Gumby Is Dead

I think Walter and Greta’s relationship has taken a turn.  When Greta first came to us from the rescue, she and Walter had a rough start.  She wanted his food, he bit her ear, she wouldn’t back down, he bit her in other places, she bit him.  There was a lot of bloodshed and a couple of stitches.  We won’t even talk about the little notch Walter created at the tip of her ear.  I had no idea an ear wound could be that bloody, but, let’s just suffice it to say it was bad.  It really was a pretty serious thing to the point where I was seriously thinking of returning her.  Experts told us that it would never get better and they could harm each other or us seriously.  I was devastated.

I did call the rescue to see if they had any ideas and when I mentioned that it might not work out, it was a problem because they had no foster home for a dog as big as Greta is.  Maybe that was fortunate because things have been getting better.  I can give them treats at the same time!  There was one snarl recently when Greta dared enter Walter’s eating palace, otherwise known as the pantry.  He snarled for about two seconds and then they just sat there looking at each other.  No bloodshed. Progress!

Those of you who have been around for a while have heard my tales of the crazy things Walter has eaten.  I think the SOS pad was his most impressive meal, but there were others that were right up there.  No matter what he chose to devour, there was never any real animosity involved.  Walter just ate whatever was available in his ‘zone.’  If something wasn’t seven feet off the floor, it wasn’t safe…and even then it might be in peril.  So he basically trolled the area and ‘tasted’ this and that.  I figured that Greta would be that same type of indiscriminate grazer.  Tonight I realized just how wrong I was.  Greta has an agenda.

This is only a hypothesis at this point, but I think she knew what she was doing when she ate Gumby.  Gumby was Walter’s very first toy when he came to us when he was 8 weeks old.  He never mutilated Gumby like he did so many other toys.  Gumby was untouchable…until Greta joined the fold.

It was only a few days ago that I realized Gumby had been decapitated.  That elicited a frown from me, but I really felt bad for Walter.  It was as if a bit of his puppyhood had been desecrated.  I really didn’t think any more about it until tonight.  Tonight Greta regurgitated Gumby’s dead limp body right in front of Walter.  It looked like one big soggy mess of spite.  Was it a hate crime?  A crime of passion?   Perhaps she is just feeling stifled in her desire to physically hurt Walter and has taken on a more nuanced approach.  Whatever it is, Gumby is dead and Walter is not happy.

Greta, on the other hand, may look like she just can’t be bothered but under that sweet face is the mind of a devious schemer.  Greta definitely has an agenda.