Have a soccer player in your family?  Come play with Odo, our Heinz 57 canine, who came to us via a network of Central Kentucky animal rescuers in late September ‘09. 

This busy year-or-so-old dog LOVES playing with balls: soccer, tennis, his mini football, dog toys, squeaker toys and more.  He even found our old basketball and brought it out of the garage.  He played ball so zealously that he first popped the ball, then tore it off its string.  That’s his current favorite ball.  He can carry it easily, tho the soccer balls kick easier.  

Poor guy, if no one has time to play with him, he’ll play by himself.

Chained without water, food or shelter for most of his puppyhood, his rescuers cared for him since the big February ice storm when he was left without shelter for four days.  He came to us in October after a flurry of emails and a drive to Lexington.

Speculation on Odo’s heritage includes shepherd (his spots are the right color) and border collie (his endless energy and zealous determination), no doubt mixed with several other breeds.  A guest who has raised Australian Shepherds said he acts more like a border collie. Evidently, he’s part cat too, as he curls up in chairs with his tail over his nose just like the cats.

Happy and friendly as he can be, he’s still learning not to jump on people and not to chase the horses, but sometimes he just can’t resist.

If you set something down, take your boots off outside or whatever, you can bet it won’t be there later, tho he doesn’t usually damage things, just plays with them for a while.

The name?  Dana’s a serious Trekkie and he picked it from one of the Star Trek shows.  He also answers to Buddy.

His happy smile and curly tail remind us of our wonderful Fluffy girl.

What happened to Lacy?  We’d adopted a beautiful Shepherd/Collie mix from the Kenton County Animal Shelter in July shortly after Fluffy died, but she had been abused and was very fearful.  She bit Tatiana, growled and snarled at Dana and I and began growling at guests, so we had to return her. 

Friends who work with animal adoptions say “fear biters” are among the most unpredictable and dangerous dogs.   Hopefully, she found a home that does not have visitors coming and going where she can feel secure and regain trust in humans.  She was a very loving dog who quickly attached herself to me and shadowed my every step. It was so hard to return her to the pound, but she wasn’t safe to be here for our guests.