Christmas treats for the critters

On Christmas Eve and Christmas day America’s veterinarian  Dr. Marty Becker and his daughter Mikkel gave treats, toys and love to more than 400 dogs and cats at shelters from Coeur d’ Alene to Bonners Ferry.

They visited Kootenai Humane Society on Christmas Eve and on Christmas day the pair joined the staff of North Idaho Animal Hospital in Sandpoint to visit the Panhandle Animal Shelter.  After that visit the two went to Second Chance Animal Adoption in Bonners Ferry.

“The staff and board joined us in celebrating these special pets that just want so bad to move from a cage at the shelter to a couch at someone’s home,” said Becker.

Becker admits he loves the smell of puppy breath and loved stroking the kinetic mass of kittens.

“I loved the gray bearded dogs with jutting hipbones who rose slowly to their feet, but offered the canine equivalent of a tonsil swab,” said Dr. Becker.

He said not 1/100 of a percent of himself was going to adopt a dog that day, despite his many thoughts over the year how his heart and home was ready for another outside dog. This until he went into the cafe at SCAA to give  “Gracie” a stiffed Kong.

Gracie is a dog with a genetic defect of the knee joint in both rear legs. One strike. She's a Pitbull cross. Strike two. She's black and has been in the shelter for two years. Strike three.

But Becker said when he went into her cage she moved over to him and laid her massive head on his leg, looked up at him, let out an audible sigh, and the good doctor cried.

“We found each other,” he said.  “I took her out into the lobby and sat in the chair with this 35-40 lb dog in my lap. Her tail thumped against a table full of Christmas treats with the rhythm of a snare drum.”

Somebody put reindeer antlers on her and she just left them on.  Becker and Mikkel loaded her in the truck and took her home to Almost Heaven Ranch north of Bonners Ferry.

“We introduced her to her outside buddy, Shakira the Golden Retriever. Instant friends,” he said. “Then we took Bruce the Pug outside to meet her. Another friend. Then we let out the other four small dogs (Quixote and Quora the canine cocktails, Willy the black Pug and Mr. Teddy the rescue Pom).”

It wasn’t long and all seven dogs were playing together out in the yard.

“I've already made Gracie's two beds. She sleep tonight at her forever home, the first real home she's ever known.”