Rufus has a best buddy~Mr. Ball

Rufus has a best buddy~Mr. Ball. 

    Mr. Ball is his constant companion.
   
When Rufus gets overheated by playing outside with Mr. Ball—not only does he come in to cool off and get a nice cold drink, he also brings with him, Mr. Ball, and puts him in the water dish so that he can also cool down!

     Rufus is very considerate of Mr. Ball in that way, however, he also throws Mr. Ball under the bus (literally) to get attention.
    
     Among humans this syndrome is medically referred to as
Munchausen by proxy. That is the perpetrator (Rufus) feels satisfied by gaining the attention and sympathy of (his grand-parents, mom, aunt & uncle) by creating scenarios where Mr. Ball is in dire need of help.
    
     Proof of Rufus having Munchausen by proxy syndrome are the following but not exhaustive examples of his MBPS:

After looking around to assure himself that we are not observing him—he will drop Mr. Ball into the fountain and then begins barking loudly and incessantly to alert us that Mr. Ball is drowning and needs rescued!
Or he will maneuver Mr. Ball between the plexi-glass gate and the deck railings and once again demands our attention with earsplitting barks to communicate to us that Mr. Ball has been imprisoned and needs bailed out.

His latest tactic is to drop Mr. Ball off of the deck and then bark
like a siren making a loud prolonged warning sound that Mr. Ball jumped off the deck in an attempt of suicide, when in actuality—Rufus pushed him over the edge…to the rocks below.

Rufus expresses much happiness each time Mr. Ball is rescued…but his euphoria is short lived..in that --as soon as our backs are turned he is planning or executing the next demise for Mr. Ball.

Why is Rufus so desperate for attention….at the expense and harm of his buddy, Mr. Ball?

Is it that his father abandoned him as a pup (while he was deployed to Iraq)?
Or that his mother neglects him by day (while she is at the Dance Studio teaching dance)?

The answer maybe only lies with a dog-whisperer.

So, until we can schedule therapy or an exorcism for Rufus….
we will encourage Mr. Ball to take out a restraining order against Rufus

…and place Mr. Ball into protective custody.