I was holding off posting on the return of neighborhood Chihuahua Bugzy, hoping to get a shot of the little camera hound. But, being that summer leaves me without a camera-friendly jacket pocket, and so no camera, I've missed some great picture opportunities. I am going with the update sans photo.

Bugzy was soon located at the 110th Street animal shelter after his great escape from the Lenox Ave Halstead office. This should have ended right then and there with sighs of relief all around, much face licking on the part of the pooch, and maybe a non-recalled treat when he arrived home. However, given that Animal Care and Control has a policy whereby animals only leave once spayed or neutered, little Bugzy was facing the knife.

Danni, Bugzy's human, was going to have none of that.

Bugzy came into Danni's life as a rescue dog with a sad background. The pup had been a victim of abuse and neglect. You could never tell it now, given his energy and excitement in meeting new people. I take that as a testament to the kind of mothering care Danni gives Bugzy. So, given all that Bugzy had gone thru, she wasn't about to see him get his balls cut off at his age. (Danni, men everywhere are quietly thanking you.)

Don't get me wrong. We, including Danni, all know that in the grand scheme spaying and neutering are the right things to do. Any stroll thru an animal shelter will provide all the sad-eyed proof one needs. However, this was not about the universe as a whole, this was about the little dog under Danni's care, and she would do what she had to do to protect him. Even if that meant, as she warned in one email, she might go to jail.

In the end, Bugzy was neutered, and Danni stayed clear of the slammer.

I ran into Danni and Bugzy on the street shortly after his surgery. The small dog walked over to me, slowly stood up on his hind legs, and hugged my kneecap. He didn't jump around, or really even pant, but simply stayed where he was with his head resting against my leg. I tried to reassure him the best that I could.

I told Cheryl all about it, and we ran into the two of them that same evening. This time, Bugzy didn't hug me, but stood in the middle of the sidewalk with his front legs somewhat apart, and threw up all over. Danni said that it may have been his nerves, or a bad reaction to the medication he was taking for the kennel cough he developed while in the pound.

As of now, Bugzy is on the road back to becoming his normal self.