I had no idea that mother’s dog, Rex, was this cute. I also had no idea that he was trained so well. The circumstances around his arrival at my mother’s house were questionable, and through all the chaos that was in my mother’s home, there was no way to see that he was so well behaved, or listened to commands given so well. Through the years, other dogs that came before him had many accidents in the house, which led to un-neutered Rex marking wherever he could, inside the house. Mom had a big backyard that was fenced in, so he would just be let out back with the other dogs rather than taken for walks on a leash. When he was taken in the car, it was for one thing only; his yearly free rabies shot from the town, where my mother would bring every animal she needed to register with her. In the end, it was only Rex, Wesson, who is another, bigger dog, and Whiskers, the cat who needed to go, but that was always an adventure. Well, it turns out, if you walk him regularly on a leash, letting him sniff and mark all up and down the block or in a park, then he doesn’t feel the need to go in the house (the van). He’s actually really considerate and doesn’t really bother me to go out at all since I bring him out regularly. He walks really well on a leash, so well that I know he was trained for it. He’s a good boy, but even good boys need leash training, and his kicked right in. He’s also a really good traveling buddy, now that I got him a doggie seat belt. He was good without it, but I was helping him hold steady if we went around turns, or if I was coming up to a stop light. With the seat belt, I don’t have to worry so much. He still has to get used to the limited movement it gives him, but he’s a good boy and I have no doubt that he’ll get the hang of it quickly (I’ve only had it 2 days now). He’s also really good with listening to commands. He’s had little to no instruction these past (how long is it now? has to be over) 10 years, so when I tell him to “stay” or “wait” when I’m getting out of the van and he listens, I am shocked every time. Right now, I have him sleeping next to me, my sliding door is open for the cool breeze, and his leash is loose. I have no fear of him getting out or running away. He’s not looking to go anywhere.

And honestly? I’m not looking that hard to get a new home for him. I have been on the see-saw about it, actually. My brother brings him to his shop every day, and I take him afterward, where he sleeps with me at night. My brother says that his bosses and co-workers don’t mind at all and welcome his company. Rex definitely “comes home” to me at night smelling like a garage, which isn’t ideal for me or for him. I’ve taken to bringing him to one of those self serve dog washes near my mother’s house, at the end of the week, where he actually seems to enjoy the care and grooming, getting right into the tub and not trying to get away at all while I wash away the grime and oil from the the week at the shop. I’ve clipped his long overgrown nails, and he let me do it with no trouble. I’ve even bought special shampoo to use on him rather than use the generic watered-down stuff offered for free. I’m going into work later in the mornings and leaving a little early every day, and I’ve also cut down on my break times so that I can do so without repercussions. I had actually gotten to the point where I stopped looking for a home altogether.

But it’s June now, and the summer is just starting to heat up. We’ve had a couple of 80-degree weather days, which brought the temperature in the van into the 90s. Not good. People who have pets in their van life usually travel and chase the nice weather around the country. At the moment, I am stationary, and that’s not good for Rex. I don’t mind being uncomfortable, trying to sleep in 90 degrees, but I don’t want to cause him any unnecessary distress. Rex needs to be taken really good care of, and I’m not sure I am the one who can be that person. Only because I’m stationary, of course. I would be north visiting family in New Hampshire if I had a mobile job, and I would chase the nice weather for Rex if I could. For now, I’m using the water bottle I spray myself with to keep him cool, parking in the shade when I can, and taking advantage of his good behavior to leave the door open for the breeze when it wants to grace us with its presence. My brother has been jokingly offering Rex to customers he knows, “Free dog when you get your _ fixed!” He’ll fill in the blank with whatever it is that they are getting repaired; lawnmower, weed whip, etc. He told me how one guy was commenting on how well behaved he is and said, “Do you really want to get rid of him?” No, no, we don’t want to “get rid” of him. Without explaining the whole story, my brother told him how we have a need to “rehome” him. Not get rid of him.

I wish I could keep him, and I am planning on taking the best care of him that I possibly can while he is with me, but he needs a home, a family, and decent shelter that keeps him comfortable. He seems comfortable enough with me right now, but I don’t know what July or August are going to bring. Last year, we had 2 weeks that were triple digits, and while I can struggle and work it, I can’t bring anyone else into that hell, especially an animal that can’t express what they are feeling to me, one that is covered in fur. I try to live in the moment, but I do recognize the need to plan for things, and the heat with Rex is one of them. I’m not one to borrow trouble, and worry over things I can’t control, but having Rex in the van with me over the hot summer IS something that I can control, and I need to think about his comfort over my feelings for him. Yes, I have completely and totally fallen in love with him. It feels like the Moody Blues song, Knights in White Satin. “Beauty, I’d always missed with these eyes before…. and I love you! Oh, how I love you!” The dopamine rush I get from his love eyes when he’s beaming his adoration at me!? I just can’t!! He is SO CUTE! Not to mention that he is the perfect size to live in my van with me permanently, and a great co-pilot, and a chill companion who doesn’t seem to bark (my brother thinks he may be part Basenji breed). I wish I could keep him. I will for as long as I can, as long as I need to. I will always love him. He has a piece of my heart now, baby! (Janis Joplin reference) He needs a good permanent home, though. One that’s air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter. Rex and I are good for now, but I’m still on the lookout.