After my mom initially only allowed me to play with other foxes, I gradually made many more friends that I would like to introduce to you here. But today we’ll stick with the Hoomans’ dogs.
The Hoomans have a large den in which they let lots of dogs live. They call it a “sanctuary”. Dogs that no one else wants (or should have) are cared for here. Dogs that used to be something like superheroes and can do very special things. But these things have to be kept under control so that they don’t become cocky and become dangerous to others. Others were beaten by their parents and are now very disturbed. And you know: foxes that are cornered sometimes bite. The Hoomans also take care of dogs like that.
And sometimes dogs are simply thrown away when they get old, like annoying candy wrappers that some people throw into the forest. The Hoomans also took in these dogs and tried to give them a few more good months or years – with love and trust.
We have seen many of these dogs come and go, but I will especially remember the current dogs. For example, there is “Davu”.
Davu is a Rhodesian Ridgeback, a giant of a guy who weighs 50 kg. And when he barks, the ground shakes. But that’s about it. He’s a poor guy: despite many awards in his working life, he was thrown out when he was almost 10 years old. The owners no longer loved each other, and the dog became a nuisance. A completely crazy human child should stay in his well-known environment, and unfortunately they only found an apartment where dogs are not allowed. So a decorated senior can only see where he ends up. He almost ended up in the animal shelter, but the Hoomans prevented that. Now it turns out: heart problems, lung cancer, ataxia in the left hind leg. If you don’t take your dog to a vet for 10 years, you won’t discover anything like that. “He runs so funny, he’s in a really good mood” – no, he has neurological problems caused by nerve irritation, which could have been treated wonderfully with physiotherapy. Now it’s too late, say the Hoomans. The dog has to suffer because of things like that, and to keep this to a minimum, the Hoomans’ wallets suffer too.
Otherwise, “Davu” is a really relaxed guy. That’s why he’s always allowed to run without a leash. Recently – and I saw it myself – he was almost knocked over by a deer that was standing between the Hoomans’ cars. He wasn’t interested in it at all. I’m not interesting for him either, which is a shame sometimes. Because he reminds you a little of Scooby-Doo, he’s so clumsy, silly and sweet. But he always keeps an eye on his new parents – and has never forgotten what he was taught. A very faithful, loyal soul.
Then there’s “Sissy” – they say that the females always come first, sorry for that. Whether she’s more of a German Shepherd or more of a Kangal, who knows. The poor girl has had some tough times. Outside she’s always puffing herself up and barking, you can hear it all the way to my fox hole. I can now tell exactly: either there’s another female dog around, which she don’t like (that’s just how we women are, right?), then she barks incessantly. Or it was a burglar. Then she only barks briefly, because dogs that chew don’t bark. One thing you shouldn’t do is enter the property when her mom or dad aren’t there.
Otherwise she’s a really sweet girl and is therefore always allowed to run free. And once we even walked through the garden together, she was really sweet to me. There’s even a photo of it as evidence 🙂
“David” is probably half Carpatin, half German shepherd, as the Hoomans say. I would describe him as a thoroughbred buzzsaw. He is a specialist in distinguishing between noises. He knows which car belongs to the people who always bring the Hoomans packages. He can distinguish between Joey’s and Sabine’s cars, even though they are both the same SUVs. He knows when the neighbors are leaving. He has his own alarm for everything. If you’re sleeping in your den and the guy starts, you’ll bang your head against the ceiling.
The other day I heard Joey telling him that he should learn to bark. And then he said something like “You sound like a handful of screws in a metal bucket” – whatever that means.
“David” is also a really great guy, and my dad has already gone mouse hunting with him. He doesn’t hurt anyone. Well, except for cats – he goes crazy with them. And squirrels. I’ve already told them that: when “David” comes, they should get up the tree as fast as they can. They do that too, and they’re always faster. And then sometimes a nut comes flying from above.
“David” especially loves people – which I personally can’t understand at all. He always finds it great when he meets people, and if they then pet him or are nice to him, then he’s in seventh dog heaven. But unfortunately, people in Siegerland hate pretty much all animals. Most Hunters here are more empathic – but more on that at some point.
“Struppi” is something very special and has a special story. Not only is he a (I have to read this from an oak leaf) “pure-bred Podengo Portugues maneto”. Not only was he once given the cool name “Messiah”. No, he was also once the saddest, most fearful and desperate little soul I have ever met.
As a young dog of less than a year, he was given to a family with children in Spain. Apparently he behaved badly (certainly^^) and, as the Spanish like to do, he was beaten with a newspaper. He then snapped and was taken to the animal shelter. He was given to another family who had a baby. Apparently he didn’t let the father near the baby – and was taken to the animal shelter again.
There he was given 21 days to find a new home. If he hadn’t managed that, he would have been slapped and would have fallen asleep forever. He didn’t make it. But he had really great people in Germany who, together with vets, made sure that the file of “Messias” (as he was once called) was changed again and again, so that he was always in the shelter for less than 21 days. Magic 🙂 That saved his life, but it made him really mentally ill. Because there was no love for him. Because he had already bitten, no one went into the kennel with him anymore. They got a fire hose and cleaned the kennel from outside, put a bowl of food in it, and that was that.
Until someone asked Sabine Hooman if they could take the little guy. One look and Joey had nothing more to say: “Messiah” went on a 1700 km journey from Barcelona to Siegen and was christened “Struppi” there. What a scaredy-cat he was. He got on well with Sabine, but he ran away from Joey. He really was panicking for his life – in the Hooman’s huge dog park he hid in the furthest corner. In the Hoomans’ garden too. There he told me that he definitely didn’t want to be near Joey. When Joey went from the office to the living room, Struppi ran into the office. His whole body was shaking. Not for a few days. Not for a few weeks. After a few months, the two of them, who really know a thing or two about dogs, considered whether it wouldn’t be better for “Struppi’s” sake to put him in a household with only women.
They couldn’t find anyone and hoped to use a variety of methods to take away “Struppi’s” fear and gain his trust. The panic eventually went away, but Joey still couldn’t touch “Struppi” – not many years later. He never bit him, didn’t even growl, he just always ran away. “Struppi” was now seven years old, and yes, it really did gnaw at Joey’s ego, who had previously been able to make every aggressive or fearful animal his best friend, to completely fail here. He simply wished that “Struppi” had a few more months or years in which he could live without fear, and that he himself might be able to pet him at some point.
One day, when Sabine wasn’t at home, there was a thunderstorm. “Struppi” was so panicked and shaking so much that Joey was afraid it would become a medical emergency. He sat down on the couch and watched TV, just to radiate calm. And lo and behold, Struppi jumped onto the couch, snuggled up and shook like crazy. Joey simply put his hand on him and did nothing else – until the little man fell asleep. That was the safety switch.
After that, Joey was allowed to pet him and he didn’t run away anymore. He was still cautious and reserved, but it got better. Week after week, month after month, he took small steps. Today Struppi is 14 years old. He walks with Joey without a leash, he sleeps under the covers with him. When Joey lies down on the couch, he lies behind him and grooms his head. The two cuddle gently or play wildly, they run, they play hide and seek… oh, what am I saying. They really have become best friends. Even the fear of thunderstorms or fireworks on New Year’s Eve could be conditioned out of him – thanks to treats. Today, when there’s a bang, he stands in front of you, scratches your leg and says “hey, there was a bang, isn’t there something for me?” So he had a good life for at least half his life without fear, in which he was able to experience love. And Joey is still not ashamed to shed a few tears when he talks about it.
So those were my dog friends. The Hoomans used to have a lot more dogs. And even cats. My mom once told me they had nine dogs and three cats. That’s why they bought this house thing, because it’s so great near me on the edge of the forest and they could have a dog area in the middle of the forest. And that’s even though the two of them actually each have their own den somewhere else.
But, as Sissy once told me, they don’t want to do it anymore. Not just because it costs a lot of money and time, but because they’re always really sad when someone dies. They say it does something to you. They now look after “Davu”, “Sissy”, “David” and “Struppi”, and then they want to think a little about themselves.
I can totally understand that. If you constantly have to worry about food and then look after the children, that’s quite a lot for a mother. They will always have two dogs and I think I’ll be able to come along and meet new friends.
That’s it for today. Next week I’ll report on some very special friends I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.
Yours…….. Coppy