Steppin' Out

[stoutfellow]

Murphy can't get out of the house via the doggie doors anymore. Even the doggie steps are too much for him. Even so, sometimes he goes over to the inner doggie door and sticks his head through, snuffing. Then he backs up, slowly turns around, and dolefully comes back into the main part of the house.

The only way he can get out is with my help. Even taking him for walks is chancy, given how often he falls down on the (slight) slopes of the nearby streets.

It's fairly warm today - in the 60s F - so I decided to take advantage of being home by taking Murphy out into the back yard. I had to help him down, of course; the step between the house and the sun porch (and thence the back yard) is even higher than the front porch step. Still, once he was down and I opened the porch door, he was eager enough to lumber out into the yard.

We just stayed out for a few minutes. That was all he wanted: to snuffle around a little and to do his business where he was supposed to. He does seem happier now.

Comments

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

That's so sad.

Especially as your description tends to describe yrs truly on her bad days! (Excepting, of course, the doggie door.)

Love, C.

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear that.

...

I don't know what else to say.

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

At least not the incontinence!

But the pain of back and legs.

On the bad days.

And like your friend, I too have a human who helps me in every way he can!

Thank goodness, not every day is like this. But when it is ... well, we humans are animals too.

Love, C.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Poor baby. I'm glad he's got you.

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

You know, it's funny; I posted this as a good moment. I mean, yes, his situation is not good, but he's still capable of enjoying life; he just needs a little more help at it than he used to.

But then, when I look at him I still see the clumsy little puppy.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

I know. My guys are getting old, too (they were fourteen this summer). Neither of them is physically incapacitated as much as Murphy is, but I know it's only a matter of time. And I remember when they were both small enough to fit in a paper grocery sack -- together. That's how I brought them home. They were six weeks old.

And, yes, I am very glad Murphy got to go out and smell the air. That's a very important part of life!