Build the Wall

Luke the dog is recovering from his surgery. He seems to be doing well, although his appetite isn’t very robust.

The post op care protocols are hard on him and his people. Of course Luke has to wear a cone over his head lest he lick at his stitches and open his wound. He is not allowed outside off of his leash even in our confined back yard. So that means every time he wants to go outdoors to take care of business, either Stoker or I have to put on shoes and a jacket to give him an opportunity for relief. We used to be able to simply open the sliding door and leave him to it, which was much better. Although even that is an irritant when he wakes us up at 2 am with his tapping on the glass. “Luke doth murder sleep”…

But now that he is feeling better, he wants to resume his rightful position relaxing on the couch or in Diane’s chair or my chair or on his king sized bed, which he magnanimously allows Diane and me to share. Alas, the protocols say ‘no jumping’. The cone alone won’t stop him, so we have had to use the barrier method of dog control.

Let me up! I claim asylum! I’m fleeing oppression!

We built a border wall on the sofa. So far it is working. He thinks it is too high for him to reach, and even if he could the landing area looks a little uncertain to him. The imposing barrier on my chair would stop even the most desperate comfort seeking dog. So poor Luke is left to look longingly at his former place of pride and wonder what he has done to deserve this.

He doesn’t know it, but we are trying to save his life and give him many happy years of couch sitting and orchard walking. The stitches are coming out next Tuesday, and we are really hoping he gets the all clear for a cone free future. But if they say it has to stay on a bit longer we will continue to control our border. His green card will just have to wait.