Fulton

We landed last week in Fulton, Missouri, consort's hometown.  We arrived looking forward to spending time with good friends and reacquainting ourselves with consort's old hangouts.  The first day, when we pulled into town, it was pretty late in the day.  We followed our normal routine of feeding and watering the livestock, and setting up camp.

Day two we headed over to the home of consort's long-time friend who we had been unable to reach by phone.  Consort walked up to the door, while I waited in the truck with the wee mangy mongrels.  After just a few moments, consort turned to me and hollered, They're not home, but look what I found!  The man was holding up a tiny black-and-white kitten.

About 20 years ago, consort and I had a long-haired, black-and-white, male cat who met with an untimely death.  We have mourned the loss of our cherished cat ever since.  We have looked, off and on, over the years for a new kitty that was similar to the old cat:  Must be a kitten, must be a male, must be long-haired, and must be black and white.  The kitten consort was holding up ticked off every must-have on the list.  What's a body to do?  We brought the kitty home.

Later in the day, we caught up with our friends who live in the house where we absconded with the cat.  The friends were aware of the stray kitten hanging around their porch and had been setting out food for him.  They already provide a home to three full-grown cats and knew that adding a kitten to the mix was not a good idea; they were overjoyed to learn we had taken the kitten with us.

Of course, the question on everyone's mind is, How are the dogs going to react to the kitten?

This is Annie checking out what the cat has to eat.  Other than making sure the new kitten doesn't have something better to eat, Annie doesn't care much about the cat.  The cat, who we've named Fulton, because that's where we are and that's where we found him, uses Annie's back as a jumping-off place to further his roaming.  The first day the kitten was in the trailer with us, he climbed up and was sitting on the counter.  Annie walked up to check him out and possibly let him know he's NOT allowed on the counter.  The cat eyeballed Annie, assumed the pounce position, then jumped onto Annie's back.  He rested only a second then leapt to the ottoman.  Annie had no reaction when the kitten landed on her back.  Once Fulton jumped off, Annie just shook her head and walked away.  Their only other interaction is the exchange of food.  Annie loves the dry kitty kibble, and Fulton loves the dry dog kibble.  

D.O.G., on the other hand, is in love with Fulton.  All of his fathering instincts have kicked in.  He follows the kitten around herding him away from what D.O.G. considers danger.  The cat walks up to D.O.G. and lays down on his back under D.O.G.'s head.  D.O.G. begins to wash the kitty with a tongue the size of Fulton's head.  Fulton squirms and leans into D.O.G. while D.O.G. gives him a spit bath.  The whole time D.O.G. is bathing the kitten, the kitty is batting the dog tags that hang from D.O.G.'s collar.  After bath time, Fulton darts thru the trailer with D.O.G. in full chase.  When Fulton lays down to nap, D.O.G. sits calmly beside him waiting for his new buddy to wake up and play.  We think it's fate.

I haven't mentioned Bella in almost two months.  Bella was our rescue dog; she was found on the side of the road.  She lived with us for six years and stole every human heart she came in contact with.  She is inquisitive and energetic.  Although consort and I think we're pretty active, there was no keeping up with Bella.

While in NE Tennessee, I had the pleasure of meeting K, the granddaughter of our good friends who own Roan Creek Campground.  K is the same age as my middle grandson and was looking for a loyal companion.  When she visited Roan Creek, she would come by the trailer and take Bella out for walks.  The two of them hit it off immediately.  After watching the two of them interact, consort and I decided Bella would have a fuller, more active life living with K.  

K and I spent about a week holding dog obedience school.  K learned obedience commands, and Bella learned to trust and listen to K.  At the end of the week, we let Bella go home with K.  That was one of the hardest things consort and I have ever done.  But we gave K, and her mother, an out:  We'll be in Tennessee another week; if keeping Bella is too much responsibility for K, she can bring Bella back, no worries.

Well, there have been no worries.  Bella is having a blast in her new life.  K's mom works at a marina, and the owner of the marina has declared Bella the company mascot.  She's allowed to roam all over the store; she is given treats and belly rubs by both employees and customers.  Bella is missed, but we are so happy she has found a place where she is the number one dog belonging to a little girl who loves to play.  We wish Bella and K long, playful days and warm, cuddly nights.  We look forward to seeing them next time we visit Roan Creek.