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My Diary and Other Things of Interest

My Rescue Roundup with the Rescue Group

A couple of Saturdays ago, October 3, Daddy, Mommy and me took a trip to NC for my Rescue Roundup. That's a reunion for all the Dobies that the Rescue Group that saved me, Doberman Rescue of the Triad, has every year and it was lots of fun. Daddy posted some pictures of me there and a really special one ( actually 2 ) of my new friend Cotton.

Cotton is a Special Needs doggie, just like I was, and it really didn't look good for the pretty boy. See, he's an Albino Doberman and they usually have lots of health problems but Cotton had lots and lots of them. He has some severe bleeding problems, they couldn't get the bleeding stopped when they micro-chipped him, and he needed lots of tests to see exactly what could be done. Lots of tests meant lots of money.

Anyway, the Rescue Group put the plea out and a lot of skins and furs responded but finding someone willing to offer him a furever home would be hard. I was really praying for someone like my Mommy and Daddy to see his page and read his story and wanted him to find a home like mine. I got the biggest surprise when we got to the Roundup and Daddy said " There's Cotton."

We went to see Carol first, the owner of the Rescue Group and my Rescue Angel, and she told us that Cotton had just found his Furever Home a week ago. Now isn't that GREAT. I'm still so happy for him and wish him all the best. There's a couple of pictures of him on my page.

The Roundup was so much fun and I luvs dunkin for hot dogs. That's like Bobbin for Apples, the humans do that at Halloween parties, but we have pieces of hot dogs in a big bowl filled with water. Those hot doggies don't float so you needs to put your nose all the way to the bottom of the bowl to get them. I do that really good and there's a picture of me, water running off my nose, on my page.

There was about 50 Dobies at the reunion and me and Daddy had to go out in the field and shows them how a blind Dobie plays. They couldn't believe how I jump and spin and always know where Daddy is. They also couldn't believe Daddy still had his arms when we got done, they just knew I had to have cut him somewhere. Guess what, not a mark. I knows how to play and even though it looks like we're playing rough, I'm really very gentle.

We really had lots and lots of fun, it was a gorgeous day and I hated to leave. Good food, good people and lots of really nice Dobies always makes for a really good time. Lots of other people, who were at the park, just couldn't believe how well behaved all of us Dobies were. Maybe it was because we all are so happy to be in our Furever homes but there was only one little growling incident, between two dogs.

All in all, it was a wonderful, fabulous day and I can't wait until next year. I had to share this with everyone and hope you all can have as much fun as I did there. The day was made a lot more special learning that Cotton found his Furever Home. He still has a long way to go, health wise, and I really would appreciate it if you could say a little prayer for him. Thanks all.

Tank, A story that will make you get out the tissues

Daddy just received this in his mail and thought he'd share it with everyone. We don't know if it is true but it is a tear jerker. Better have the tissues handy.


They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie
as I looked at him lying in his pen. the shelter was
clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly.
I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere
I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and
open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the
street.

But something was still missing as I attempted to
settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog
couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to.
And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local
news. The shelter said they had received numerous
calls right after, but they said the people who had come
down to see him just didn't look like "Lab
people," whatever that meant. They must've
thought I did.

But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me
in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog
pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis
balls, his dishes, and a sealed letter from his previous
owner. See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off
when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is
how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his
new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to
adjust, too. Maybe we were too much alike.

For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis
balls - he wouldn't go anywhere without two stuffed in
his mouth) got tossed in with all of my other unpacked
boxes. I guess I didn't really think he'd need
all his old stuff, that I'd get him new things once he
settled in. but it became pretty clear pretty soon
that he wasn't going to.

I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he
knew, ones like "sit" and "stay" and
"come" and "heel," and he'd follow
them - when he felt like it. He never really seemed to
listen when I called his name - sure, he'd look in my
direction after the fourth of fifth time I said it, but then
he'd just go back to doing whatever. When I'd
ask again, you could almost see him sigh and then grudgingly
obey.

This just wasn't going to work. He chewed a
couple shoes and some unpacked boxes. I was a little
too stern with him and he resented it, I could tell.
The friction got so bad that I couldn't wait for the two
weeks to be up, and when it was, I was in full-on search
mode for my cellphone amid all of my unpacked stuff. I
remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the guest
room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the
"damn dog probably hid it on me."

Finally I found it, but before I could punch up the
shelter's number, I also found his pad and other toys
from the shelter.. I tossed the pad in Reggie's
direction and he snuffed it and wagged, some of the most
enthusiasm I'd seen since bringing him home. But
then I called, "Hey, Reggie, you like that? Come
here and I'll give you a treat." Instead, he
sort of glanced in my direction - maybe "glared"
is more accurate - and then gave a discontented sigh and
flopped down. With his back to me.

Well, that's not going to do it either, I
thought. And I punched the shelter phone number.

But I hung up when I saw the sealed envelope. I
had completely forgotten about that, too. "Okay,
Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if
your previous owner has any advice."....


To Whoever Gets My Dog:
Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner.
I'm not even happy writing it. If you're reading this, it means I just got back from my last car ride with my Lab after dropping him off at the shelter. He knew something was different. I have packed up his pad and toys before and set them by the back door before a trip, but this time... it's like he knew something was
wrong. And something is wrong... which is why I have
to go to try to make it right.

So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.

First, he loves tennis balls. the more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hordes them. He usually always
has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after it, so be careful - really don't do it by any roads. I made
that mistake once, and it almost cost him dearly.

Next, commands. Maybe the shelter staff already told you, but I'll go over them again: Reggie knows the obvious ones "sit," "stay," "come,""heel." He knows hand signals:
"back" to turn around and go back when you put
your hand straight up; and "over" if you put your
hand out right or left. "Shake" for shaking
water off, and "paw" for a high-five. He
does "down" when he feels like lying down - I bet
you could work on that with him some more. He knows
"ball" and "food" and "bone"
and "treat" like nobody's
business.

I trained Reggie with small food
treats. Nothing opens his ears like little pieces of
hot dog.

Feeding schedule: twice a
day, once about seven in the morning, and again at six in
the evening. Regular store-bought stuff; the shelter
has the brand.

He's up on his shots.
Call the clinic on 9th Street and update his info with
yours; they'll make sure to send you reminders for when
he's due. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the
vet. Good luck getting him in the car - I don't
know how he knkows when it's time to go to the vet, but
he knows.

Finally, give him some time.
I've never been married, so it's only been Reggie
and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere
with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if
you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he
doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be
around people, and me most especially.

Which means that this transition is
going to be hard, with him going to live with someone
new.

And that's why I need to share
one more bit of info with you....

His name's not
Reggie.

I don't know what made me do
it, but when I dropped him off at the shelter, I told them
his name was Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll
get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no
doubt. but I just couldn't bear to give them his
real name. For me to do that, it seemed so final, that
handing him over to the shelter was as good as me admitting
that I'd never see him again. And if I end up
coming back, getting him, and tearing up this letter, it
means everything's fine. But if someone else is
reading it, well... well it means that his new owner should
know his real name. It'll help you bond with
him. Who knows, maybe you'll even notice a change
in his demeanor if he's been giving you
problems.

His real name is Tank.

Because that is what I
drive.

Again, if you're reading this
and you're from the area, maybe my name has been on the
news. I told the shelter that they couldn't make
"Reggie" available for adoption until they
received word from my company commander. See, my
parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've
left Tank with... and it was my only real request of the
Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone
call the the shelter... in the "event"... to tell
them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily,
my colonel is a dog guy, too, and he knew where my platoon
was headed. He said he'd do it
personally. And if you're reading this, then
he made good on his word.

Well, this letter is getting to
downright depressing, even though, frankly, I'm just
writing it for my dog. I couldn't imagine if I was
writing it for a wife and kids and family. but still,
Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as
long as the Army has been my family.

And now I hope and pray that you
make him part of your family and that he will adjust and
come to love you the same way he loved me.

That unconditional love from a dog
is what I took with me to Iraq as an inspiration to do
something selfless, to protect innocent people from those
who would do terrible things... and to keep those terrible
people from coming over here. If I had to give up Tank
in order to do it, I am glad to have done so. He was
my example of service and of love. I hope I honored
him by my service to my country and comrades.

All right, that's enough.
I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at
the shelter. I don't think I'll say another
good-bye to Tank, though. I cried too much the first
time. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he
finally got that third tennis ball in his
mouth.

Good luck with Tank. Give him
a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every
night - from me.

Thank you, Paul Mallory

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure I
had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even
new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few
months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he
gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at
half-mast all summer.

I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on
my knees, staring at the dog.

"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.

The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his
eyes bright.

"C'mere boy."

He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on
the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head
tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in
months.

"Tank," I whispered.

His tail swished.

I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each
time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture
relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood
him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried
my face into his scruff and hugged him.

"It's me now, Tank, just you and me.
Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and
licked my cheek. "So whatdaya say we play some
ball? His ears perked again.
"Yeah? Ball? You like that?
Ball?" Tank tore from my hands and
disappeared in the next room.

And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in
his mouth.

Why Adopt.

Daddy took some new pictures of me and that's one of them at the top of my page. A lot of folks ask Mommy and Daddy why they would adopt a blind dog and some folks ( Daddy would like to call them something else but this is a family group ) have even suggested it would have been best for me and them if they sent me to the Bridge. How could a dog like me enjoy life?

Well, you just go to that top picture and scroll down a little so the next one can be seen too. That was me right after the Rescue Group saved me and four other Dobies. Forget that skinny body, just look at my face. Look at my unseeing eyes and, even though I am blind, you can see the look of gloom and despair. You can see I had just about given up all hope of finding my furever home.

Now look at the picture above that. Look at my face now. Does that look like a doggie who has given up? Look at the joy in my eyes. Look at the love flowing from them. I'm happy, No I'm estatic. I've been adopted and I am loving it. Blind, not me. I see with my heart and the beauty I see shines through my unseeing eyes.

There are so many doggies like me waiting for someone to share their love with, why not give one of them a chance to show you what being adopted means to them. Better yet, why not adopt a Special Needs or Senior furbaby and let them show you how much they appreciate that.

Help close those Puppy Mills, adopt and save a life. Don't think that buying your puppy from a Pet Store, that more then likely sells Puppy Mill dogs, is saving a life. You are condemning many others to a life of despair and suffering by doing so.

Adopt. Adopt. Adopt.

" They can't throw us away "

My good buddy, Meaty the Boxer, needs our help. Please read the Diary Entry under this to see how you can help him. Check out his Auction, with many neat items, before it ends. Information on Meatys page.