Sorry for the long wait on an update but things just got crazy after the bite. So we contacted an animal communicator and I have to say it was an incredibly positive experience for me. I know some people think its a lot of voodoo mumbo jumbo and I was once one of those people too, but I have to say things have only gotten better since then. In addition she knew things she couldn't have possibly known unless she'd "spoken" with Chingu, it was spooky.
So anyways she basically just confirmed all the things the vet said (she had all this info typed out and knew nothing about the vet visit) and while Chingu is resistant to the idea of being an old man he's not resistant to the idea of dementia. I think its a little funny he wont embrace being called an old man, but he's tough like that.
She also mentioned at the time that he was very concerned that he was a burden to me and he sensed a big change was coming up career wise and that another move might be in the works. He didn't want to be a burden to me and while he didn't feel it was his time he was willing to move on.
This really shocked me. At the time there was a possible move to Texas and I was concerned about being able to find a good vet and a trainer who would work with us, but I was only concerned in the sense that I want to provide these things for him and I worry about the stress of the move on him, not that he's a burden. That made me so sad he'd think that. So I of course had her explain that I was just worried about finding these things for him, but a move would mean our own house and a big backyard for him.
This exchange alone I feel like has made us both feel better. Its hard to tell, Chingu is so sensitive to my feelings and he always has been. Even when he's being bratty he'll still take a moment out to make sure I'm ok. In Korea sometimes I'd get so stressed out and he'd be going crazy over squirrels on our walks and almost dislocating my arm but he'd always take a moment, rest his head on my knee until I calmed down, and then go back to doing what he wanted. So maybe its just that I feel better he feels better.
Anyways I wont share everything the animal communicator said but basically just that its not his time yet, but he does get confused and at the time of the bite he said he knew it was me but also someone else who was scarier. He also said sometimes he's scared of himself and he knows that I love him but sometimes its hard to remember.
He mentioned that he had another owner, a man who he tried to help be a better person but was unable to succeed and he was OK with that. Then he said he found me and we helped each other and that I saved his life. He said that with me he had the life he'd always wanted and he felt he'd been incarnated specifically to live his life with me. That the move to America had been hard but it was right for the both of us.
So people can believe what they want about animal communicators or animal psychics and I'm sure there are quacks out there, but I would say if you're at the end of your rope with an animal its an option worth exploring. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it or if I'd believe it but for me personally the experience felt authentic and at the end of the day thats all that matters. If nothing else its seemed to improve the communication between Chingu and I and strengthened our bond.
Either way the vet is pretty sure he's got some sort of degenerative neurological disorder. We put him on prozac which is helping but his coordination has started to go and he gets lost sometimes. Its hard to watch and in many ways its so unfair. He's worked so hard and had such a tough road. It sucks that now he's finally getting to a safe place he's losing control over his mind.
I know that eventually he'll be to unsafe to keep and Chingu said he knows he might be too far gone to know when that is, but he trusts me to make that decision. Now that I'm aware of his problems though I can be sensitive to whats going on and I think we have more time left but I'm not sure how much time that is. I'm just going to try and ensure that whatever amount we have left we make the most of it.
But back to the move part. Right after this I got a call from Texas asking for an interview and just boom, boom, boom I got the job. Its funny because I applied for this back in April and it all moved so slow, but once this one big worry was resolved it all worked out. The move will be hard but its whats right for us. Chingu and I will have our own space again but this time he'll have a big yard. I'm not sure we can find a trainer but maybe he's put in his time. He's to a point now where I can continue without a trainer and I know I can always call Gina for help. So for now my little Jindo who could will continue to chug along as we move to Texas.
