Morgan Unleashed?

He came as a foster dog, timid and scared. He and his brother had wandered in the Carolinas for several months. My father was in the kitchen, far away from him, worrying that he had been growled at. He had growled and barked at me too as I entered the apartment. It was very disconcerting.

He now hid, cowering, under the hallway window seat, with his golden eyes on me. I spoke to him softly.

“You’re probably feeling confused about what’s happening, aren’t you? That’s okay. I would feel that way too.”

I kept talking to him. Over the coarse of forty-five minutes, he slowly got closer. He seemed to know I wasn’t going to force him to do anything.

Over the next few days he warmed up. He was always excited for dinner time - that has never changed, his internal clock just knows when mealtime is - he’d peed on the hallway and living room oriental rugs, and mom was ready to send him back! I convinced her that he was just feeling fear and anxiety, and that would all go away.

The first time it happened was a surprise. My sister and I were walking Morgan together. His collar was on loosely. He stopped to poop under a bush. He likes to poop in places that make it awkward to pick up after him. As he did his business, a branch he leaned against grabbed his collar, and as he came out of the bush, the collar stayed, hanging on the bush. At first Morgan didn’t know it, but I made a lunge for him… wrong move, which set him in motion.

He darted away, further down the path and close to a patch of leaves. He still loves the smell of fall leaves. Maybe it was the acidity of them… my sister followed him with the collar, and slipped it over his head, with ease.

Morgan became a master at getting out of his collar. One day he slipped out of it near the water’s edge. When he realized he was free, he dashed into the pond, swam a little bit, had a sip, swam a little more, then stepped out, shook, and began to trot up the bank. I lit into him to come. He immediately did, sitting down, so I could put his collar on again.

Several months later mom and dad went away. They left Morgan with a friend who lives near a large reservation, and I went up to visit and to retrieve him. It had just snowed. We decided to take him for an afternoon walk. As we got to the park, she released him from his leash! I wasn’t sure about this choice of action, and as soon as the leash came off, he dashed away! He had exploring to do! He crashed through some reeds and into some muddy water, dashed this way and that, came back to keep his eye on us, then ran off again. He’d stop to roll in the snow, or eat it. Each time he went a little further, but he always returned. Finally, he disappeared! When I realized it, we stopped and called him… no Morgan. We called him again… no Morgan. We called a few more times, then we doubled back to find him.

When we came upon him, he was face to face with a fox! They were both frozen in their tracks. The fox knew not to run. Morgan was completely interested but didn’t exactly know what to do. I guess he didn’t want to run either. So, the standoff stood.

As we approached, the fox slinked away, so as not to become lunch or a pelt. Morgan turned, saw us, and let us put his collar on with ease!

It was then that I knew he had chosen us. He wanted to stay. He were his humans!

Today’s the day I get to play

I get to play, I get to play,

Today’s the day I get to play

I get to play with Morgan

Morgan is a super sweet dog,

Super sweet dog, super sweet dog,

Morgan is a super sweet dog,

If you are his family

Morgan’s also pretty smart,

He will play ball, do tricks, and dart,

Morgan’s also pretty smart,

He does anything for cheese

His favorite eats are cheese and beef treats,

Cheese and beef treats, cheese and beef treats,

His favorite eats are cheese and beef treats,

His favorite food is pizza

Morgan will inspect the park,

Inspect the park, until it's dark,

Morgan will inspect the park,

He’ll come back when he’s ready

Morgan prefers to trot around,

Following his nose, for he’s part hound,

Morgan prefers to trot around,

He glows in morning sunlight

Morgan loves his teeth to be brushed,

Coat to be brushed, face to be smushed,

Morgan loves his teeth to be brushed,

He tolerates a cuddle

Morgan he is curious,

Barks at neighbors making me furious,

Morgan he is curious,

He’ll lunge at smaller animals

Morgan he has golden eyes,

Charming all the passersby

Morgan he has golden eyes,

He’s such an awesome doggie!