"There's my puppy! He's at his favorite restaurant!" Emily says most of the times we pass Ostria Restaurant in town. This very cute smallish dog seems to always be there at meal times. Whenever I laugh at this, Emily repeats, "It's his favorite restaurant!"
When pressed, she hesitantly admits that "her puppy" is her Adley fantasy substitute. The "puppy" is about the same size as Adley and similarly cute.
He's at Ostria all the time because his owner eats and hangs out there a lot. The dog rides around on his person's red motor scooter and then when the scooter's parked, the "puppy" hangs out within 50 feet or less of it.
The fine seafood dining puppy isn't Emily's only dog crush on the island. This is an island of dog lovers and many, many small to mid-size dogs who have no leashes and run around as they please. None of them go far from their shops and homes and most are adorable.
The other night we were at a restaurant which has two four-month-old puppies running around. Mom watches them and occasionally, in a very polite, unassuming manner begs for food. As we sat enjoying our drinks, the puppies father - a shepherd dog who lives down the road - showed up. The kids were overjoyed to see their dad, and mom took a rest while dad watched the kids. It was a pet food commercial taking place before our eyes.
Naturally, we find ourselves adoring dogs and talking a fair amount about our dogs, who we miss. Sure, my sister would happily remind me that I have abandoned poor "Puppyface" as she calls Conlan. It was one of the sad costs of taking advantage of this opportunity.
So, I worry about him. Conlan is not the easiest dog to love. He's a Kintamani who I brought back from Bali with me. Being a semi-wild dog from a far away island. He has very little understanding, appreciation or frankly, regard for our social conventions.
He's chewed up a few door frames, threatened the lives of a few repairmen who came to the apartment when Emily was there and I wasn't, and let kind, elderly people know not to touch him. If you're one of "his people," he'll protect you to the death. The only problem is that sometimes he defines danger differently than we do.... He's also a bit of a racist which causes no end of embarrassment.
But for the most part he's loving and wants to be loved. Conlan is goofy, odd, cute and makes a noise that sounds incredibly like Chewbacca when he's excited and wants your attention.
Jennifer, a good friend and former colleague has provided him a foster home and family - complete with backyard and two other dogs. Jennifer is a saint and even put up with Conlan's less-than-adorable transition period. She too has a chewed-up door frame.
Apparently, Conlan is doing well and now spends his days playing in the backyard and sharing Goldfish crackers with a three year-old boy.
Adley, the happy, easy perennially puppy-dog, is staying with our friends Dan and Jill where he spends his nights cuddling on the sofa, then snuggling in bed. He also goes on runs, hikes and camping trips. But mostly he snuggles. Adley is living his dreams.
Our trip is made possible by Dan, Jill and Jennifer - so they are our heroes. Even more, knowing Adley and Conlan are being so loved and cared for makes our time truly enjoyable.
In the meantime, every dog on the street, every family of dogs and every "puppy" dining at his favorite restaurant makes us think of Adley and Conlan. We talk about them often and wish Conlan could run freely around Patmos and are glad that Adley - who has more snuggle smarts than street smarts - is cuddling somewhere safely away from traffic.
When pressed, she hesitantly admits that "her puppy" is her Adley fantasy substitute. The "puppy" is about the same size as Adley and similarly cute.
He's at Ostria all the time because his owner eats and hangs out there a lot. The dog rides around on his person's red motor scooter and then when the scooter's parked, the "puppy" hangs out within 50 feet or less of it.
The fine seafood dining puppy isn't Emily's only dog crush on the island. This is an island of dog lovers and many, many small to mid-size dogs who have no leashes and run around as they please. None of them go far from their shops and homes and most are adorable.
The other night we were at a restaurant which has two four-month-old puppies running around. Mom watches them and occasionally, in a very polite, unassuming manner begs for food. As we sat enjoying our drinks, the puppies father - a shepherd dog who lives down the road - showed up. The kids were overjoyed to see their dad, and mom took a rest while dad watched the kids. It was a pet food commercial taking place before our eyes.
Naturally, we find ourselves adoring dogs and talking a fair amount about our dogs, who we miss. Sure, my sister would happily remind me that I have abandoned poor "Puppyface" as she calls Conlan. It was one of the sad costs of taking advantage of this opportunity.
So, I worry about him. Conlan is not the easiest dog to love. He's a Kintamani who I brought back from Bali with me. Being a semi-wild dog from a far away island. He has very little understanding, appreciation or frankly, regard for our social conventions.
He's chewed up a few door frames, threatened the lives of a few repairmen who came to the apartment when Emily was there and I wasn't, and let kind, elderly people know not to touch him. If you're one of "his people," he'll protect you to the death. The only problem is that sometimes he defines danger differently than we do.... He's also a bit of a racist which causes no end of embarrassment.
But for the most part he's loving and wants to be loved. Conlan is goofy, odd, cute and makes a noise that sounds incredibly like Chewbacca when he's excited and wants your attention.
Jennifer, a good friend and former colleague has provided him a foster home and family - complete with backyard and two other dogs. Jennifer is a saint and even put up with Conlan's less-than-adorable transition period. She too has a chewed-up door frame.
Apparently, Conlan is doing well and now spends his days playing in the backyard and sharing Goldfish crackers with a three year-old boy.
Adley, the happy, easy perennially puppy-dog, is staying with our friends Dan and Jill where he spends his nights cuddling on the sofa, then snuggling in bed. He also goes on runs, hikes and camping trips. But mostly he snuggles. Adley is living his dreams.
Our trip is made possible by Dan, Jill and Jennifer - so they are our heroes. Even more, knowing Adley and Conlan are being so loved and cared for makes our time truly enjoyable.
In the meantime, every dog on the street, every family of dogs and every "puppy" dining at his favorite restaurant makes us think of Adley and Conlan. We talk about them often and wish Conlan could run freely around Patmos and are glad that Adley - who has more snuggle smarts than street smarts - is cuddling somewhere safely away from traffic.
OMG he grew his hair back so fast..lol
Posted by: LeeAnne | 09/21/2010 at 09:10 AM