Jet Lag and Culture Shock

They made it! Zoey and Lily arrived on Wednesday. Lily seemed to have come through the ordeal a little tired, but none the worse for wear. Zoey was a little shaken, but very glad to see us. We stopped just outside the airport and let them have a run around a large grassy field. Probably for the first time in 3 months. The photo on the left shows Lily after her spirited run. Alert. Seemingly content. Zoey is in the photo on the right. She just wanted to chase her Kong toy. Again and again. Just like old times. Tongue hanging out. I probably should have held back on the last few throws. But, she kept coming back and looking at me with those eyes that said "ett till" (once more).

As I write this on Day 4 of their arrival, it seems like much longer. In a good way. But, I do wonder what they make of all this. Neither had flown before. Neither has lived in the downtown part of a city with its hustle and bustle and strange sounds. Neither has lived in a building with an elevator; so many doors to pass through before they get home. How much did and will this move affect them?

Lily has come through the process relatively unscathed. The spiral stairs in the apartment presented a bit of an obstacle. Lily was extremely tentative especially on the very top and very bottom steps. TJ bought some rubber floor mats, cut them up and placed them on the stairs. Traction! Now, she motors up and down with relative ease; she is nearly 13 years old, after all. On the deck, there is a portion of the railing that is not covered with screening material. Initially, Lily did not want to venture close to that section. Perhaps her eyesight doesn't perceive the rails that well and all she sees is the vast openness beyond. Who's to say. We're still working on that one.

Zoey. The rescue puppy. Now, nearly 3 years old, she has just been through a series of stressful situations. And it shows. Loud noises now seem to scare Zoey. A lot. And trash cans. And statues. And, apparently, the horses painted on the inside of the parking garage. The elevator causes anxiety. She has growled at friends. Her response at times of greatest distress is to cower away with her tail between her legs and try to escape.

But, then, she can become the Zoey we left in Irvine. TJ and I both realize that the recovery process may take some time. All we can do is reassure her. And love her. I have confidence that she'll get the hang of things here. That things will become familiar. That routines will develop. It's only been 4 days. And if I can do it, so can she.