pockets for 12 hours. He smells like a fecund carcass! Does Axel think that Steve's pretty neat? You bet!

Well...They've obviously bonded. With a well earned glass of wine in hand, Steve asks the flight attendant about where they keep the dogs on the plane, does anyone ever check on them, as this is his first flight with man's best friend. To use Steve's description, the flight attendant, Sallie, was quite perky. I only hope "perky" was a personality trait, not an anatomical one!(g) Dear, perky Sallie personally looks in on Axel twice during the 2 hour flight, all is well she reports, he's sound asleep.

The hour long drive to Napa is frought with some peril, as Steve still carries the residual side effects of meat gone bad, primarily in the region of his lap! My car, and our Subruban are all dog proof (gates across the back), but Steve has a sedan, with no room for a crate to rest comfortably. Not wanting to put Axel in the trunk with the crate, Axel has now become a back seat driver. Except the back seat ain't where Axel wants to be! Axel wants to ride shotgun, and preferably with his nose buried in Steve's crotch! I gather it was a LONG ride home.

The homecoming was easier than I had imagined . I momentarily give Steve's wet pants the wifely "raised eyebrow look", but all our attention was on Axel. He's wonderful! We slowly introduced the rest of the "gang", and are blessed with the 35 minute pee-fest. I don't think a shrub, bush, or "Little Tykes" toy went unscathed. They really all got/get along beautifully. My 7 year-old female Pem. was a bit "snappy", as Axel IMMEDIATELY located her food bowl, and proceeded to lick up whatever goodies remained. He then promptly peed on the Sofa (on the cushions, not the legs... a liitle "Shout" stain remover goes along way!) then went from room to room, saw OUR bed, hopped up, made a "nest" in the pillows, he seems to prefer "down" to synthetic, and went to sleep. In the chill wee hours of the morning, he likes to "worm" his way between the two human occupants. Where was this dog about 3 pregnancies ago!!!??? As I type this to you all, he his asleep, with the other 4, at my feet.

Story by: Alden Murray