Look Who's New At The Ranch

Before I left to take Brynn to WSU's veterinary teaching hospital last week, we received an email from an employee at the Josephine County animal control shelter in Grants Pass, Oregon.  The shelter had taken in a blind and deaf stray dog they thought was a Dachshund/Beagle mix.  No one had come to claim him, and no one was interested in adopting him.  The employee, Kelly G., asked "if you guys could help out, because of limited space we cannot keep him here."

Our first thought on hearing "Dachshund/Beagle mix" was ... Widget!  Could there be another one out there?

It was Thursday morning, when I was bathing Brynn before loading her in the horse trailer, that we connected with Kelly on the phone to find out more about the dog and to discuss logistics.  Since I was heading to Pullman, I would be already 5 or 6 hours closer to Oregon.  Could the shelter find someone to meet me in Portland or even Bend on Friday?  Kelly set off to try and find a volunteer who could transport the little dog. 

A few hours later, while I was en route to Pullman, I noticed on my BlackBerry that Kelly had emailed us photos of the dog.  I can't open attachments on my BlackBerry, so I called Alayne to have her check the email on my office computer.  She opened the photos and said, "Well ... that's NO Widget!  But he's cute, I just have no idea what he is!"

By Thursday evening Kelly hadn't found anyone yet who could pick up the dog and meet us somewhere.  On Friday morning, I still hadn't heard anything.  So I checked out of the hotel in Pullman and drove back to the veterinary teaching hospital to get the horse trailer and hit the road for Montana.  It was just before 9 a.m. as I was reaching the university when my cell phone rang.  It was a volunteer for the animal control shelter, Barbara D., who had just learned a few minutes before about the need to transport the dog.  Yes, she could meet me in Bend.  "Today?," I asked.  "You bet," she said. 

We worked out our coordinates, determined the relative driving times for each of us to Bend, and I turned the truck around and headed for Oregon.

Several hours later, about 5:30 p.m., I met Barbara and her husband Ron at the PetsMart in Bend.  Incredibly, we had arrived within 5 minutes of each other.  They are a wonderful, delightful couple who had dropped what they were doing that day to make this trip.

And there he was in the back of their car, the little dog the shelter had named Mr. Bumps because he was always walking into things.

I took one look at him and realized that I couldn't figure out what he was either... yes on the Dachshund part (maybe ... or Corgi?) but what else?  No Beagle, I thought.  But while his breed mix may be a guess, I did know one thing for sure about him:  Here was another member of the short-leg club!

With another 8-hour drive still ahead for Shorty and me, we climbed back in the truck and drove north to Pullman.  I finally pulled into the hotel parking lot at 1:30 a.m., dead tired and grateful I had my Jimmy Buffett CD for the last hour of the trip!  (Okay, so that would have been a terrific line if only I could have said instead, "dead tired and grateful I had had my Grateful Dead CD for the last hour....")

I digress.

On Saturday morning I piled Shorty back in the truck and went to the teaching hospital to get the horse trailer.  After another long day on the road, we arrived at the ranch about 6 p.m. yesterday evening.

I took the photo of Alayne holding this lovable youngster late this afternoon, along with the other photos of him in our isolation yard.  He is brimming with self-confidence, adores attention, and likes nothing more than to be picked up and held in our arms.  He is totally blind and deaf, just like Spinner.  He seems very puppy-ish still, and has a soft, Lab-like mouth.  (Dachsund/Brittany spaniel?)

And no, we are not going to name him Shorty, but I wasn't going to call him Mr. Bumps, either.  So let's have a "name this dog" contest!  Please post your suggestions for a new name in the comment section.  If we select your proposed name, we'll send you a custom Rolling Dog Ranch hat or a set of our greeting cards (your choice).  But along with the name, you also need to tell us what you think his breed mix is, okay?

(Click on photos for larger image.)

Comments

[Nina]

What a precious cutie! My guess as to breed is a mix of spaniel and beagle. Jamie is the name I would choose as a takeoff on Jimmy Buffet!
So glad he was rescued in time!

[Kay Stemnock]

He looks like a Max or Mack to me.
The face seems like a Clumber. I don't have a clue about that tail!

[Mariko]

Hi Steve and Alayne! Yet another cutiepie to add to the short legged brigade. I say part Doxie, part....I have not a clue, but something definitely cute. Name-wise, I like Chaplin (for Charlie Chaplin) because of that little dot under/on his nose that ever so slightly resembles Charlie Chaplin's mustache!

[Erin Graham]

My sister has been harboring this name for her future dog for years, but I think you should use it on your newly arrived resident: Peabody (pronounced Pea-biddy, emphasis on the Pea) and Peab for short.

[Lisa]

Hey, this little cutie definitely has some lemon or orange pointer in him - look at that coloring! I like Hunter and Keller. He is a doll!

[Vicky Pauli]

He looks like lab and dachshund and a pointer mix, What ever you name him, he is very lucky you all took him. Great job guys.You could name him MICKEY, he is a mickey like dog to me.

[Margaret]

Spanielish head???
Don't know why- may we suggest Colby, or Casper? I like Radar or Arrow, too. He got himself to the right place. Yay for you all!

[Pamala Brown]

Hi Steve, it's Pamala in Shadow Hills again, just writing to point out (now that I've now read all the entries) that many of the people refer to him as "little guy" so I am just casting ANOTHER vote for my suggestion - he he!! (after my previous email that your newest little guy should be named Little Guy).

OK, have I said Little Guy enough?

Take care,
Pamala

[Pamala Brown]

Hi! I think he looks like a Clumber Spaniel mix and I think he would make a great Little Guy (that's my name suggestion!).

Good luck Little Guy!
Pamala at Dogs' Little Acre in Shadow Hills, SoCal

[MaryJ]

I say Clumber/Brittany/Beagle. How about Lucky, because he sure is lucky he found you!!!! Love all that you do!

[Jyl]

Well, darn - I was going to say Keller as well! I guess great minds DO think alike.

[Caroline Esclapez]

He definitely has a 'Je ne sais quoi" which reminds me of the Brittany Spaniel dogs I saw a lot while growing up in Normandy France. I think that he should have a French country name. How about?
Maurice, like Maurice Chevallier

[Kim Dunn]

what about Gadget - second cousin to Widget.
Kim and the hounds
we have a little blind basset girl, rescued from a puppy mill - her name is Lemondrop as she is lemon and white

[Joe and Judy Taylor]

Hi Guys Here are our suggestions for the newest member of the Rolling Dog tribe: Chedder( as in cheese) and Traveler-- Lord knows where he has traveled from to arrive to be part of your wonderful place. As for his parentage-----looks like it could be MOST any thing--alot of pointer of somkind along with the possible daschund and or foxhound WHO KNOWS!!!

[Glenn]

What a sweet sweet boy he is! I think he might be dachsund and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. He has similar coloring (pink nose and light brown spots) and the same ears and nose. I'd name him Johnny after Johnny Winter, the albino musician. He's not quite albino, but close.

[Critter Nut]

I'd have to go with "Bumper" and I do believe I see springer and doxie there.

[Joe and Judy Taylor]

Hi Guys Our suggestions for your newest family member would be these: CHEDDAR (as in the cheese), Traveler, because he traveled from Lord knows where to your wonderful place !!! Our guess on his parentage would be daschund/with a lot of foxhound(the way he carries his tail) or Who knows??????

[Mary Aaftink]

Welcome to the RDR little one!

My guess would be either a Dachshund/Fox Hound or Daschshund/Brittany Spaniel mix. Or maybe he's one of a kind!

My suggestion for a name is Barron in honour of Barbara and Ron who were kind enough to drop everything to make the trip.

[Ellen M. Kays]

Hello,

How about a simple "JB"?!! This adorable addition definitely has some pointer genes in him!!

Cheers!

emk

[amanda]

I think Beagle/Dachsie is probably right- he looks very beagle- just minue the color...add the dachsie legs, and length...color and there you have it! Like the name Rogue- seems to suit him!

[Abby Creek Art]

What an adorable sweetie. "Magoo" comes to mind as a fitting name. I have a lot of affection for Mr. Magoo!

[Benita]

Hi,
What a cutie and boy, does he look like he walks around with confidence....that is so cool. I thought of Peanut (for Peanut Brittle cuz of his color) or maybe Caramel. Anyway, I think you are right that he is doxie and Brittany Spaniel. I just talked to a gentleman the other day with his Brittany spaniel and his head and face really look a LOT like a brittany.
You guys are great!!

[Molly Brown]

Steve & Alayne: I'm not sure WHAT this little boy is ...... but someone like him should have a very "classy" name. So MY suggestion is:

Nigel !!!

Molly Brown
Boise, ID

[Molly Brown]

Steve & Alayne: I'm not sure WHAT this little guy is ..... but someone like him should have a "classy" name ---- so MY suggestion is:

Nigel !!!

Molly Brown
Boise, ID

[Kelsie]

Steve,
My 10 year old daughter came up Keller in honor of Helen Keller. Since I see someone else had the idea too, we'll just second theirs. I think it's a great name, and I have to agree with the spaniel/doxie diagnosis. What a lucky boy to be a part of RDR. We're looking forward to seeing you in Missoula at the library.