It’s been 2 years since our dear Kuma passed away. I was thinking for a while that this summer would probably be a good time for welcoming our second dog who would be Kafka’s little sister. I found Lulu (originally Luro) on Facebook. She was an abandoned dog rescued in Taiwan, looking to be adopted. After contacting the rescue association and being scrutinized for suitability, I was finally told her arrival date and time. Neil and I went to pick her up at the Vancouver International Airport. There were three other dogs of similar circumstances arriving from Taiwan on the same flight. After a long long journey from southern Taiwan, Lulu finally arrived at our home. She is a relatively small cute-faced Formosan Mountain mutt dog mutt. Having been a street dog in Taiwan, she reminds me of stray dogs I used to see all the time when I was growing up on streets of towns and villages in Japan. When I think of it, I never see those mutt stray dogs on streets any more. Where did they all go? They must have been captured and destroyed….?

Lulu is extremely timid. She is scared of everything. Strangely she was scared of stairs in the house. She was puzzled and frozen, no going up or down, so that means, no going out the door or following me to the bedroom. I had to carry her in my arms every time I wanted her to use the stairs. Inconveniently, she was/still is always frightened to be carried….. so what can I do? However, on the third day, she decided to try, got her courage up, tried to put her foot on the first step. And…. she found how easy it was. I could see she gained a big confidence. In no time, she was running up and down like a bird, faster than anybody else, skipping over 2-3 steps at a time.

Then, another hurdle was getting in and out the car when going for walking. She was super frightened to jump in and out the car. One day, Kafka jumped off like he always does, and Lulu just followed him without thinking. Wow! She was surprised at herself!! And so was I. Then, it just became a routine and she is like a deer now. She is scared of men, especially when they are running or holding something long. She would cry and freeze. She might have had some fearful experience like being chased by somebody with a stick…. However, by the third week, she seems to have overcame that fear. She will not get frozen, at least, while walking. She is still fearful of strangers, especially men, though.

Lulu is with us for three weeks now. The girl who was too scared to eat anything when somebody was near her, now begs Neil for more food. The girl who was so scared of the big and tall Neil, now runs to him when called. She now sleeps her belly up, so relaxed. She loves long walks, not scared of walking unleashed any more… Although difficult at times, we are getting opportunities to practice our patience. One day at a time, little by little, she is becoming to be our baby girl…

クマが亡くなって２年、そろそろ２匹めの犬を迎えたいなと思っていた矢先、フェイスブックでルルを見つけた。台湾で保護された捨て犬で里親探しのページに載ってた雌犬だ。早速保護団体に連絡を取って審査を受け、ルルを迎えることになった。ルルが台湾から到着する日時を知らされ、飛行場に迎えに行く。その日は同じ飛行機で同じような境遇の３匹の犬が到着。長い長い空の旅を経てルルは台湾南部から我が家にやってきた。可愛い顔をした小さな犬だ。台湾のストリートドッグで昔々私が子供の頃日本の街角にもよくいた雑種の捨て犬に似ていなくもない。もう日本に行ってもそんな雑種の捨て犬なんてどこにもいないように思う。日本の雑種はどうしちゃったんだろう。みんな捕獲されて殺されちゃったのかな。

ルルは大変な怖がりだ。何を見ても何の音を聞いても怯えている。まず、家の階段が怖くて外にも出られないし、寝室にもいけない。いちいち私が抱っこで運ぶ羽目に。抱っこされるのも怖いからどうしようもない。でも3日目頃から恐る恐る階段の上り下りを自分から試してみるようになった。すると、みるみるうちに自信をつけてあっという間にまるで鳥が飛ぶように２−３段飛ばしで登ったり降りたりするようになった。

次は車の乗り降り。そして散歩。おっかなびっくりで車に乗るのも降りるのも怖がってたルル。ある日いつものようにぴょんと飛び降りたカフカに続いて、何気なくつられて飛び降りたルル、ルル自身もそして私もびっくり。あれ？それからはなんの躊躇もなく鹿のようにスイっと飛び降り飛び乗る。男の人が怖い。特に走っている人、長いものを持っている人が怖くて時には悲鳴をあげて凍ってしまう。よほど怖い思いをしたことがあるのかな。棒を持ってる誰かに走って追いかけられたとか。。でも３週間目くらいから、散歩中に凍ることはなくなった。知らない男の人はまだ怖いけど。

３週間がたとうとしている今、怖くてご飯も食べれなかったルルがご飯を催促するようになり、怖かったニールにも呼ばれると走って行くようになり、お腹を出してひっくり返って無防備に寝るようになり、お散歩大好き、繋がれていなくても平気になり、すっかりうちの子供になりつつある。まだまだ大変なこともあるけど、ガマンガマン、1日1日一歩ずつ進歩してうちの子になりつつあるルル。愛おしい可愛い子！