The least adaptable creature
Merle F. Marks, DVM
Timberland Animal Clinic
I used to wonder all the time what it would be like to be caretaker
to all the unusual animals I used to see on T.V. when I was a child. I
think some of those shows played a big role in my decision to become
a veterinarian. Just think of it chasing down a darted rhino in Africa
or swimming with dolphins in Florida. So very exciting and yet like
so many other things in our lives, time passes and opportunities slip
away dreams fade; not losing importance but pushed aside by responsibilities
and other priorities.
Dream of Fatherhood
The other dream I've always had was to be a father. Most men become
fathers and probably many do not need to dream about and wish for
itchy just go about their lives and lo and behold it just happens. Not
so with me. Gods natural path to fatherhood was not in the cards for
me so my wife and I had to find another way to not let time pass and
opportunities slip away. We wouldn't let other responsibilities push
aside this dream.
In February, we traveled to Vietnam to finish the dream which we had
been building for many years. We adopted a 2 1/2 year old boy, whom
we named Samuel and a 7 1/2 month old girl whom we named Bonnie. They
were joys to behold the second they were placed into our hands.
Besides the normal worries of acceptance and health, we had many worries
about integrating children and our pets of many years together. With
2 dogs and 3 cats, none of which had any experience with or around
children, we were rightfully concerned at how the pets and children
would get along. We knew the first rule when bringing together children
and animals for the first time, go slow!!!
We brought home the dogs the first night as we knew they would be
going stir crazy after being boarded for three weeks and that they
would concentrate on us rather than the kids. Sure enough, the dogs
were so glad to be home that they didn't even notice the children. Samuel
sure did notice the dogs though. He probably had never seen a dog
before, at least not close up, and he was scared to death. We gave
him all the room he needed and kept the dogs in a separate part of
the house for a few days still visible but separated. Within a week
he was willing to be in the same room with them and within 2 weeks
was feeding them, barking orders and blaming them for everything that
he had knocked over. The cats we were able to sneak home 2 days after
the dogs as we felt Sam was so worried about the dogs he probably
wouldn't fret about the cats that much. And he didn't.
Me the least adaptable
Oh yeah, the least adaptable creature in the house, what with the pets
and the kids getting along so well together, would of course have
to be ME! EC
Dr. Merle Marks is co-owner of Timberland Animal Clinic, 17641 S.E.
Stark. Phone: 255-9766.