Today Is My Birthday (& WINston's)

Today I am 6 years old. I was born on February 21, 2006 at the Humane Society Calumet Area in Munster, Indiana. I was adopted out as a puppy to a family, and returned back to the shelter system in June 2009. Then the Mom and the Dad and the Dixie adopted me in September 2009.

I had an astonishing connection to my new family. Dixie was also adopted from Humane Society Calumet Area, in September 2008. During the summer of 2008, my new family lost their two beloved Goldens, Remo the Red and LuckyLucy, to kidney failure and cancer. Dixie was adopted to fill their void--to be a companion to the remaining Chicago Crew member, their beloved Bulldog, WINston XXLP.

Now to the astonishing part... WINston XXLP, as you might know, went to the Bridge quite suddenly just three weeks after Dixie came to live with him. After the Mom and the Dad adopted me, they found out that I was born on WINston XXLP's 9th Birthday!!! We both share February 21st! So today we are be celebrating my 6th Birthday and WINston's 15th Birthday!! PupCakes for Everyone!!!!! Wooooooooooo Arrrrroooooooooo!!!!!

Gotcha Day Visit to the Emergency Vet

How scary! Took Burt in at 5 a.m. to the Emergency Vet because he was walking through the house in the middle of the night all hunched over. Have once lost a beloved dog to bloat, we feared the worst. Rushed Burt to the E Vet and he was diagnosed with a strain in his leg/hip. Hubby related seeing Burt jump off the bed after Ozzy and "doing a Bambi" when he hit the hardwood in the hallway. Some Rimadyl and a day later Burt's as good as new. He's become such a big part of our lives and we're so glad he's here to stay.

Today I Played...

Burt INITIATED PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!
He usually sits in front of us and whines when he has to go outside.
When we ask him" what do you want"
he spins around and runs for the back door.
This time he just sat there, whining some more.
"What does he want?" I asked. Hubby said "I don't know."
Then I realized Burt had his baby, his small stuffed squirrel, in his mouth.
He wanted us to grab it and throw it for him to chase.
Burt wanted to play!!! (only took 1 1/2 years... )

Today Is My Gotcha Day!

I was born at the Humane Society Calumet Area, and adopted out as a puppy. Three years later I was returned because of "allergies". I was very timid and afraid of most people. Whenever I felt most afraid, I would drop down onto my belly and pull my head and legs in, like a turtle. The shelter staff worked very hard with me to get me to overcome my fears. I stayed at the shelter for over three months. Nobody was interested in adopting a 3 yr old Black dog with "issues".

Then one day, Dixie came back to the shelter to visit. She had been abandoned at the shelter, and she had been very timid too. Alex and the other volunteers worked for over six months with her to overcome her fears. She was adopted by a family in Chicago who had lost two of their dogs to illness. Three weeks after she came to her new home, the family lost their third dog after another long illness. Dixie saved the family from their grief.

So, I met this family a year ago. They had been very patient with Dixie and she was much better--much less timid. She paid me absolutely no attention at all. She was just excited to see everyone and excited to be with her family. So the shelter thought I would be a good match for this family too.

It has been a year now. I still go down like a turtle when I'm very, very afraid. But I walk around the park and pass people now without breaking my stride. Just this past Sunday I walked a 4k with over a thousand other dogs and over 3,000 people! How's THAT for progress? And now I play with my stuffy "babies" and run through the house doing my happy Labby dance, It's good to have a home with people who love me.

The moral of my story? Take a chance on a Black Pearl shelter dog. My family did, and I make them smile each and every day!

Today I Snuggled

up against the Mom during the thunderstorms. Even though I had on my brand new Thundershirt, it was very nice to tuck into her on the bed. I would raise my head when it thundered, but I didn't try to hide. So, what made me calm? The Thundershirt? The Mom? Who knows, who cares... whatever it was, it worked.
:D

Today I Alpha'd

Tonight, after dinner, Dixie and I went out into the yard to do our business. The Dad has a bad knee (that he won't go to the Dr about) so he hasn't been taking us on evening walkies. Dixie walked over to the side grass and squat. She left a pile and did her "alpha scratch in the dirt" with her back legs. The Dad calls it her "tough girl" act. Not to be outdone, I walked over to the exact same place and squat. Almost a direct hit! Followed by my own version of dirt scratching. So there!

Today I'm Sad

Well, went to the Vet yesterday. Dixie came along for moral support. I weighed in at a hefty 70 lbs!!! I was SURPRISED, but the Mom and the Dad weren't--they call me "Chicken Pot Pie". The vet thought that was REALLY funny and asked why? They said that I was big and round like a PIE, plus I have the symbol for the mathematical term for Pi (3.14 etc etc etc) in white fur on my chest. We are going to transition to AvoDerm Natural Lite Rice & Chicken formula. The vet said I have a LOT of weight to lose. And no more treats...

I has a sad. :(

Today I Saw

It was very hot and muggy today in Chicago. But the Dad still took Dixie and me to the park. Good Dad. When we got there and started our walk around the field path (best trees to find squirrels) I saw this small, naked thing with spots on it's skin and poofy hair like a mohawk on it's head and ears and feet come running really fast up to me.

Yip, Yip, Yip, Yip, Yip, Yip, Yip... It kept making that noise, and kept bouncing all around me in a circle. I cringed a bit, and looked at the Dad as if to say "what IS that thing?" A lady finally came up and corralled the Yip, Yip, Yipper and we continued our walk.

Later I heard the Dad tell the Mom all about it. He said the Yipper was something called a "Chinese Crested". All I know was it moved really FAST, was really BOUNCY, and was really LOUD!

Today I Walked

with over 1,500 dogs and over 3,500 people! It was CRAZY!!! This walk-thing was called Bark In The Park, and it was a benefit for Chicago's Anti-Cruelty Society. It was at Chicago's lakefront. The Mom took some pics and some video. Hopefully it will all be up on our pages soon. Before the Walk we met Gus and Dusty, who belong to one of the Mom's coworkers. Gus was quite friendly, but Dusty doesn't really like dogs much... go figure...

I was a little confused about the Walk, actually. When we go to the park for a walk, and I do my business, I'm DONE.
D O N E ! I start pulling to go back to the Jeep. The only thing that distracts me from my purpose is the occasional squirrel.

So I did my business, but we kept walking. I kept pulling the Dad towards various cars and SUVs, but he wasn't getting the message. We walked. And walked. And walked. It would have been complete torture, but we took a rest on some grass and Nancy-lady gave me a great belly scritch. That girl has SKILLS!

FINALLY we got back to the Jeep. I jumped in the back and curled up in my cuddle bed for the ride home. What a day!

Today I Slept

on LuckyLucy's stuffy. LuckyLucy was a rescued Golden Retriever who lived here before Dixie and I came. Our good friends, Rocky and Sarge, had sent LuckyLucy, Remo the Red and WINston XXLP these large white-fleeced gingerbreadman-shaped stuffies for Remo's 14th Birthday. Remo cuddled on his during his last week, and took it with him to the vet on his last day. The Mom slept with WINston's after he left for the Bridge. But Lucy's stuffy didn't get a lot of use. Lucy was a "ball...Ball...did I say BALL?" type of dog.

The Mom keeps the stuffies next to the daybed. Every time I go up there I sniff them. Finally the Mom relented and let me use Lucy's. I'm very good with my stuffies. I don't rip them up. I just gnaw on them until they're nice and soggy. :D So the Mom trusted me with Lucy's stuffy. I like it very much. It makes a nice pillow. Thanks, Lucy. Thanks, Rocky & Sarge.