Captain's Phlog                                             2020.01.12
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Its August 2018. My wife's acquaintance knew this guy. He was recently
divorced and made the mistake of drinking & driving one night. Dumb
shit - Victimless crime. But this is 'Murica after all and somebody's 
gotta pay.  Month in jail. Guys landlord tells him he'll hold his
apartment and even watch his dog. Week later, landlord gets sick of
watching the dog. Dog gets left out unleashed and is picked up at the
next house by the dog warden. Dogs in the pound, guy's in county
lock-up, landlord won't go claim him. My wife gets a call from her
acquaintance saying that none of his friends or relatives wants to
spring the dog and the pound is gonna send him to a new forever home
if we dont help. She lives in an apartment by the way and cant take
the dog. Okay.

So we agree. We know its only for a month but are fully aware of the
fact that the situation was fluid and we might wind up with a new dog -
maybe even a really bad dog. The dog comes home with us and gets
acquainted with our mutt over the next couple of days. A month passes
and he's out of lockup. By this point the landlord had rented his place
to someone else and he's living with my wife's acquaintance where dogs
aren't allowed.  Weeks go past. Months go past. He never asks to visit
his dog. The same dog we were told was his "only friend in the world".

Nine months after his incarceration, he asks to take the dog for a
weekend. This being the first time hes seen the dog since going to
jail. Five more months, and the two of them move into a new apartment.
They picked a place where the owner says no dogs - is SCARED of dogs
actually. When we ask, they claim they're trying to pursuade him. 

By now, despite my best efforts, I have a deep affection for this big
furry lummox.  After I year of no interest in his "only friend" I start
thinking this is the new normal. He has mastered his routine and is a
member of our team through and through. Hes only seen his person once
in a year and a half. His person never once tried to find an apartment
that would allow him to live with his pal. Instead he shacked up in a
place that didnt allow dogs then RENTED a place where the owner didnt
want a dog. What does any of this say?

Two days ago my wife gets a call. "The landlord says we can bring the
dog for a visit". Only, when my wife gets there today the story
changes: "The landlord says the dog can stay... I didnt WAN'T to care
for the big oaf. I just cant feel anything but used in all this. They
say, If he doesnt seem like he's adjusting, we'll send him back and
you can keep him then. Sorry, what the fuck? How does this show you
care for him?

From the beginning this was only a tiny bit about the guy for me. YES,
I'm powerfully opposed to our so called "Justice" system - which is
really all about bias depending on who you are - and revenge. I wanted
to make sure the dog had some stability. For this guy, I have NO idea
what it's about. I can't say anything. I can't call him on this. If I
piss him off and he has to turn around ang give up the dog, I'm
certain he'd make some poor alternative placement for the l'il guy. Im
sure of it. So I have to be nice & polite for the dogs sake. My wife
and I REALLY feel used, but we'll tough it out, for the pup.

I'll append notes of any further developments.  -Tim