Earlier in the year, my wife and kids got me a new boxer pup. They knew how bad it hit me about the dog we lost last year, one that would have taken a bullet for me and was very, very protective of me. When we lost him to cancer at the age of 11, I was devastated, especially with my health issues. He wasn't trained to do this, but that dog would pick up items I dropped, without being told to. Wherever I went, he was right by my side.

Anyway, they bought this boxer for me, and he's become a great companion, even at the tender age of 10 months. He stays with me anytime I move about the house, follows me from room to room, paying close attention to me. He's got the same coloring, attitude, mannerisms, etc of my beloved Slider. He's so much like Slider, that not only does he share a second name, his nickname is Deuce.

So, yesterday he comes to let me know that he's got to go outside to water the grounds. I opened the door to let him out, and spotted danger just as he made it outside of my reach. A skunk. A black and white polecat was in the yard, out by the tire garden, eating some of our food. That darned dog took off running after the skunk, and wouldn't stop when I gave him the command. As soon as the word "Heel" came out of my mouth, the dog was sprayed. Not just a glancing spray, but a soaking, high pressure type of spray. It knocked the pup back a bit...being sprayed in the face will do that.

So, he's been outside all night long, whimpering, barking, and crying, wanting to come back in. I've sat outside with him most of the night...up wind from him, of course, trying to let him know that it's going to be ok, and that we'll get him properly bathed when the sun comes up.

Before going to bed, my wife and kids gave him a bath in tomato juice, using nearly 2 gallons of the stuff, then a regular shampoo wash and rinsed him off.

I don't think the dog grooming place is going to be too happy with us in the morning. We plan on being there when the place opens...standing upwind from my pup.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles