SHARED CUSTODY OF A FARM DOG

In other breaking news...we might have (of sorts) a dog!?!  We know, you are probably going whaaaaat?

So backing up...a couple of months ago, "J" from 2nd Family saw a dog wandering down the road.  She said it was very thin and limping.  She tried her best to catch it but of course, being a possibly injured and a stray dog, you have to be careful.  She ended up putting some food and water by our mailboxes.

It took a couple of days but eventually there was trust and she was able to get the dog to come down the long driveway to her house.  It stayed under her carport for a couple more days and then slowly came up to her porch.  She's a female, and besides being really thin, her pads were bloody, from probably walking and/or going through brambles and such.  She took her to the vet, no chip, had her vaccinated just to be safe and got some medication for her pads.  She has been nursing her back to health.  Her pads healed up and now she's ready for her closeup, ha.

Introducing, Maggie!

"J" was hoping to get her adopted, she called a local rescue, but they are too full right now.  Then, she posted on Nextdoor, but no one recognized her.  Not sure if this is what you would call a foster fail or she just changed her mind but she's now going to be a permanent member of the property.

She's a great guard dog and barks at everything (might need to work on that, ha) and howls when the coyotes howl.  Then again, I think most dogs would do that, ha.

At first she was nervous when I came around to see her but the other day, for the first time, she rolled over and I gave her belly rubs!  Now, she runs around and is just a happy, silly dog who is super friendly.  We have to get her adapted to 2nd Man as well.

She named her "Maggie" (I'll have to ask how she came up with that name).  When we go out there, we take a big bag of food to help with the expense.  "J" wasn't planning on having a big dog but the Universe had other plans, ha.  2nd Man and I said we'd be glad to have her as a property dog, she can come stay down by us whenever she wants, or roam back and forth.

2nd Family had a big dog named "Blue" (he has since passed on) that some blog readers might remember, and while he was their dog and lived with them of course, he always came to visit me in the garden or lay on our porch while I was working.  I'll have to admit, it was nice having a canine companion nearby.

We're not sure her breed (2nd Man and I want to order a genetic test kit for her once we get out there) but the vet said she almost surely has some Anatolian Shepherd breed in her makeup.

*Not Maggie, image via wikicommons

We looked up that breed and here is an actual Anatolian Shepherd.  Indeed, there is a strong similarity.  They are very protective and loyal once they bond, they are herding dogs by nature and they are good at protecting livestock from predators, hence their protective nature.

"J" is keeping her up there and in her very large fenced in area so she is safe from the construction workers vehicles coming and going.  For now, we're happy that she found her way to the right new home and once we get out there, we'll be OK with having the added security of a dog on the property and...coparenting her!

It takes a village!