Hiccup The Recovery Wonder Dog
Science shows cardiac patients with pets far out survive and far out recover those without one. Biggest variable by far above education, family support, even prior fitness level.
So to hijack odds better in my favor, I got a pet. An Old English Pocket Beagle puppy, now 16 weeks old. 'Hiccup' is the Beagle puppy's name. Full title: 'Hiccup the Recovery Wonder Dog'.
Hiccup & I, we met at the pet store in one of those "Getting to know you" booths where potential customers interact with the merchandise. You know, like the speed dating scene where you have a defined station and time limit to chat, impress, interact. Sell yourself, basically.
Hiccup was a kid about to "age out of the system" - become an older piece of store inventory, a liability. Hiccup as inventory on the shelf, perceived as old despite why just yesterday it seemed was sold as young?
Hey, I can totally relate to that. Before cardiac surgery I had worked myself into a level of fitness that felt/looked 12 years younger than my flesh-age. And now in post-op life I felt a dozen years older than the accepted chronological measure of my lived life.
In the puppy Speed-Dating pen, Hiccup goes for the shoelaces. Two "Uncle Thunks" on his haid is all it took to cure him of attacking shoe laces. He now stops in front of shoe lace temptation, showing signs of sentience and conscious deliberation before backing away. Cautious but as trusting as he is smart - now cured of cravings for shoelaces.
Hiccup was so named in honor of the several days of chronic hiccups I survived after heart surgery. These hiccups were side effects of post-op meds aimed to soothe side effects of other post op meds. Flowers are nice but not so nice this daisy-chain of cascading side effects. I quit post-op pain meds as soon as I could stand it to put a halt on that side show.
Hiccup the Dog is a happy-making handful.
True, other puppies did catch my eye - by a prettier coat or a pair azure blue collie eyes. And I am one big sucker for cute eyes packaged along with a happy smile. Translate smile into a wagging tail on man's best friend and you have chemistry between man and dog. Also attractive was the discount on his retail list price.
Cute, trusting, smart, attentive, playful, demonstrably affectionate and energetic. Good qualities for a companion.
How can you not want to take that home, even though it was just infatuation after a first date?
More on Hiccup to come in later updates.
Yours truly and ridiculously from across Cardiac County Line Road,
James Sullivan
1 comment:
Sweet introduction to Hiccup. And an apt name for the Recovery Wonder Dog!
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