I taught my writing class today, and then stopped off at the Burger Den to have some lunch with Maria and our friend Jackie Thorne, the poet. On an impulse, I ordered a small piece of meatloaf, perfect for a cold and rainy day. It hit me as I ate that this might be the perfect meal to tempt Red to eat.

I had my meatloaf with no gravy or potato or bread, just some coleslaw.

But I ordered a meatloaf with gravy to go and brought it home for Red. It had a very distinct smell. I warmed it up, put in some cheese and put it into Red’s food bowl. Red refused any and all food this morning the chickens have had a lot of beef and cheese in the last few days.

I was alarmed about the food, he hasn’t eaten much in days. He needed some solid food to fight off the infections ravaging his body. And I’d been through sweet potato, ground sirloin, ten kinds of baby food and many other failed ideas.

Red sniffed the bowl, circled around a bit and then delighted me by eating it, slowly, at first, and then hungrily. He ate every bit of it. I was so excited I called the Burger Den and ordered another meatloaf sandwich. When I got home, I found they had messed up the orders and given me a meatball parmesan sandwich with potato chips.

I was going to return it, but then thought better of it. The smell seed right for a a dog, even a distractable border collie. They would all rather work than eat.

Red ate most of that, also. Maria just made her own meatloaf with gravy and we’ll try that out for dinner. I told I doubt she can make meatloaf as smelly and cheesy as the one Red was loving.

This was the most food Red has eaten in over a week, it may be a sign that the antibiotics are working. I want to be cautious, it has been up and down. This is surely an up.

I hope this was aBut this was a big up and hopefully a start on the pathway to real healing. Keeping my fuigers crossed.