Reassuring him after a scaryloud truck went by the apartment.

This cat runs a 19th-century steel mill and is being flummoxed by a band of anthropomorphic cartoon mice.

AXEL UPDATE: Yesterday he drank water in my presence for thev first time -- I always have to leave the room before he'll eat and drink -- and he's getting very comfortable with my proximity on walks. Note the slack leash: I can get right next to him without a fuss, and that's new. ❤️🐺

Axel and I wish everyone a fantastic Friday and a great weekend! ❤️🐺 youtu.be/YAaVpVUgGfE?...

"Well I guess the look I'm best known for is Blue Steel..."

I'm getting a lot of attention from Axel these days -- ears up, focused on what I'm doing -- which has been getting him lots of praise and ear scratches.

We still have Axel's blanket from the shelter, and while he won't lie on anything but the floor now, I'm hoping that will change and we can get him a proper bed. In the meantime, Luna is shedding her own body weight in hair all over it. Even tangentially, cats will always claim a dog's bed.

Making Axel's chicken slop and this comes on my playlist. Ironic. youtu.be/Z9GbGO7CKdQ?...

Axel and I wish everyone the happiest possible Friday, and a great weekend! ❤️🐺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TWa...

Hello from morning walkies!

Coaxing Axel out of the bathroom is still a challenge, and while he constantly looks at me for reassurance, he's still skittish when I approach. That's probably the next big hurdle, and no one but him can decide when that will change. I keep encouraging and supporting him regardless.

Days are getting sunny again. It'll be blazing hot in a few months, so I'm trying to get as much outdoor time for him as possible until then.

AXEL UPDATE: We're working on the "sit" command, which only applies to walkies thus far, but has been pretty consistent for the last few days.

Happy First Contact Day, to those who celebrate! IYKYK. ❤️🖖 #StarTrek www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi5O...

Axel and I wish everyone a peaceful and fulfilling weekend. www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVcp...

He's getting lots of ear scratches these days, and has started looking forward to them.

Boo. ❤️

He hasn't pooped inside in four days. I think we're house trained.

Axel Fresno Bob, what did you do? (He didn't do anything. He just looks guilty as hell.)

AXEL UPDATE: The big tell with Axel's recovery is how much more often I'm getting these happy puppy looks. Ears up, sustainsed gaze, and he's no longer jumping when I come in to scratch him. Longer periods of time in the kitchen instead of the bathroom too.

AXEL UPDATE: Ready for his close-up.

Sad news. Bustopher Jones passed away peacefully in my arms last night after a sudden medical crash. For those of you who contributed to his GoFundMe, thank you all so much. The funds we raised covered his end-of-life care, and the rest will be set aside for future vet bills for the household. 💔

Axel and I wish everyone the happiest possible Friday and a fantastic weekend. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iobt...

AXEL UPDATE: Husky profile on a morning walk.

AXEL UPDATE, DAY 30: We're still in the midst of a spring heat wave, so we're getting as many walks in as we can early in the day before the heat hits. He's making progress on house training, but hasn't come back out into the rest of the apartment for a while.

AXEL UPDATE, DAY 29: Axel's food has reached its final form: one part "chicken slop" which is rice, oats, veggies, broth and rotisserie chicken pieces, poured over one part Purina Dog Chow. My sister swears by it. He's starting to ask for walks too, and I need to formally get housetraining going,

AXEL UPDATE: DAY 28 Sopmeone discovered a sunbeam yesterday afternoon.

AXEL UPDATE, DAY 27: After 24 hours in bed, I was feeling strong enough to take a very patient dog for a walk. He went to the kitchen instead of his regular spot in the bathroom afterwards and has been quietly cruising the rest of the apartment.

I'm fighting a bad flu bug and spending the day in bed. Axel was walked and fed this morning, and we'll have more updateds when I'm feeling better.

AXEL UPDATE, DAY 25: A pair of midnight walks for my midnight rider will hopefully keep us both inside today, while the worst of the heat wave passes us by.

Axel and I wish you all a very happy Friday, and the best possible weekend! www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wYr...

AXEL UPDATE, DAY 24: Temperatures are broiling, and I have developed a mild case of heat exhaustion over the past few days, so we're staying in until temperatures cool tonight. In the interim, Axel has spent a few hours outside of his bathrom in the kitchen. First time he's done that. ❤️🐺❤️

AXEL UPDATE, DAY 23: One week after he took off, Axel's GPS tracking system arrived. Many bells and whistles to ensure that a wayward pup doesn't go far. Still playing with some of them. Doggo's food issue is solved -- no Hills Science -- and he's letting me cuddle him after walkies. ❤️🐺❤️

AXEL UPDATE, DAY 23: Today, he did something he hasn't done before. He fell asleep in my presence. Since he arrived, his "spot" has been between my toilet and my tub. He won't leave except for walks. I'm taking baths these days (epsom salts), and he just drooped off in the middle of it. Progress.

AXEL UPDATE, DAY 22: We're being hit with an unprecedented heat wave this week, which means I'm taking especial care with walkies for the next few days. (A BIG early morning walk before the sun comes up, among other things.) www.desertsun.com/story/weathe...

AXEL UPDATE, DAY 21: He regrets nothing. ❤️🐺❤️

AXEL UPDATE: DAY 20. The nice lady with the coyote cage is offering a crate for Axel, so we might see if that helps him feel more safe and and at home in the apt. I'm getting some rice and oats into him amid the chicken, but he is actively eating his way around the kibble. Smart dog is smart.

AXEL UPDATE: DAY 19. He does NOT like going back into the apartment: he kind of turns back into Sad Shelter Dog after his walks. Eats and drinks with appetite, and is getting much better about me handling him, but is absolutely a different animal on his walks.

In addition to Jones the cat, I have two other felines: Blondie (the tan) and Luna (the B&W). Both are fit as a fiddle and have been absolute troopers in the middle of this. They're getting copious treats and scratches in reward.

DAYS 15-18: AXEL'S ESCAPE & SAFE RETURN The last three days – which I’m calling What Axel Did – started at the end of his morning walk in Wednesday. I made the mistake of taking him off his leash before I got the door closed and he scooted right out. 1/🧵

Happy Friday from a reunited Axel and Rob. youtu.be/O6Q40nZRRco?...

So Axel got out. For three days. He's home safe, and there is an epic tale for when I am less tired and don't smell like a pack of wolves. He is thinking about what he's done.

AXEL UPDATE, DAY 14: Food has advanced to a mix of chicken, rice, oats, and broth. He's still bonding with me, and he won't eat unless I'm out of the room, but every time I do, I'm greeted with a series of Cookie Monster noises as he devours his porridge. Kibble in any amount is still a challenge.

Update on Jones. RN we have JUST enough for his surgery, and we've set up monthly installments to (just) cover the rest. We could still use ANY contributtions to help offset the monthlies, but the cat will get what he needs. ❤️🐱 www.gofundme.com/f/relief-for... 1/🧵

AXEL UPDATE, DAY 13: He's peed out in the yard three times in a row now. We may have acheived a fragile housetraining. 🎉🐺 I did not take a picture.

AXEL UPDATE, DAY 12: More exploring of the teeny little apartment. This morning, he walked back and forth for about 15 minutes between outside and the front door before letting me put him on his leash. Getting him outside of his own accord is a big step forward.❤️🐺

AXEL UPDATE, DAY 11: Someone's figured out that the kitchen maybe isn't such a bad place to be. He won't eat or drink there, but he's definitely getting bolder about leaving the bathroom. PS: Thanks to everyone asking about Jonesy. I hope to have a firm update on Monday.

Giving this another boost. We're halfway to our goal, and every little bit helps! Thanks to everyone who has donated, boosted the signal, and sent good wishes to Axel's best frenemy Jones.

Axel and I wish everyone the happiest possible Friday and a fantastic weekend. Thank you all so much for your support and good energy! www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_Z1...

AXEL UPDATE, DAY 10: Mornings help.