FOURTH SAFARI

FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, and FOURTH SAFARIS

FIRST SAFARI - Landry House - Grand Isle, LA

January 16, 2011

My friend Pat invited us to park in his compound on Grand Isle, LA.  This is our first time camping in the motorhome.  There were lots of live Oak and plenty of shade.

The dogs were constantly smelling the grounds due to all of the little critters that roam throughout the wooded area.

It was all so new to me, living in this coach.  I had so much to learn.

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SECOND SAFARI - Grand Isle State Park, Grand Isle, LA

February 16, 2011

Chukchi really liked it here at the beach.  She had lots of room to roam around our site.  She was really well behaved on this trip.



My babies resting in the shade at the beach.

Pat holding Chukchi while we enjoyed the fire pit.

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THIRD SAFARI - Silver Slipper RV Park - Bay St. Louis, MS

April 8, 2011 

Gypsy Boho on the beach at last.

View from my bedroom window

Xi Shi Quan and Chukchi in the Gulf

Poor little Shih Tzu all covered in sand

FOURTH SAFARI

May 2, 2011

Today I left Houma for Kentwood, LA to bring my Siberian Husky to her new forever home with Preston and Betty. This family responded to my listing on PetFinder.com - which had been posted since the beginning of the year. They called me and we talked for a very long time about Chooky. They sent me some photos of their place and I sent them photos of Chooky. They recently lost their Husky who was 13 years old. They love the breed and want to adopt another. This was a selling point for me as I had turned down several other interested parties.

After much discussion, we both slept on it and talked again the next day. Once I knew that this was a suitable placement for her, I agreed to bring her to them. I cried for a whole day until I started to get used to the idea. She will have a much better living environment than what I can provide for her, but it is really hard letting her go.

This family has 4 acres of land with lots of trees and a pond stocked with fish. There is a fence all around the property so Chooky will be able to be off leash and run as much as she wants. They also have chickens in a fenced enclosure. I can’t pass up this opportunity for her to have such a nice home. There are 2 dogs that live next door that she will be able to play with on a regular basis. It all seems so perfect.

I arrived at their home around noon and took Chooky in to meet her new family. She was so excited and wanted to smell everything in the house. When Betty called her to come, Chooky went right to her. She wasn’t quick to go to the husband Preston. This is totally not her usual response. She has always loved the attention of men over that of women. Go figure.

They called their daughter who lives next door and she came over. They all said how pretty Chooky is and everyone petted her. She wasn’t really responsive to any of it as she kept on pacing around and sniffing. We think she could still smell the scent of their Husky who died only a few weeks ago.

We all walked her around the yard and she went absolutely crazy when she saw the chickens - like I knew she would. I went back into my camper to take care of my little Shih Tzu and a while later Preston brought Chooky inside and we visited for awhile. Chooky was very hyper and kept looking out the window at the chickens.

They left and I rested. By now I had the beginning of a really bad headache. Too much stress and my blood pressure is up. Later Preston took Chooky for a long walk around all of his property and I took pictures of them through the window of my coach. It was heartbreaking to see her with someone else. I feel so sorry for her. She’s had such a rough life in her short 4 years. Now she has to get retrained and learn to love all over again. Will it be the last time for her? Will they be able to love her and keep her? Right now, I just want to take her home.

I told Preston that I want him to call me if for whatever reason it does not work out, I will come and get her. He assured me that it would work out and he could never send her away. We’ll see.

I’m going to stay here at his house where I have hooked up to his 30amp outlet and water. Don’t know for how long.


May 3, 2001

Had a terrible head ache last night and took a pill that knocked me out. Got up this morning at 9:00am. Took little Xi Shi Quan out for a walk and visited with Chooky who was tied in the front yard on a long leash. She was happy to see us and kissed her little sister first then came to me. I gave her a big hug and kissed her nose. Preston asked if I wanted to take her for a walk and I said yes. I walked her and Xi Shi all around the grounds. She enjoyed herself and even played chase with her little sister like she always does. I could tell she was happy to be with us again.

When I left her to go back to my camper she tried to follow and it really hurt me to leave her. As I walked away, I looked back over my shoulder and I saw Chooky tied up just like the way I first saw her in my neighbor’s yard - pulling on the leash trying to get to me. I went back to my camper and cried. Starting to feel like maybe I have made a mistake. Preston assured me that as soon as the ground dried he would put up that gate so Chooky could run free. Why didn’t he do that before we got here? Why did I have to see her tied up?

They said she had a good night. She ate supper which I was glad to hear as she had not eaten all day. She used her puppy pads but did have an accident on one of the beds. Preston walked her at 3:00am and she did pee outside then went back to sleep inside on the floor next to their bed.

I’m sitting here now in my camper, not sure what to do next. It is raining on and off and the temperature is in the 50s. A good thing I left some winter clothes in the coach. I have the fireplace/heater on and it’s very comfortable inside. Love to hear the rain on the roof. Xi Shi Quan appears to be sad and I’m sure she is missing her big sister.

I’m not interested in going to the nearby Bogue Chitto State Park as planned. I just want to go home and heal. My heart is breaking. I took a Xanax and fell asleep. When I woke I decided that I needed to see Chooky.

Decided to go and spend some time with her and her new family. Left the camper at 4:00 and came back to the camper at 7:00pm. During that time, I sat on the floor with Chooky as she is not allowed on the furniture in their house. She did appear to be more calm and stayed by me most of the time. I rubbed her belly and gave her lots of kisses. Played fetch with her new white football they gave her. She also chewed on a couple of chew bones they gave her. Her eyes followed Betty everywhere she went. She does seem to be attached to her more than to Preston.

When I left I felt a whole lot better. Told them that I was going home tomorrow and would like to place a "Peace Rock" in their garden. They thought that was cool. They are a very nice couple, very devoted to each other.

I can only hope that Chooky will be happy here. They keep assuring me that she will be loved and cared for. I have to trust that. I will surely miss her a lot as she has taken a piece of my heart. I hope she remembers me and that I gave her so much love.

　
May 4, 2011

Got up this morning and the sun was shining. Going to be a really nice day. Walked Xi Shi Quan around the grounds and went to see if Chooky was tied up outside. She was not. After a few minutes they all came outside and Chooky came up to me and I gave her a kiss. She still would not kiss me. She has never given me kisses and I don’t know why.

I took lots of photos of her and her new family. Then the neighbor’s Great Dane came by for a visit. They hit it off and began playing together. I have to say that, this above all things, lifted my heart up. Chooky would get on her back, very submissive, and let the dog lick her belly. Then she would chase him and kiss his nose and romp on the ground with him. I could not have been happier.

When it came time for me to leave, she tried to follow. I didn’t look back and went into the camper to get ready for departure. I drove the camper around to the front of their house and Preston and Betty stood there under the pine trees holding Chooky’s leash and said their goodbyes. Chooky wanted to get into the camper as she loves to take a ride inside of the coach. I said goodbye to her and I drove away looking in my side mirror for one last look. It was like leaving a child behind, the pain was so bad.

Xi Shi slept all the way home. The trip was easy going and enjoyable. We made it home in 2 ½ hours.

Now, I’m sitting here crying as I type this. The house is so empty without Chooky. Although I know that she is better off where she is, what is it really doing to her to keep moving her from home to home and owner to owner - this being her 6th. I hope I have done the right thing by her.

Betty, Chukchi, and Preston

Chukchi and Moose