Sad Mother's Day

It is with heavy heart that I report that "Leggies" left us on Mother's Day. He spent 6 wonderful, joyful, loving years with us. He hadn't been eating well for several days, but was still playful & happy, with no signs of distress or discomfort of any kind. We were still dealing with Storm's multiple problems (cyst removals, teeth extractions, etc.) that we were unaware that his abdomen was distended. We took him to the vet that morning expecting them to run tests & let us know what was up so we could treat whatever was ailing him. Little did we know that he would not be coming home with us ever again. After blood tests and multiple x-rays of his stomach, they determined that his abdomen was full of fluid. They drew a sample to test and found it was blood. He was anemic and the blood was very thick. The vet felt as if he probably had a ruptured mass, and it had been bleeding internally for several days. His only hope was transfusions until he stabilized, then exploratory surgery just to determine the cause, all with a very bad outlook. We felt as if he had been through enough and so the decision was made not to wake him up, but to let him slip peacefully away. This was the hardest thing I've ever personally faced, but we did it for him. For those of you who didn't know his story, he was abused & had severe fear agression. Just to get his dental work done we stayed with him from first "happy shot" through his recovery to conciousness, 6 hours on the floor of the examining room. Never was there a better friend, a more loving son, a gentler heart than our boy was with us. His Dad & I will miss him forever. His smile was infectious, his love forever.
"Leggies" Mom

I Got Double Tagged!!

Boy, a fella can't even chase his tail for a second without getting tagged, twice even! First was my friend Odyseuss, 2nd was Arthur (such a cutie).

Here's da rules.....
Each pup must list seven random facts about themselves. Dogs that are tagged then need to post in thier diary the rules & the seven, yes 7, pawsome facts about themselves. Then they chose 7 pups to tag & list thier names. Don't forget to bark a pmail to them that they've been tagged & to read your diary to see da rules!

#1. I love to bully my sisters, alot!
#2. I have my own toybox that's absolutely full of toys & I always want the one on the bottom!
#3. I still think I'm a 120lb Chihuahua, and try to get into my Momma's lap.
#4. Cooper of the Nanuck is my "bestest" friend.
#5. I'm scared to death of dragons! One lives in the dungeon & Momma calls it a vacumn, the other lives outside in a big cave & eats up our grass. :)
#6. I hate getting my nails clipped & Daddy has to rub my ears while Momma cuts my toes.
#7. I've been slowly trying to take over Mom & Dad's bed. They kick me off, but as soon as thier asleep I get back on. They finally wake up to find themselves sleeping in a pretzel position and kick me off again. Shhhh, they're falling asleep again... here I go!

Now, I tag.....
Cooper, yep once again. After all, you is my bestest friend.
Miss Mandy
Kansas
Polka Dot
Skully Potatoes
Ramsey (My Momma's friends Momma)
Glacier (who looks like my sister Diamond)

So...Tag, You're it.

Don't call me Artie~ Or how I got my name.

Okay Coop (& anyone else interested), Here's the scoop. When my now Momma & Dad went to see my FurrDaddy that fateful New Years day, they found me too. You see my furrdaddy was called Alaska, and the "boy" had named me Arctic, but called me Artie. Once I went home with my new family, my Momma said I needed a new name to reflect my new life. I didn't answer to Arctic, Momma didn't like Artie at all, And "Lord Of The Rings" was THE movie at about that time. Momma's oldest daughter suggested Strydor, but I didn't like that one either. It was Daddy would asked Momma "What was the name of the blond elf with pointed ears?" When she said "Legolas" I ran straight to her. She decided that was my name, but in order to show proper respect to my heritage she took my sire's name, my old name & added my new name with "Legacy" to fit it all together. So that's how I became "Alaska's Arctic Legacy~Legalas" (play on the spelling of Legolas was intentional). The hard part was Momma getting my pedigree & registration papers. Don't know why she bothered, but it made her happy when she got them. She says it was more for the legal aspect, that noone could ever take me away, as I was now registered to her. So Momma, why'd you have them shoot me with a microchip??? Laterz, Leggies

Tag, You're it

Here's da rules.....
Each pup must list seven random facts about themselves. Dogs that are tagged then need to post in thier diary the rules & the seven, yes 7, pawsome facts. Then they chose 7 pups to tag & list thier names. Don't forget to bark a pmail to them that they've been tagged & to read your diary to see da rules!

My facts.....huh....I's thinkin'

I love squeeky toys more than food.

I just learned how to scratch my own ears by rubbin' my head on the chair, oh yeah, that feels so good.

Will beg for belly rubs (roll over, paws in the air, which ain't easy when your 120 lbs!)

I do not like the vet, no way, no how. She's always pokin me with stuff. Someday I'm gonna get her!

I love to try to get all of me in my Momma's lap , she calls me her 120lb Chihuahua. BOL.

I love it when Momma holds a pack "sing along" cuz I'm the loudest.

And # 7....I like swinging in the Hammock with my Dad.

I tag these Pup Pals...

Jacqueline Tuffy
Cooper
Glacier
Riley
Duece
Jackson
& Lily...woo, woooooo

My Poem

"Patiently, he waited"

A scrawny white pup, no longer wanted, sits all alone outside
He could've run off if he had wanted, for he was no longer tied
But somewhere from inside his heart he knew someone would come
To take him from this lonely life, to a place he could call home~
So patiently, he waited.

The people who once treated him well, now just didn't care
They went on with thier busy lives as if he wasn't there
Some days there was food for him, most days there was none
All of his night were spent out in the cold, dreaming of the sun~
But patiently, he waited.

Then one day some people came, with three dogs just like him
They stayed a while and talked a bit, and he played with all of them
He felt so happy and loved that day, and hoped it would never end
But then the people and dogs went home, and he was alone again~
Still patiently, he waited.

A few days later the people returned and took him for a ride
He couldn't quite control his fear, no matter how hard he tried
Then somewhere from inside his heart, he knew he would be fine
So trusting them, he went along, daring to hope this time~
And patiently, he waited.

They cleaned him up and had him checked, and then they took him home
To a nice warm place where the other dogs were, & gave him a bed of his own
They fed him well, then held him close, and whispered "We love you"
He thumped his tail as if to say "I know, and I trust you"~
So patiently, he waited.

That scrawny white pup is no longer here, a fine dog he's become
So happy and healthy with a heart of gold, despite where he came from
With three big sisters to keep him in line, and a home with a Mom & Dad
He's so very thankful he stayed where he was, and we're so very glad~
That patiently, he waited.


For Legalas~ With Love~ From Mom~ April 26, 2004

My Birthday

Mom & Dad have been talking about when my birthday should be. Since my old family had lied about my age, and really didn't care about me, my Mom & Dad decided that they would give me a birthdate that was as unique as I was. They decided that since I was such a silly, goofy puppy that the best birthday for me would be April Fools Day. So on April 1st, 2004 I celebrated my 1st birthday. We had a special cake that Mom made just for puppies, lots of toys (yippee), bandannas for all of us & a special day of play. My Mom even wrote a special poem for me. I'll have her post in on our next entry..Woof

My New Family

It is Jan 5th, 2004 and has now been several days since I arrived here and I'm so very happy. I finally have a real family that wants & loves me. The nice people are now my new Mom & Dad, and the girls dogs are my "sisters". My Mom says that the reason they went to my old home is because that's where my Dad got my sister Diamond 2 years ago, and where my other "sister" Shevara's daddy came from. So Diamond is really my half sister & Shevara is my neice? Pretty confusing to me so I call all three of them my "sisters". Anyway, my Mom & Dad went to my old house to show the people how big Diamond had gotten & to meet my doggie daddy Alaska. They never guessed that they'd find a "son" there! Once they met me & found out that my people didn't want me, they knew they had to get me out of there, so they rescued me. So here I am, happy & loving it. Today my Mom says I'm gonna go be "fixed", am I broken somewhere? I don't know, but I already love my Mommy enough to trust her, so whatever it is, I know I'll be fine.
Boy, am I mad! My Mom tricked me. I feel funny and don't wanna play, just sleep. Whatever my Mom had fixed on me made my bottom hurt. Mom's gonna get it when I feel better.

It has now been over a month and I finally forgave my Mom. I've been putting on weight like crazy, Mom says it's amazing what a simple thing like feeding & loving a dog can do. In just 4 weeks I've gone from 51 lbs to 69.9! Mom says I'm gonna be as big as a moose, but she still calls me her little man.

"Visitors"

It was Jan. 1st 2004, New Years day. A day like any other. No food, no water, no attention from anyone. Then a truck pulled up out front & a stranger got out. He started talking to me gently as he walked up to the house. He knocked on the door and waited, still talking to me with that kind voice. The "boy" came to the door & then his father to see what this stranger wanted. Then another stranger, a lady, got out of the truck too, and came over to join the man. That's when I noticed there were dogs just like me in the back of the truck. After the strangers talked to the boy & his dad, they went and got the other dogs out of the truck and brought them over to meet me. They were 3 pretty girl dogs just like me! The father then went to get my dad out of his kennel so we could all play together. The lady & the man both kept hugging me, and I really liked them. You see, my real family didn't want me. They just left me outside with no food, water, or shelter, to fend for myself or run away if I wanted. But I stayed. The strangers talked to my family for a very long time as I played with the 3 girl dogs. I had so much fun that day, but then the strangers & girl dogs left and I was forgotten again.
Two days later the strangers returned, and although I was a little scared, I went with them. My family had gone away on a trip, but had told the strangers that if they wanted me, they could just come and get me as they had left me at home. The strangers didn't have the girl dogs with them so I was very nervous and the man had to hold me in his lap cuz I was really scared! They took me to a place they called "the vet" where I was given shots, and icky tasting medicine for worms. The vet told the strangers that I was not 5~6 months old as my family had stated, but rather more like 1 year old since I had teeth that only a year old dog would have. Then the strangers got mad cuz it seemed as if my old family had lied about a lot of stuff. I was very small for 1 year old and only weighed 51lbs. My ribs showed and I had scars on my ears & feet that the vet said was from severe frostbite. The lady started crying and hugging me even more, and told me that no one would ever hurt me again. Then they took me to a place where I had a really good warm bath, and they bought me a collar & a toy. I had never seen a toy before, but I went to sleep that night with it tightly in my paws. When we got to the strangers home, the girl dogs were excited to see me and I was happy to see them. Then the strangers fixed us all some dinner. I was so hungry that I wolfed down mine in no time, but not once did I try to eat anyone else's. The strangers played with me, and gave me lots of kisses, and I was really happy. They gave me my own blanket & let me sleep on the couch. I kept wondering if they were going to take me back home, but hoping that I could stay here. Here there was food & water, hugs & kisses, toys & friends, I never wanted to leave!