Hope?

[stoutfellow]

Now that's a sound I haven't heard in a while.

A little while ago, I was working at the computer when I heard Murphy woof. His voice had an echo-y quality, one that it only has when he's in the garage. I hurried back there and opened the door into the garage; there he was, outside, poking his head through the outer doggie door. Evidently, he'd gone out but was having trouble getting back in.

I stepped down into the garage and opened the outer door for him. Then I watched as he laboriously made his way up the doggie steps to the inner door (my hands hovering over his hips just in case) and stepped back into the house.

He hasn't gone out that way (and there's no other way for him to go out without my aid) in weeks; I'd thought he couldn't, any more. Admittedly, it'd be even better if he'd been able to come back in without help, but even so it's the most hopeful thing I've seen since his troubles began months ago.

It brings its own concerns, of course. I can picture him going out sometime while I'm not home and being stuck outside until I return (but maybe he would keep trying, in my absence); with the onset of cold weather, that's more than a little worrisome. But still...

Comments

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

What a good sign!

This may not be practical in snowy weather, but when we had an old cat who could no longer maneuver the pet door, we propped it open for him. All he had to do was step through the opening, without having to remember that he needed to poke his head and body *into* the door.

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

I think what I need to do is expand the outer doggie door the same way I expanded the inner one.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If he does this a second time, then I'll believe.

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

My tapioca brain cells are not discharging any memory units on this project. (g) What did you do to the inner one?

And, yes, fingers crossed!

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

I removed the frame of the doggie door and extended the cut straight down to the bottom of the door, so that Murphy could step through instead of having to jump.

[kattsune.livejournal.com]

Just be careful not to make it too large, otherwise it becomes a security hazard for your home.

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

I'm aware of that problem, and, in my judgment, what I'm considering would not increase it.

[kattsune.livejournal.com]

Sorry if that came across a little harsh. When I still lived at home, my parents would leave the garage open enough for the dog to get through, and they thought it was fine because neither of them would have fit under the door. I could fit, though, and that's where my concern is rooted. Of course, my dog was 70lbs and so fairly substantial... I tend to be overcautious though.