@JENGOSMonkey I WAS THERE FOR '89! I was a kid, but I remember the water coming out of the swimming pool in huge waves and everything falling from the shelves! I was actually born in San Jose, but moved around a lot later LOL I hear the wildfires are more of a concern for you guys now? That's scarier than quakes for me...
My elderly neighbor
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We have an elderly male neighbor (I suspect he looks older than he really is) who has always seemed a bit down on his luck. He lives in a two bedroom apartment with another elderly roommate, and he has an old mixed-breed dog. During nice weather, he often sits in his old beat up pick up truck with his dog for most of the day. He doesn't seem to get out of the house much otherwise. Tonight Andrew ran out to run a quick errand & told me this story when he returned.
When he was leaving, he noticed the man's dog just standing at the corner of our side street & the main road that goes through the complex. He went over to the dog, intending to knock on the man's door & return him to his owner. When he got closer to the dog, he noticed the old man laying in the grass. He asked "Are you okay?" The man said he'd slipped & fell & had been trying to get up for over an hour! He's had a stroke in the past & one of his legs doesn't work, and the other one had just given out. Andrew picked him up & he bent to get the dog. Andrew told him to leave the dog & concentrate on walking. He helped the man & his dog to the apartment, and at that moment the roommate came home. The neighbor asked Andrew, "Do you know anybody who wants a really good dog? I can't keep doing this."
So what do I do? I want to go over & offer to walk his dog for him a couple times a day, but Andrew thinks this would embarass him. I've never noticed any friends or family visiting, and I'm not sure if he has much of a support system or not. This story brought me to tears… thinking of him alone in the wet grass (its been raining all day). Thank God it isn't terribly cold today, but its been getting bitterly cold after dark recently. I hate to think what would happen if it were colder or nobody found him! -
omg the poor guy! He's SO lucky Andrew went over to check things out. It's so sweet of you to offer to walk the dog. Does your neighbor not know about the dog park being so close? If walking is tough for him and his dog would do ok there you could always mention it. Sounds like the companionship is good for him….
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I too, might offer. I don't know the circumstances or his demeanor, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
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Its so nice you offered to help.
Let us know how it goes. -
Oh wow - kudos to you two for helping him out. Can you imagine if his dog hadn't stayed there to keep watch over him? I do so hope something can be done to help your neighbors - is there a local church that can send someone to day visit (mine does that sort of thing) a couple of times a week?
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Don't worry about embarassing him, I'm sure he would appreciate having some help with the dog so he doesn't have to give him up. If he doesn't use a cane or wlaker, you might sugggest that if you get to know him better.
How luckythat Andrew went to check things out. There is a special place in heaven for those who help the helpless, and that gentleman sounds like he could use some help. Even when people are too proud to ask, they are often very thrilled to accept help when offered.
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i think i'd offer to walk the dog a couple times a week. say something like you're walking your dogs anyway and it wouldn't be any problem to take his too, especially if there are 2 of you walking the basenjis.
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I agree wholeheartedly….if you are able to walk the dog for him, that would be so wonderful. You mentioned that the dog is an old mixed breed dog and that means it would be almost impossible to find someone to adopt him. If you think he might be embarrassed, turn it around and mention that the dog would probably not do well with a new owner and you'd like to try and help him stay with someone he so obviously loves. And tell him that this is what neighbors do and he'd do the same thing for you under the same circumstances. Would your dog allow this dog to go along on the same walk?
Is it a first floor apartment and does it have an outside patio? If so, maybe you could fix him a tether for "emergency" potty breaks when you can't take the dog out.
Good luck and bless you for your kindness and concern.
Pat
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Ask to borrow his older, well behaved dog to help attempt to train your crazy pulling dogs on walks. He feels like he is helping you out, and you are helping him out. Once the first walk happens, mention how well it helped and ask if you can try it again the next day, and just keep it up
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Do you have a whistle to give to him? If he kept a whistle around his neck, he could use it if he falls again, to get some attention. I use one for calling my dogs, and when biking if I get separated from my friends.
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Ask to borrow his older, well behaved dog to help attempt to train your crazy pulling dogs on walks. He feels like he is helping you out, and you are helping him out. Once the first walk happens, mention how well it helped and ask if you can try it again the next day, and just keep it up
I think that's the best approach I've heard!!! Mine are AWFUL pullers most of the time!
The whistle is a good idea as well. I just can't imagine what would have happened if it were any colder or later or if if if….
I'm going to try to talk to him later this week. I'll keep you posted. -
Ask to borrow his older, well behaved dog to help attempt to train your crazy pulling dogs on walks. He feels like he is helping you out, and you are helping him out. Once the first walk happens, mention how well it helped and ask if you can try it again the next day, and just keep it up
I, too, think that's a wonderful idea, Knipper! Bless you for helping out, Andrew & family! I'm a firm believer in what goes around, comes around.
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KUDOS to you!!! You have a good heart and it shows. God Bless You.:)
