I just had a great conversation with my mail man
It’s Saturday morning I have a full cup of coffee and a long to do list. Every Saturday is our DOG DAY. This is sort of funny when I write it out, because every day is a dog day. Our lives and our calendar revolves around the rescue and giving the dogs what they need.
Saturday in particular we try to make sure everyone gets lots of exercise, we run our meet and greets, we do yard maintenance, and our new “to do” is - we try to do something as a couple. Yea, running a small business with your partner is tough. You have to prioritize your relationship to help your business. I will talk about why we run our rescue like a business in a future post. Someone hold me accountable to that! :D
So Saturday’s Cam sleeps in. This is another part of our “relationship balance” things. While Cam’s catching Z’s…I hustle. Saturday morning I get the dogs out as early as possible, work with volunteers, and prepare for my meet and greets, bootcamps, or chores.
This morning, mid hustle. I was totally caught off guard. CUE ROBOT VOICE Something out of the ordinary happened. Something out of schedule, order, routine.
My flippin awesome mail man was at my door and wicked excited to see me and the dogs.
CUE ROBOT VOICE INTRUDER INTRUDER ABORT MISSION RETRACT DOG FROM LINE
My mail man loves dogs, bullies, and we have openly talked about the stereotypes with bully breeds.
Today he was standing outside of the door with two packages grinning ear to ear. I opened the door with Gemma, a wicked friendly dog, and I almost screamed. His bright face totally freaked me out and caught me off guard.
He was like “OH MY GOSH I AM SO SORRY TO SCARE YOU”!!!!!!
I was like …. “Its Okay!” (When I am overwhelmed - time stops and I actually start to evaluate the possible scenarios that could have happened. I thought back to when I was downstairs getting Gemma out of her crate, and I looked at Reuger. Reguer has been having stress accidents - and I was going to take Reuger out first to avoid him holding it for 15 minutes extra. But, Reuger has been doing so great with his stress accidents. So I said, I will go with Gemma. But in that moment of debate between dogs. I could of totally FORKED myself over. Reguer may have growled at the surprise mail man.)
Time resumed and I saw the mail man was petting and loving on Gemma.
Words finally came out of my mouth “I love that you love bully breeds. But, maybe you shouldn’t walk on my deck. I would be so upset if a dog accidentally growled, lunged, or bit you”.
He said : “PSHHHHH I grew up with 3 aggressive boxers. I have been bit before. I don’t care”.
Me: “AH, well I care. Things like this are so important to me.”
What I really mean, we are dealing with CONSTANT pressures from the State (Love you State of NH) , the Town, our neighbors, our community, other rescues, random people.
One wrong move and everything is on the line. Thats why I am seriously, no fun. I give parameters and rules to all my volunteers, visitors, and even people who interact with our property.
So, the conversation with the mail man kept going… rainbows and happiness. I said, “I was going to bring out a dog who isn’t friendly. Not aggressive. But, wouldn’t of done well with that.”
The mail man said : “That is okay, Dave and I we are the only post man and we get it.”
I said, “Okay, I know but. I may put up a sign. Maybe I will have you guys do drop offs at the barn.”
The mail man left and was so happy he just got loves from a beautiful dog named Gemma. And I am sitting here thanking the almighty powers that I took GEMMA out instead of REUGER.
Reuger would of been startled - he most likely would not of nipped but he would of caused a negative experience for the mail man.
Any negative experience associated with our rescue puts us at risk.
So, now I am researching signs and gates for the driveway and prepping a letter to our mail men.
In rescue we constantly have to be on the defense to protect the dogs we are working with.
