A Decade of the Divine Ms M: 2014

It was July 23, 2014. I got a Facebook message from my friend Diane, alerting me that “my” dog was waiting for me at a Petsmart in the far northwest part of town. Still mourning Frankie, I didn’t think I was ready to adopt another dog, but I figured I’d go anyway.

Apparently Madeleine was ready for me. Look at that face. Resistance was futile.

I decided to keep the name she was given at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSAZ), though somehow another “e” snuck in. That’s okay. It was appropriate that Madeleine should have the same name as a French cookie. Not only is she a sweetie but food is, well, her thing.

I had a clue about her food fondness early on. Madeleine kept trying to get into the front seat when I drove her home from HSSAZ and on subsequent jaunts for supplies around town. I couldn’t seem to find a way to secure her in the back seat safely. But when I drove her home from the vet visit that came with the adoption, I noticed she was being strangely quiet. Good, I thought, she’s settling in. Turns out, she had managed to chew through the 15 pound bag of free dog food that came with the adoption and vet visit, and was happily noshing away. Quietly. Stealth eating turned out to be one of her superpowers.

It was too bad she had so much trouble relaxing in my house though.

Before I made the somewhat rushed decision to adopt Madeleine, I promised a friend that I would petsit her dog, Mimzy. Madeleine had no problem with Mimzy–except at mealtimes, when, as the newly asserted top dog of the house, she was convinced that Mimzy’s food was hers too. It was at this point that I started giving Madeleine her meals in a large crate in another room, a practice that continues to this day.

Once the association with food was established, no crate training was required.

Mimzy’s visit was also when I learned that Madeleine was basically uninterested in other dogs. Not hostile or reactive, just “whatever.” Dogs have no food to offer her. What was the point of them?

She did let Mimzy know that the brown bed was hers.

My friend Diane, she who directed me to Madeleine, came over to see how my new pup was doing. This photograph has Madeleine looking uncharacteristically shy. She usually leaps into people’s laps, thus endearing herself to them (you know, in case they have food). You can see by her smile that Diane was very happy with her matchmaking. I was too.

Okay, that matching eyepatch thing was corny and, let’s face it, Madeleine definitely wore it better.

Madeleine is civic minded. It didn’t hurt that the issue, Improving animal care in Pima County with a new facility, had direct bearing on her co-speciesists.

The late great Bogie was one of Madeleine’s first cuteness co-conspirators. It would be going too far to say they were friends — though heaven knows Bogie tried — but Madeleine’s willingness to share a bed with him says something.

My friend Kim brought the adorable Penny to visit, hoping Madeleine would play with her fellow small white dog. No dice.

So dainty with the crossed paws — and that one ear kills me!

Earl Grey (whose color matches his name) and the dearly departed Clio, both canine companions to my friend Maryrose, spent some time with Madeleine. Earl was the only dog that ever got her to play with him, if only briefly. Earl was relentless (and adorable).

Madeleine is a badass. Don’t try to get between her and her dinner.

More pictures to come on Facebook…