Macho Moe

 

Okay, I admit it! I've got a big red "S" for "Sucker" emblazoned across my forehead. And, my downfall is always the same - dogs, especially puppies. I should never live in Mexico! It breaks my heart to see tiny puppies I know are only four or five weeks old being held up for sale. They are bathed, fluffed out and adorable; hopefully to entice a sale. But they are also too young to be away from their mothers, hardly weaned, and no shots to protect them from the many diseases they're exposed to.

About a year and a half ago my dear departed Enrique and I spotted a man holding a tiny black pup up for sale as we drove by. We stepped on the gas to get past fast, we already had three dogs. We agreed to do our errands, and then, if the man and dog were still there on the way back we might stop and see how much he wanted. If we could afford it we might get it, bring it home to make sure it was healthy and find a good home for it. We ended up with it, it was not healthy and we nursed the pup for several weeks until it was well. We still aren't sure what it had, but it was so weak the poor thing couldn't raise it's head. I spent several weeks feeding it baby formula and Pedialyte through an eye dropper. Now I can report Henry is now a strapping black poodle, happy, healthy and the love of my life, except for the other dogs, of course, who share my heart with him.

Then, last week it happened again. I was driving on the Boulevard and there was a man holding up a puppy--white with a substantial black patch over one eye. Again, I decided to run my errands and see if it was still there when I came back. You know the end of the story. I swear I heard a little angel named Enrique whispering in my ear encouragement to bring him home. Enrique was even more of a sucker for the pups than I am. After all, who else names a rescue pup after himself and goes downstairs to sleep on the floor next to them if he hears a little cry?

The new one's name is Macho Moe and he's sleeping by my feet at the moment. His first stop was the vet to be checked out, have his shots and be wormed. He wasn't so thrilled about the shots but he sure liked the nice bowl of food he ate a little later on. The vet says he looks nice and healthy and he seems to be. I've had him now almost a week and he's just fine.

Moe is smart as the dickens. The man selling him said he was ten weeks old, the vet and I think more like six and that might be generous, but he does have his baby teeth and eats anything in sight. Since he's been home, he hasn't messed in the house or his crate and this afternoon he learned how to play ball in about two minutes. He had the hang of it immediately and even figured out if he put the ball between my feet I'd throw it for him again.

Now I am certifiably the crazy dog lady with five dogs, all poodle mixes of some sort or another. Lorenzo I know is Yorkie-poo. Everyone thinks Gertie is Shi Tzu Poo, Daisy is probably Maltese poodle. Henry is just handsome poodle (and he knows it!). This Moe, who knows? He is certainly mostly poodle, maybe a soupcon of Maltese and perhaps a spotted Chihuahua donated the eye-patch. Whatever the mix, he's adorable. But he needs to find a home. That way I can rescue the next one I find on the street.

Now I know it only encourages people to sell these little guys before they are ready, but it's gonna happen anyway. Some child will be gifted a sick puppy that will die and break it's heart. At least if I scoop them up there will be one more healthy dog in Mexico. Enrique used to tell me people are so poor in Mexico they will do almost anything to feed their families. To them, a dogs are just another means of survival.

Mexico has been hit hard lately with no tourists, bad press over drug wars, Swine flu scare and a rotten economy all over the world. I'm afraid this summer there will be a lot more little guys being sold on the streets. If you happen to buy one, take it to the vet immediatley to be checked out and have it's shots. The vendor will sell you a bill of goods that's it's been checked out and has shots, but don't believe it. Make sure you do it yourself. I had a puppy die on me once many years ago and it was traumatic for the whole family. Most of them can be saved if you take the right steps and listen to your vet.


The local government is aware of the problem. They are scooping up as many of the stray dogs as possible. The ones that can be saved are sent to the humane societies or places like the Baja Animal Sanctuary where they can live out their lives in peace if they aren't adoptable. Puppy mills are raided all over the country, but there are more pressing issues and this is on a back burner unless someone complains. Like the States, when money is tight, the ones who can't speak for themselves suffer.

If anyone is in the market for a great puppy, think of Macho Moe. He's smart, non-shedding and adorable. I have no idea how big he's going to be, but probably less than fifteen pounds, just perfect for a loving lap dog and still big enough to play ball with.