An Irish Rescue
Annie was the middle aged Irish girl I rescued from a Md. shelter a few
weeks ago. She was fostered by Ruth Chandler for a few weeks to get her medical
problems under control, and is now with a wonderful woman who has a six year
old Irish from me and a rescue terrier. I post this with Annie's permission....
Dear Diary,
I spent my first whole day at my new home. I really like it so far. That
big boy dog, Riley, was really mean to me over some stupid little green thing
and he went in MY house. But he got in really big trouble with my new person
because he was so mean to me so it's OK. She can really yell! I don't think
he'll ever do that again! There's a little white girl dog here, too. Her name
is Zoe and I really like her a lot. She doesn't go in my house and I can play
with her for a long time. She stands straight up on her hind legs - just like
a person - and she kisses my face. I have to make sure I'm on the carpet when
we play hard because once my feet slipped out from from under me. This
morning my new person reminded us to play in the dining room so that wouldn't
happen again. I go outside a lot and we walk all around a pretty big yard. My
person showed me where she's going to build this thing she called the "doggy
palace". I like that. I'll be able to be inside and outside whenever I want. I'
ve gone for two short walks in the fields near my new house with Riley and
Zoe. We walk together really well and it's fun. This morning we saw 3 deer!
My person's friend comes with her dogs, too, and we all walk together. That
person has 4 dogs! Three of them are just stupid little boys and the girl dog
isn't very friendly but we don't get that close to her! Her person said she
came from a rescue, just like me, but I'm "better adjusted" than she is -
whatever that means! People in cars on the road stop to look at us. I think it's
because we are so beautiful and well-behaved. My hind legs aren't very strong
so we don't go too far. My person said she would give me some things in my
food that might help me a little and pretty soon I'll be able to go for really
long walks. I like it best when I can be right with my new person. This
morning I had to wait right outside the shower for her. She took Riley in the
shower with her and when he came out he was very wet and smelled good. Then Zoe
went in and the same thing happened!!! My person told me I could go in the
shower in a couple of days. I can hardly wait. All of us dogs got brushed this
morning. It feels really good even if it was the CAT'S brush my new person
used. She said she didn't want to hurt me since my skin is just getting
better. I could have stood there all day being brushed. Then I got my tummy rubbed
and I wiggled and smiled for a long time. I did get into just a little
trouble today. I forgot it's a bad thing and I chased a cat into the corner of the
living room. The cat, his name is Pete, and I don't think he's very smart,
was scared and my person yelled at me. I was sorry so I hope I remember not to
do that again.
The food here is pretty good. My new food bowl belonged to a dog that my new
person loved very much, but he died. She said she would only give that bowl
to another VERY special dog and that's ME. So I think I'll be able to stay
here forever, at least I hope so. I cried for a little while last night when
the person went to bed and I had to stay downstairs in my house. The other dogs
got to go upstairs to bed. Even the stupid cat could sleep on the bed. But
my person told me that after we get to know each other a little better and no
one does anything bad I'll probably be allowed to go upstairs to bed, too.
I'll like that much better I'm sure. My new grandmother is coming to see me
tonight! She has three dogs of her own, but they stay home. But she knows all
about what dogs like and Riley and Zoe told me she'll probably bring me toys
just for me and nice treats for all of us. That will be so much fun. I'lll
probably have to smile for her. I'll write in my diary again soon.
Love,
Annie
And a follow up....
Dear Diary,
I had a really great adventure last night. I got to ride in the car with my
person. And I was the ONLY dog that was allowed to come. The others had to
stay home in their houses, but they didn't mind too much because they got
cookies before we left. I got cookies, too. I am a very good girl when I ride in
the car. My person told me so. We went to a really fun place. It's called
PetSmart and they have zillions of things for dogs and I was allowed to come
in! It was so much fun. I like to go shopping, after all, I am a girl. We
bought all kinds of things. I got a really nice new harness. It's black and
very stylish. I really wanted green but the person said Riley's harness is green
so I had to pick another color. I got a new lead and a brand new bed just
for me. I also got this little gold piece of jewelry that hangs on my collar.
It jingles when I walk fast and I like the sound. It has my name and the
persons phone number on it. I sat very still when she put it on me even though
lots of other dogs were bringing their persons into the store. And some of those
dogs had NO manners. They were barking and jumping around and being really
bad. I don't understand why they got to go shopping! I was so good I got to
pick out a specal box of treats just for me and I don't have to share them with
anyone! Some persons were looking at me in a sort of funny way. I think it
was because I have lost some of my beautiful red fur. When we got to the place
where my person had to pay, the man behind the counter asked how old I was.
My person said she didn't know for sure because I was a rescue. Then the
funniest thing happened. All the persons in line behind us who had looked at me in
that funny way said "oh that's why she looks like that" I'm not really sure
what that means, but then they all told me how lucky I was and then they all
told me I was beautiful so I smiled for them! I'd like to go shopping again
real soon. But the VERY best thing that happened was that I was allowed to
sleep upstairs with the person and the other dogs. I cried when I had to go in my
house so my person decided I was such a good girl I could have my bed
upstairs next to her bed. I was so happy I didn't even care that the stupid cat was
there, too. But the very bestest thing happened in the middle of the night.
The person got up and all of us dogs decided we needed to go outside. We came
back inside and got our feet dried off and then we went back upstairs to bed.
That's when it happened - my person said "Annie do you want to sleep ON the
bed?' I was so surprised. My person helped me get on the bed because it's
really high and I can't jump that far. She made me promise I wouldn't try to get
down myself. So I slept for the rest of the night right next to my person!
Sometimes I even used her for a pillow and she petted me for a long time. Then
she told me I could call her Mom, just like Riley and Zoe do. So I'm going
to be able to stay here forever and I have my own real Mom and a brother and a
sister, too. And I'll be safe and warm and I'll never have to sleep on
concrete again! I am very lucky that Chris and Ruth rescued me from that not very
nice place. I'll write again soon.
Love,
Annie
