Man's Best Friend

Did you know that a 42-lb standard poodle can swallow an entire rib bone whole? Me, neither, but I saw the X-rays myself.  DB's dog from his prior marriage has adopted me and my kids as part of his "pack" (apparently I am now the alpha bitch), because I take care of him when DB travels.  Stepdog follows me around the house, guards me from other people and dogs when we go walking, lets me know when the kids are getting into something, and sleeps next to me when DB isn't here (he doesn't even do that with DB).  He is a sweetheart, and I really adore him.  I'm really more of a cat person usually, but this is a great dog.

So, a few weeks ago, DB had made ribs, and admittedly gave Stepdog one of the bones, WHICH WE WILL NEVER, EVER DO AGAIN.  As soon as we heard a crunch, DB went to retrieve the bone, but the mistake was giving Stepdog another bone.  Because Stepdog decided he was damned if someone was going to take away his second bone, so he ran off with it and swallowed it whole.  Strong work.

To our credit, we leapt into action, rushed Stepdog to the emergency vet, and he had surgery to remove the bone.  Stepdog recovered quickly and is now back to his goofy self.

Upon reflection, I realized that (a) I was really glad I was there to support DB, that there was no place I'd rather be at that moment than by his side, even if that happened to be in an emergency vet hospital, where he was freaking out with guilt and worry and needed me to tell him what I thought he should do; and (b) I have a Stepdog.  We are becoming a family, incrementally and slowly, we are counting on each other and making decisions together.  I know it's a far cry from combining households and finances and children, but for a very long time, I never thought we would ever be able to be together even this much.  It's like a dream come true, even the suck parts.

Of course, for Stepdog, as long as he has plenty of food and affection and a warm place to sleep, it's all great.  But I look in his eyes and can tell that he's wondering whether there's any place he can put the next bone that this bitch won't come after it.