The Importance of P-Mail and Other Observations on Life

This is all new to me but I'm trying really hard to live up to my new name (Magee) and follow the instructions left by my predecessor (Magoo).   A few weeks ago, my brother "Jim" and I (they called me Morrison at the shelter) were abandoned in the middle of a blizzard outside of a shopping center on Staten Island - we were nearly frozen to death when some nice ladies picked us up and brought us to their vet to stay overnight until we could go to the shelter the next morning.  From there we moved to a boarding kennel for a few weeks.  Everybody along the way thought we were best buddies, but Jim was just pretending to be nice to me because he knew somebody would stop to help me, as pathetic as I am.  I can't see very well, I don't hear well, and I have sores all over my face and body.  I think I might even be a leper or leopard or leotard or something like that.....I know I'm really ugly and people don't want to touch me, and I smell horrible.  I can't help it, and I'm so ashamed. 

The nice kennel owner noticed that once we were safe, Jim was really nasty to me and that I had bite marks on my face and legs.  He wouldn't let me share his blanket, and he stole my food.  So, he separated us, and when I went on yet another car trip yesterday, I was relieved to find that I not only had a room of my own at my new house but a big crate with lots of blankets, my own bowls and - the best thing - BONES of all sizes and flavors.   That all came at a terrible price though - I had to have BATHS!  Three to be exact.  With three different kinds of anti-bacterial shampoos, then I got conditioner and a hot oil treatment!  So after all of that, I smell really nice, and I think I'm cool!  Or maybe I'm hot!  Or maybe both - I'm not sure.  I am sure that I feel a whole lot better though, and things are looking up.

Even though I tried to put up a brave face, I was really pretty scared at first.  I was all by myself in a new place, and I didn't know where anything was.  I cried a lot, and it was really embarrassing, but nobody laughed at me, and everybody was really nice and took me for a walk every time I cried - and I got to wear a coat!   I was a really good boy and didn't have any accidents and haven't had any today either, so my foster mom promised that tomorrow I'll get a nice big mattress for my crate.  I'm not sure what that is, but I didn't think it could be any nicer than the big squishy blankets I have in there now, but she said it is, so I'll believe her. 

Today, when I woke up and was still here in this nice place and it wasn't a dream, I relaxed a little bit and could concentrate on reading my "p-mail".   Magoo is the GREATEST!  He left little notes all over the place, and every time I go out I find another one.  He told me how if I go exactly the same way every time I go out, I won't be lost, and it works!  He told me that I'd be able to go out whenever I needed to, and that I'd have as much food and clean water as I want, and that I can have toys and bones, and blankets and coats, and anything else I need.  He wardned me about the monser dog named Reflection who appears at night in the sliding glass door - I was prepared, and gave him a good woof when I saw him last night.  Thanks for the warning, Magoo! 

He also said that I should trust my foster parents (that's a little scary) and let them take care of me because they'll make me feel better.  I guess he hasn't lied about anything so far, so I decided that I'd try to take that step, even when it involved eye drops - ugh.  I noticed that my eyes feel better when I have the drops, so I'm good with that now.  And I get to go on the couch, and pose for pictures, and snuggle and do all the things a guy like me should be doing.  I'm beginning to hope that I'm going to get better and that a real life with a family that loves me is something I can look forward to.  Magoo says if I just believe, and try really hard to be good, that somebody somewhere will fall in love with me.


He said the hardest thing is being patient.  Us kids in foster care are so anxious to have our own families, but Magoo said we can't do that until we're all healed and looking sleek and sparkly.  I hope I get well soon.  I'm seeing my vet bright and early Wednesday morning and I'm going to have a face lift and eye job - I can hardly wait!