Yep. Thats right! Its طازج (ta za h) . That’s my name and don’t wear it out.
Ok.. so I finally decided on a name for my dog. I figure no one else I know is going to have a dog named fresh in Arabic. Well no one else I know except one friend – has a dog who is Muslim. طازج fits because she is spunky and highly energetic- always fresh and ready to go.
I was wondering what my mom was thinking with getting a new dog when I got the voice mail on my phone on Friday.
My phone never blows up like that – unless it’s an emergency – other than that I am lucky if I get a single call in a week. Guess its good for the phone bill – never went over the family plan minutes.
I think my mom knew what a sucker I am for animals – let me say not all animals – just some animals specifically dogs, horses and hedgehogs more than others. Something small, soft, furry, vulnerable and with big eyes – how was I supposed to resist that?!
I had practical worries – like if I end up going into the Peace Corps.. I don’t want to give طازج away. I think that would be a pretty shameful thing to do after I rescued her, bonded and now am taking care of her. So it was good to know my mom and her partner said they would care for her while I was away. Then I was asked by my friends – what would I do if I get married with طازج ? – Love me – Love my dog – is the answer.
As for moving or traveling abroad permanently – I guess I will cross that bridge when I get to it.
I have been living with dogs since before I became a Muslim and I have figured out how to maintain a clean place to pray – while sharing that space with dogs – Alhumdualillah Poodles don’t shed – So no hair issues.
طازج is already settling in and making friends with Kirby – who I caught sharing a dog bed with her. Right before she tried to invite herself along to the Prison Dawah Dinner and Taleef by scurrying out the front door before I could close it behind me.
It’s really nice to have someone who is excited to see me and has her tail wagging a mile a minute – every time she sees me come home. The past two days she hasn’t been feeling so well because we switched her to a different food – before we put her on the raw diet.
So I have been up with her at 3am – 6am – 8am making sure she goes out and does her business and vomits outside if I can help it – which so far – only one accident. She is a trooper. Although she isn’t going to like going to see Dr. Han tomorrow – our vet – who will give her the once over and then from there – if she hasn’t been spayed – get spayed, microchipped and her teeth cleaned sometime this week.
She also alternated between barking and whining for almost two hours, when I crated her last night after the 3 am potty break – where she was sick again. She was angry because I decided she needs to be crate trained and that she couldn’t sleep at on the bed – because I really don’t want to clean up a mess from a sick dog on my bed. I ignored it because she needs to know – who is Alpha and how to stay in a crate for when I move and get a place of my own and I am working.
My cousin thought, “Oh its cruel to crate your dog,” that was until she had to pay for the damage her dog did to her apartment. Over $2000 worth of damage from chewed base boards to tile ripped off the kitchen floor – never mind the stained carpet.
That’s not happening to me.
Also I am going to have to do some shopping – since she is so tiny- we don’t have any dog coats that fit her and with her recent hair cut or should I call it butchering? She is colder than normal. So a new coat or two is in order. I will also be working on obedience training as I refuse to have a dog that doesn’t obey basic commands.
My mom already got her a new collar – now all she needs is some bling to fit in with the rest of the Poodle Pod.
So طازج is here and going to stay.
American Muslimahs Musings 