Thoughtful Words
Jake
Cindy:
I just wanted to drop you a note letting you know how much I LOVE Jake!!!! He is now called "Captain Jake" because he is the Captain of my house!!! He has brought so much joy to me since I traveled all the way to Duluth GA, to get him....and might I add that it was well worth the trip! I was so devastated when my other Bichon passed away two years ago this April. I found Jake online two weeks later, read his profile and just knew that he was the guy for me! I am thirty-eight, single and have no children and he has my utmost attention and love. Thank you so much for fostering him and allowing him to become a part of my family and the love of my life!
If I Didn't Have Animals. . .
If I didn't have animals. . .
I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.
My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.
All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of hair.
When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like a kennel.
When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading through fuzzy bodies who beat me there.
I could sit on the couch and my bed the way I wanted, without taking into consideration how much space several
fur bodies would need to get comfortable.
I would not have strange presents under my Christmas tree -- dog bones, stuffed animals, toys, treats nor would I
have to explain to people why I wrap them.
I would have money . . . and no guilt to go on a real vacation.
I would not be on a first-name basis with 6 veterinarians, as I put their yet unborn grand kids through college.
The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: out, sit, down, come, no, stay, and leave him/her/it ALONE.
My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates or barriers.
My house would not look like a day care center, toys everywhere.
My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and an extra leash.
I would no longer have to Spell the words B-A-L-L, F-R-I-S-B-E-E, W-A-L-K, T-R-E-A-T, B-I-K-E or C-A-R.
I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as outside.
I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE dog/cat ties them down too much.
I'd look forward to spring and the rainy season instead of dreading "mud" season.
I would not have to answer the question "Why do you have so many animals?" from people who will never have the
joy in their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by someone as close to an angel as they will ever get .
How empty my life would be.
The Love of My Life
I just gotta tell you about the love of my life!
Chloe is approximately eight years old, a 17 pound Chihuahua / terrier mix, white with tan markings. She may be short of stature, but high of spirit! We have been together since February of 2006. Cindy of Cindy's K-9 Angels, tells me Chloe was picked up, running loose, by Animal Control in North Georgia. She went to a kill shelter where she was on death row. Cindy saw her on-line and told the shelter, in no uncertain terms, "Don't you hurt that baby! I will be right there!"
At Cindy's, Chloe was nursed back to health after much care. She needed to be de wormed, vaccinated, treated for heart worm, not once, not twice, but three times! When all that was accomplished she was spayed. It was obvious she had birthed many litters, so I'll bet she was relieved not to have to bother with that anymore. And then there was her mouth! Oh, boy! That mouth! There was a stick driven through a tooth and right up into the roof of her mouth. How that happened, nobody knows. Once that was removed she was much more kissable, but was left with a defect in her mouth that created an opening between her oral cavity and her sinus cavity. Now when she drinks water, she has to sneeze out the water that splashes up into her nose. The only food that doesn't get stuck in her hole, and choke her, is bigger than the defect, and not apt to crumble into small pieces. It is obvious that she has chewed many a bone, because her front teeth are worn down to the nub.
Cindy says that in spite of all her troubles, Chloe was always a loving, welcoming dog, who just loved to say "hi" and give kisses. And that was how she was when we met. Of course, I fell in love with her immediately! It took awhile to convince the rest of my family that I didn't care how many defects she had, I wanted her! It was love at first sight for "my doggie and me".
We learned together how to walk on a leash, how to go up and down stairs, how to not be afraid to enter an elevator, how to signal a need to go potty outdoors, how to be comfortable and safe in her cozy "cave", ( i.e. her crate), how to not chase the relative's cats, etc, etc. We are still working on how not to bark in the apartment when left alone for brief periods of time.
A person wouldn't say that Chloe is obedience trained, exactly, even tho she IS very obedient. When I would see her doing a natural behavior, I would give her the word for it. In that way she has learned a lot of "commands". I can talk to her like she is Lassie and expect her to understand a lot of what I say to her. I know, I know, that does stretch belief a bit, but it's true! Of course, maybe my vocabulary is a bit limited! Ha Ha!
We are a laid back, senior, retired family, Chloe and I. We are mellow and watch the insides of our eyelids a lot, but boy-oh-boy, when we want to go out, we walk and walk and walk! We entertain the neighborhood cats. Chloe will run out to the very end of her expandable leash, growling and barking, but the cats know just how long that leash is, and sit just out of reach and laugh, "Ya Ya, you can't get me!" At least, Chloe has done her duty by her terrier heritage.
Chloe is such a people "person" that we started to walk in the strip mall just so she could see and greet the maximum number of people. She lowers her head and ears, wags her tail and her whole back end furiously, and runs up to most people, but especially children. She just loves children. I'm thinking, when I analyze her history, that maybe she was raised by a benevolent, even though neglectful, family that had children. She shows no sign that she was ever treated badly, just not cared for the way we think she should have been cared for. In my heart of hearts, when I see her become alert to the sight or sound of children, even way across the parking lot, that maybe she is still looking for "her" children. Who knows? Chloe is very afraid of big, noisy trucks, and shies away from them, vigorously. I have to soothe her by showing her that I am not afraid and that she will be all right. It makes me wonder if she was ever in an accident.
My doctor is very pleased that I have a dog. In the year she and I have been together, I have lost 40 pounds and improved all my numbers at the doctor's office, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. etc. The walking has improved the muscle tone in my legs, and Chloe's legs, too. I just love walking behind her and seeing her thigh muscles flexing as she trots along, head high, ears flying and a smile on her face.
If you need love in your life, get a dog. If you need a purpose in your life, get a dog. If you need to improve your health, get a dog. There are plenty of them out there that would love to be of that kind of service to you. You are saving their life, and who knows, maybe your own.
