The $2200.00 Cat - Part Three: The Dogs

Let me introduce you to Mickey and Malka. Two of my fur kids. I'm lucky to have this picture since Malka thinks the camera is Hannibal Lecter reincarnate and hides every time she sees it come out.
Malka is a 6 year old female American Pit Bull Terrier, black with white markings. Mickey is a 3 year old male American Staffordshire Terrier, buckskin. Both came from shelters and had a rough start. Both are testimony as to how wonderful these dogs are in the right home, but I digress. Back to my story.....

Daisy stayed in The Vet's room for the better part of a week without issue. She was happy just to explore the mounds of stuff in the room and watch cat TV (a fish tank). The kids spent plenty of time in there playing with her and all was well. Introductions were going fine too. The dogs had lived with cats since we brought them home so it was just a matter of reminding them that the cat was not a chase toy. Since at the ripe old age of 15, Misty didn't spend much time running around, that wasn't much of a factor with her, but this feisty kitty might just be a little to enticing. When Daisy was out the dogs were curious and Mickey couldn't stop smelling her but they were being respectful of her space (with a little reminding now and then). When we go out both dogs are crated so we started letting Daisy out to roam the house during these times. We were at a point that there were only a few times when it was necessary to confine her because when we weren't home the dogs were crated, right, yea, that's what we thought too. Then Daisy figured out how to open The Vet's door. We were excited, she's smart on top of being friendly and playful. Besides, we knew we wouldn't have to confine her much longer.

Another week goes by and we are becoming more confident. The dogs still pay more attention to her than I'd like but they aren't being aggressive just playful. Still, two 70 lb dogs playing with a 10 lb cat needs to be closely monitored. Daisy, on the other hand, didn't get the memo that running up to dogs and then running away increases def con levels. But, with continued supervision all is going along as expected.

It started like any other day (forgive the cliche). We got our schoolwork done early and the weather was gorgeous. We spent most of the day outside and came in just in time to get changed and head to karate. The dogs had been outside with us most of the day and were tired. Daisy, once again, had escaped from her room. We threw the dogs in their crates and headed out the door. Sometime after we left The Engineer came home from work and let the dogs out of their crates. He went outside to put the trash out and the dogs didn't want to go back out. Not knowing that Daisy, escape artist extraordinaire, was loose in the house, he just left them.

Not long after I came home and we went in together. I paused in the kitchen and heard a loud shout from the family room that made my heart stop. I ran to the family room and that sound, the sight and smells will stay with me always.