Rainbow Bridge is Wonderful

My parents had to lovingly put me to sleep on 9-15-10. I had chirosis of the liver which is incurable. For a week, I couldn't eat, was vomiting and when the vet checked me out with an ultra sound, it showed that my liver was shrinking. I was miserable. No one can imagine how I got it, unless it was a genetic thing that was always there that suddenly became acute. My parents were devastated. I was a rescue (I was only around 2 or three years old) and they had me only 5 1/2 years. On 9-22-10 I came home in my little tin of ashes and that helped Mama and Papa a lot.

On the bright side, I got to see my old sister Squeegee and be introduced to all the pups and cats that came before the two of us. What a large pack we are. As I noted in the title Rainbow Bridge is wonderful and there is a lot to do while we all wait for one of our beloved masters to come to get us.

Goodbye Dude! Hello Smokey!

Back in July my cat bother Dude went to the Bridge. When I first came to live here, he was the one who taught me all about getting along with cats. I would try to chase him up the stairs, but he would just stand his ground -- hissing and yowling and batting my nose. To be truthful, he scared me a little. ;-) But after I learned some manners, he was perfectly nice to me. I miss him.

After Dude went to the Bridge, my cat brother Kola was lonely. He was hiding all the time and not eating, so Mama and Papa decided it was time to adopt a new cat brother. One day, they came home with a small, fearless cat. He loves to play with me. Smokey (aka Moke) lets me chase him, but he always comes right back and dares me to chase him again. So I do. :-)

I never thought I would say it but -- I think all dogs should live with cat or two!

And So It Is Christmas!!

This past year has been so wonderful. When it started I was a skinny, love starved stray, and now I'm a plump, pampered member of a family! I only wish that every homeless animal could have the chance I was given.

I wish a wonderful Christmas and New Year to all my pup pals and their families. I send love and thanks to the CT Humane Society, who rescued me, and to all those who dedicate their lives to animals. I am very grateful for my Mama and Papa who gave me a home and the love I needed; to my sister Squeegee, who was patient with me; and to my brothers Dude and Kola, who taught me how friendly cats can be if you don't chase them. :-)

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Love, always,
Sandy

A New Playmate!

Mama's brother and his wife got a new dog! Libby's Molly Malone is a purebred German Shepherd puppy -- but she loves me even though I'm a just a mutt!! We get along so well that Mama agreed to take care of Molly two days a week while her parents are at work. Molly and I wrestle all day and chase each other around the house; and when we get tired, she cuddles up to me as if I were her Mama and we sleep. I never had puppies of my own, but Mama says I have so much patience that I would've made a wonderful mother. Every time I see Molly she is bigger and smarter -- even if it's only been a couple of days! And her ears, which were floppy like mine when I first met her, are standing straight up. I love her a lot!

I'm in LOVE!!!

For the past two weeks, Jake -- a hunky 5 year old Yellow Lab -- has been staying with us while his family is on vacation. From the minute I saw him, I knew he was my soul mate. Mama calls him my boy-toy -- whatever that means. Jake is very strong and but very gentle at the same time. He plays and wrestles with me for hours, letting me play-bite his ears and feet and tail. And he never gets upset with me ... well, almost never. We play tug with my rope, and we run together like the wind. At night, we snuggle together on my bed. He will be going back home to his people this weekend, and I know I'll miss him something awful... But Papa says he will be back in August! I can't wait!!

Much Better!!

I think I'm finally getting the knack of living in a house with people, another dog and cats!

Although Squeegee still doesn't like me very much, she has stopped growling at me every time I go near her. I've really been trying very hard to be gentle with her -- even when I steal her bed. ;-) I can't imagine what it must be like to be so old, but I guess the main thing is that you don't have much patience and don't feel like playing much...

The cats a still a bit wary of me; Dude just tries to ignore me, but Kola actually seems to be starting to like me! Just yesterday when I was laying on my bed half asleep, he came up and rubbed his check on my shoulder! I stayed very still, and he laid down beside me! He didn't stay very long (probably because I started to nudge him with my nose), but it's a start!

Mama and Papa are very happy with me. They say I've made a lot of progress, and soon I will be going to obedience school. They say they're sure I'm going to graduate at the top in my class! I sure hope so, because the thing I want most in the world is to please them.

Wish me luck in my studies!

Sigh...

It's hard learning to live in a house. Oh, I know enough not to "go potty" indoors. Actually, I think I might have known that before. I just had to be reminded. But I'm finding out that there are there are other, harder things to learn...

The little black and white dog -- her name is Squeegee -- is not acting very friendly to me, if you want my opinion. She's a crotchety little old lady and she's always finding some stupid excuse to get upset with me -- like when I poke her in the ribs with my nose, or stop her from coming through the door after we go for a walk. But what really gets her mad is when I lay down on her bed with her. She gets so mad, she even growls at me! Then she gets up and lays down somewhere else! Well, EXCUUUSE ME! I mean -- so I rolled over on her a few times!?! I didn't mean to, and no harm was done. It's no reason to run away! To be honest, I don't care if she does run away, because then I get the bed to myself! The problem is, if Mama or Papa see this, they tell me "No!" and make me get off Squeegee's bed, and put her back on it! Then they tell me I have my own bed and they show it to me ... But they don't understand! I don't like my bed half as much as I like Squeegee's!

Then there's Dude. What a crazy old cat! Why does he bat at me with sheathed claws? And why does he yowl at me like that? Does he think I can understand him? Why doesn't he just spit at me and run away like the other one (Kola) does? And why am I not allowed to chase Kola? Can't they see that he wants me to?

Oh well...the important thing is that Mama and Papa seem to love me anyway. They play with me and pet me. They feed me and brush me. They don't yell at me or hit me. They tell me they know I'm a good, smart girl and that I'll learn. Sigh...I really do want to be good and please them, but I'm afraid it might take me a little bit longer than they think it will...

They chose me!

A week ago, some people came to the Humane Society and petted me for a long time. I was trying my best to be a good girl, but I was so excited that I jumped up on them (I almost knocked the Lady's glasses off trying to kiss her), and then I tried to run around in circles. The nice Humane Society Lady got tangled up in the leash. The people went away, and I thought it was because I had been bad. But then they came back!

This time, they had a little black and white dog with them. I could tell the little dog was scared, because she was shaking and whimpering. I heard the people say that she had come from the Humane Society too, and that the barking of all the dogs had frightened her so much she got very sick. So we all went outside where it was quieter, and the little dog seemed to feel a bit better. I wanted to be friendly, but she was still kind of upset. Then the people put her in their truck and went away again.

I thought I'd never find a forever home. But suddenly, the people came back a third time!! They didn't have the little dog with them, but the lady came up to my run and scratched my chin. She said, "Would you like to come live with us, Sandy? Do you want to go home?" I was so happy that I jumped up and kissed her chin through the chain link! After they talked to the Humane Society Lady a while, they put me in their truck, and the lady held me across her lap while she petted me. The man was driving, but he petted me too. They told me I was a very good girl. I knew I had found my forever home!