No, this is not a joke. My seven year old Yorkie, for the past week, has been acting - well- weird. He is eating, but without the zeal with which meals are met.
He is litter boxed trained, and always does his business in the box, except for when he notices a difference in the direction a chair is turned, then he marks. But for the past week, he has been leaving me gifts in the living room.
He no longer would meet me at the door, a toy in his mouth, to play. He had no interest in running after birds in the backyard.
I searched the deep recesses of my mind for an answer. Perhaps, thought I, he is upset because my new, month old grandson came to visit. Could he be jealous? But he paid mo attention to the baby. No, it had to be something else.
yesterday, it hit me. While speaking on the phone with a friend, I watched as he rummaged through his toy basket. ( I know. I am one of those pathetic animal owners who treat their pets as humans)
I was remarking to my friend how depressed I though the dog has been. After the laughter, she asked, " you mean you won't even play with the pathetic plastic bone?"
Ding. The light went off. I had not seen the bone for over a week. Could it be? Come on, I thought, you have really lost your mind now. The dog is depressed because he can't find his favorite toy? Like it's a security blanket?
So I went on a hunt through the entire house, looking in every nook and corner for the bone. About midnight last night I found it!
The dog perked his ears when he saw the bone, wagged his tail, used his litter box, and this morning ate his breakfast with zeal.
Call me crazy! I do think the dog felt insecure without his favorite toy. Problem solved.
Uh, no! Here's the real problem. This toy was bought for him when he was just a puppy.
It is a yellow, glow-in-the-dark, plastic bone with the name Old Navy printed on one side. There are holes in the bone now. One chunk is missing from an end.
But the dog loves this toy more than anything. What do I do when it totally falls apart?
I have looked on eBay, Craigslist; I have called all the Old Navy stores within a hundred mile radius; I have even called the Old Navy headquarters. No luck.
So I turn to you- here on Kos- for help. If anyone finds one of these bones, buy it. I will pay double. If you have one your dog hates, let me know. If you have time to scour tag sales, great!
I am not insane- well, not totally. But if I can't find another bone, he will need doggy anti-depressants.
I have already found toys that seemed like this bone, but no dice, he won't play.
So in the spirit of helping a crazy dog loving person- HELP- in anyway you can.
Thank you. And little Chandler thanks you.