Monday, January 21, 2013

Arizona can get COLD!

2002-12-08 12.00.00-7-1

Molly the Desert Dog on her morning walk.

We survived the Arizona deep freeze. For 5 nights we had overnight lows in the teens and one night our thermometer said 10 degrees!  Even though we wrapped our hose and ran a trickle of water, we would wakeup to no running water. One night we unhooked our hose, but the next morning we found the RV Park faucet had frozen. We always keep some water in our fresh water tank so it wasn’t a catastrophe. Prior to this the lowest temperature we had been in with either of our 5th wheels was 17 degrees.

Back in December the locals were saying “it is never this nice in December”; this month they have been saying “it never gets this cold in January”. The good news is we are back to the real Arizona with non stop sunny, clear days in the 70s.

Molly has now been with us 2 months and continues to be a sweetheart. We have been told by many people how lucky we were to get such a wonderful, sweet tempered dog as a rescue. If she had any issues about being a rescue she is over them. Molly has filled out and her coat has come in nicely, she now looks like the Diva she has become. Her crate has become her den. We leave it in the living room and open all of the time. When she decided she needs a nap she goes into the crate and curls up.

 She gets along with everyone she meets, person or dog. This RV Park has its own Dog Park and Molly loves being able to play with other dogs off leash.

The only information we had about Molly when we got her was that she became a rescue because she had run away from home so many times that the Animal Shelter told her owner that he needed to think about finding her a new home. That is when he surrendered Molly to the Animal Shelter. We have been extremely cautious about making sure she doesn’t slip out as we go in and out the door. However, Molly has never once bolted for the door and never tried to go out the door at any time. She has also always been responsive to our calls when playing in the Dog Park. So, after her being with us 6 weeks we where brave enough to let her off leash on the desert trails behind the RV Park. Now she could run with her big black Lab buddy, Hunter. We were very anxious but she always returned to us when called. Since then it has become a regular part of our day to take the desert trail to or from the Dog Park. Also she and I have made a number of exploring forays, just the two of us out exploring the desert around the RV Park. She has been eager to sniff and explore new areas, but also stays close enough to keep me in sight.

Since the weather turned nice we where all eager to get to see some new sights, so we went to the Ghost Town of Fairbank, Arizona. Fairbank was the railhead for Tombstone back in the silver mining days. It was also the location of the stamp mill that crushed the ore. We took the trail from the town to the old mill site and back with a few detours. We weren’t sure about leash laws in the area so we kept Molly her leash. Our walk turned out to be 4 miles, the longest walk we have had Molly on. She did great and saw as far as we know her first horses. Molly looked at them but didn’t move and didn’t bark. She was one tired puppy when we were done and slept the whole way home.

One tired puppy

One tired puppy.

I know what you are thinking: “So where are the pictures of Fairbank?”. It has been so long since we have used our cameras we forgot to bring any with us.

Molly and her "baby"

Molly and her "baby"

Molly LOVES her bell scracth position

Molly LOVES her bell scratch position

15 comments:

  1. So happy to hear Molly has fitted in so well with you folks. Warms my heart. And, so nice for all of you that she is able to run & play off leash while you are out walking. That just makes for one big happy family for sure. She's a good looker too & I especially liked that belly scratch photo:))

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOVE the pictures of Molly! It sounds like she has settled in nicely.... See you tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh I LOVE Molly! She reminds me of my yellow lab from years ago. Sounds like a great time she is having... and a good time you are having with her!

    ReplyDelete
  4. She is lookin wonderful. So glad she's settled in so nicely.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Molly looks like she has a pretty 'tough life'! so happy that she has adapted so well!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Awe we are all so happy for you and Molly! She sure is a pretty girl!
    Lovies, Miss Mindy and Mom

    ReplyDelete
  7. Molly looks SO happy! Keep the pics coming....we all love to see her!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a beautiful dog. Love the pictures. Congratulations on a match made in heaven.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Molly, you are one beauty! How we wish we could be in those warm temps with you. We go for long walks too. (Did you tell your pawrents that you are capable of even longer walkies?) Thanks for watching us grow up!!

    Keep Calm & Bark On,

    Murphy & Stanley

    ReplyDelete
  10. Molly is beautiful. You are so lucky to get a rescue that doesn't seem to have any problems. I'd bet it is your loving attention and kindness. Maybe there's a reason she kept running away from her previous owner, hmmmm...... Thanks for posting the pictures And glad it was finally warmed up there.

    Jo

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a nice update on the desert and Molly.
    In Molly's former life when she ran away I think she was looking for the purrfect home...which she has now FOUND!!
    Hugs madi and Mom

    ReplyDelete
  12. Molly is so cute and Arri is glad she made a friend while we are in Benson :).

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the photos of Molly....will have to stop by and say hello this weekend...

    ReplyDelete
  14. How do you get Molly to sit up like that? It almost looks like she is sleeping. Hilarious

    ReplyDelete
  15. Perhaps Molly was never that bonded with her first owner and that is why she ran off. All of you are together as a pack unit so much that she knows quite definitely that this is her family and where she belongs :-) Lovely to see her blossoming!

    ReplyDelete