This morning, I took Rusty to the Cleveland APL.  It’s off of West 14th, so I told him we were going to Tremont.  Dogs like the sound of that.

I like a photo with my posts, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to take a picture of Rusty’s face as I betrayed him.  This is a Grok rendition of an old Black guy I chatted with while waiting for Rusty’s admissions team to assemble.

His daughter has a pit bull.  She bought some rat poison, and the dog got to it on the counter, before she had stowed it.  His daughter and the dog were in with the veterinarian. 

The Cleveland APL is a well-run outfit.  There was an admissions team for us, and they were very professional.  As I was doing paperwork, a staff member came over to meet Rusty.   I thought to ask if she was taking him now, and would I see him again before I left.

“I’ve got to take him back.  Do you want some time to say goodbye?”

Why the hell would I want that?  Dogs like going to dog shelters and animal hospitals.  It smells like dogs.  Rusty acted like I took him to his surprise birthday party.

I had the presence of mind to ask if she’d like to see Rusty’s trick.  She did want to see the trick, and Rusty performed admirably.  She was delighted.  Effortlessly standing up on his hind legs should be enough for Rusty to make ward captain or yard boss or whatever leadership position they have available.

As we finished up the paperwork, I learned that it was Rusty’s birthday.  I knew Rusty was 3 years old because his paperwork from the Richland Reform School for Bad Dogs listed a date of birth.  They said he was brought in as stray, so it wasn’t clear how they knew his DOB.  They make up shit all the time, so maybe he wasn’t a stray.  Making up a dog’s name isn’t like making up a specific date for the DOB.  They wouldn’t lie about specific details. 

Oh sure they would.  I told the paperwork lady that Rusty was 3 years old, so on the admittance form, she put his DOB is 3/25/2023.

She did say that I am welcome to give them a call to check on Rusty. 

Again, why the hell would I do that?  They will say he’s doing great, which is bad because he is still there, until he gets adopted, then maybe it’s good or maybe it’s not.  I live with my decision and trust the system.