Owned by Pugs

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

More Modifications

Henry

As Henry's vision worsened, we realized that we needed to make more and more modifications. Of course, he only has one eye and while that eye is not very useful for sight, we do not want it to be harmed or injured, of course. So, have needed to find a way to protect his eye from one of the most immediate dangers that he faces. This would be our agave plant.

It is not uncommon for us to hang out in the driveway and surrounding front yard areas. We would do this often when we had the 3. While off leash, we found it still to be a safe time since we live on a very quiet street, they were beyond chasing bikes or squirrels and surprisingly they were pretty good listeners and knew their boundaries (for the most part--not saying they were perfect angels but overall we could not complain).

Now, things are little different. When Henry likes to roam around outside now we need to keep him on a leash. Even blind, he is still quicker than we are and this means that he can run full steam into nature (and houses) around us before we can catch him and save him from his crash. The good news is, though, is that he is starting to slow down since he now realizes that low speed bumps hurt a little less than high speed collisions.

Anyway, back to the agave....running on only one kidney (and just general old man disease) has made it such that Henry needs to pee a little more often than he used to have to. And it is not uncommon that he is up 1-2 times in the overnight. When this is the case, he wakes me, I let him down off the bed, we plod outside to the front yard and he does his business. Going out it is all well and good, but it's the coming back inside that is bigger challenge. For some reason, at that particular time of day, Henry typically loses his bearings. Instead of the straight shot back to the front door, he often side tracks towards either the garage door or either of the 2 windows that flank the front door. And in the process of finding his path again, he bumps into the agave. The thing about the agave is that this is a very mean plant. It has very sharp barbs along it's long pointy leaves. So, if Henry were to get his eye poked by one of these fronds he could do some serious damage to himself.

Thus we have placed a small picket fence around the agave in order to help Henry redirect when approaching the dangerous plant. So far we have not receive hate mail form our home owner's association (they are kind of sticklers). If we have to take it down we will work on another solution. But for now, it is working (plus we are still there to help nudge him in the right direction).


Comment Page 1 of 1 pages

Sue VDB and Annie Fannie

01/21/2015

That plant really does look mean, but Henry is well protected.  I cannot imagine your Home Owner’s Association objecting to that little fence.  It is neat and attractive.  #HenrySafe

sue wooding

01/21/2015

I think the little fence is a good idea and looks nice also

Melissa & Bosco

01/21/2015

If you get a letter…write one back explaing your situation.  They can’t be that heartless…and if they are I’d fight it!!

Mary M.

01/21/2015

I think the fence looks very nice.  You are such good pug parents!

Pat

01/21/2015

Agave must be code for agravated plant!  Love the fence,it is neat and very protective of our handsome Henry!

Sleighbelle

01/21/2015

Tell the homeowners that Henry is more important than some stoopid rule!  Cause, in case they didn’t know, “Pugs rule, homeowners drool”!!

brenda cooper

01/21/2015

The fence looks just fine. I wouldn’t worry about anybody complaining. You have come up with a wonderful solution to keep Henry safe. Henry is so so blessed to have such wonderful parents and of course, y’all are blessed to have Henry.😊

Christie Sachde

01/21/2015

The fence looks like it’s always been there…maybe no one will notice:) We have a homeowners association as well…what a PITA!

Martha

01/21/2015

Brilliant solution!  And I think it’s very nice looking too!

About the Homeowner’s Assoc….  Let’s hope they would understand, but if not, the American’s with Disabilities Act should protect Henry.  He’s as American as they come!  I don’t think a law should only protect two-legged creatures.

Julie

01/22/2015

Yay for adaptation!  And it’s nice to be reminded that I’m not the only one waking up to put a dog out.  My half-pug girl Mary Abigail is 16 years and 8 months, and makes 1 or 2 trips out during the night. She seems to see well, but tell Henry that she has to go out in snowy cold here in Michigan!  Pug hugs to Henry.

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