Baxter

Baxter's first picture with me

Baxter came to me winter of 2011 as a foster dog. The rescue group I was volunteering with at the time took a group of 50 dogs that had lived on a rural property. The woman who owned them was trying to take care of them but it was getting to be too much for her. The dogs were all different ages, sizes, and genders; most of them were unaltered so they were just breeding with each other. From what I know, they were all living outside with little shelter and water pans filled with algae. Baxter was about 9 months old, a Schnauzer and Aussie (Australian Shepard) mix and I don't think he had ever been in a home. The rescue had a groomer who would volunteer her time so I was able to pick Baxter up freshly cleaned and shaved pretty short as he had been severely matted and pretty smelly.


We transferred him from his kennel to a crate and I drove him home.   As with all foster dogs, I let them have the spare bedroom as their own so they have a chance to "decompress".   I still had Nanook at the time and when Baxter saw her for the first time he growled, which is completely appropriate behavior;  he was letting us know he was uncomfortable.  He would stay in his crate for 3 full days even though I had food and water right outside the door!  Poor guy, I don't know how he did it.  Of course with nothing going in (food or water), not much would be coming out.  Finally, on the end of the third day I sat on the floor right in front of his crate and just talked to him calmly.  Suddenly, his little body came shooting out the door and he landed right in my lap!  It was right at that point I knew he was no longer going to be my foster dog, that I would be keeping him; quite possibly my quickest foster fail.

Baxter with Murray (cat) and Roxie

He has become an amazing companion.  He and Nanook fell in love and he was her nursemaid when she was sick.  Today he acts as Misha's caregiver.  Baxter would befriend every foster that came in the house and helped them feel comfortable.   Typical of Schnauzers he has a crazy bark and he's very dramatic.  When he doesn't feel well he acts like he's dying.  Typical of Aussies, he has to have everyone in the same place at the same time (one dog can't be outside and the rest of us inside) and he "herds" to me so close if I lift my foot too high while I walk I kick him in the head.  He's a clown and a cuddler.  He gets severe anxiety when he rides in the car so he has to wear his "Thundershirt" when we go anywhere.  He likes to follow me around everywhere and he loves playing with his toys.  I'm wondering if time spent together is a component to the difficulty of losing a pet.  There are quite a few biopsychosocial and spiritual interests I have when it comes to humans and their pets.  I'm hoping this journey will help me understand.

Baxter