Birthday: July 5th 2000 Likes: Hiking, playing with friends, riding in the car, giving kisses Pet-Peeves: Nail trims, when his sister steals his toys, going to the veterinarian Favorite Toy: Whatever Whiskey is playing with Favorite Food: Pineapple, apples, and yogurt Favorite Walk: ANYWHERE!! Best Tricks: Sit, stay, down, crawl, come, wait, kiss, hug, nice-to-meet-you (shake), counting to 1 and 2, 2-fives (2 high fives) Arrival Story: As a veterinary nursing student, I had an extremely heavy course load. I began looking for dogs in the fall of 2003, but my dog had to have several qualities - male, got along with cats, quiet, independent, not a puppy, not a geriatric, not a barker, friendly, easy-keeper, etc. I found Clay on Petfinder in November 2003 and he seemed to fit my description perfectly, but then decided that with the holidays coming up, I really didn't have time to get a dog. Come the end of summer 2004, however, I needed a little sunshine in my study-filled days. I re-evaluated my life at that point and decided that if I could find such a dog, I would get him. I began the search again, and lo and behold, Clay was still listed on Petfinder. I couldn't believe it, but I called anyway. I had convinced myself that it was just the shelter's mistake not taking him off when I got a phone call. Wrong! He was still available! I met Clay the next day and took him home that afternoon. He came from an abusive, neglectful, angry home and over the past four years, he has become a completely different dog. I give him confidence and he gives me companionship. He is definitely here to stay, as he's stolen my heart. Bio: Clay's breed is a mystery, but everyone who meets him thinks he is just gorgeous. Of course, I agree completely! He is the most devoted, loving, and sweet dog I've ever come across. The trust we share is immense and I can't imagine my life without him in it! Forums Motto: Who me?! The Last Forum I Posted In: Paw Pad Problems I've Been On Dogster Since:
Mom says we're moving again this week. I moved with her when we left Colorado and came to New Mexico, but I've never been to North Carolina. That's where Mom says we're going.
She put some oily stuff on Whiskey and my backs the other day. She said it's Frontline and will help with fleas and ticks. Fleas and ticks? EW!
She said we have a long drive ahead of us. That's ok, I like riding in the car. Mom says it's gonna take a long time to get there. She said I'm gonna ride in the truck with Grampa. I've only met Grampa once, but he pet me a lot and threw the ball for me.
One thing I do NOT think Whiskey will like is the cats. Mom says there are two cats living in our new home. I lived with cats before, and I actually became really good snuggle buddies with one of them. I'm a little worried about Whiskey, though. I think she might get swatted at a time or two before she decides to be nice to the kitties.
Oh well. I guess I ought to start packing my stuff. Bed? Check. Food? Check. Leash? Check. Here we go!
"Mom, take us with you," my sister and I whined as our Mom tied on her running shoes and shut the door behind her. We knew she was going for a "w" word and she wasn't even taking us! I went and laid down on the couch, opting to take a nap while Whiskey shredded her new rope toy. Then, minutes later, Mom came back through the door smiling and told us "get your stuff on, let's go" as she buckled us into our leashes and harnesses. Yes! A WALK!
We started into the canyon, where we always go with Mom, and as usual as soon as we were off the road and on the trail she disconnected our leashes and let us run. We were having SO much fun. Whiskey barked at a Pit Bull on the way down the hill into the canyon, and I smelled EVERYTHING. We were splashing in puddles from all the rain and mom had those things in her ears that she wears when she sings. She was running and we were just a few steps ahead of her.
As we ran up a hill, where I chased coyotes that one time and Mom yelled at me a LOT, Mom picked up the pace. She was running faster and so Whiskey and I ran faster, too! As we ran around a curve in the trail I saw him. His furry. fluffy tail taunting me. My ears perked up and my tail went rigid and I FLEW after him. That squirrel was MINE. My sister always chases them with me, but I'm not sure she knows what we're doing, she just likes to run. Little did I know what that squirrel had in store for me.
I wasn't really paying much attention to Mom, but I heard her yelling for me back on the trail. I wanted to listen, I really did. But the squirrel - I was getting close and HAD to try to get him. Whiskey left - she's getting pretty good at listening to Mom. I was about to turn around and run back to Mom when the squirrel darted to the right and up a tree. Suddenly, I felt my back legs slip out from under me and I couldn't find solid ground. Before I knew it, I was sliding down the cliff into the canyon!
I sat up, terrified, and tried to jump back up. It was too far, and too steep! I had fallen one-third of the way down a 200-foot cliff! I landed on a small ledge made of rock and mud, that had two small trees growing out of it. Jagged rock surrounded me. Then I heard Mom screaming, crying my name. I looked up from the brush and saw her peering over the edge of the cliff. She smiled and told me it would be okay. She said she was going to come get me. To stay still. She asked if I was okay, and I wanted to tell her that I was. Nothing hurts, Mom! But she couldn't understand me. She told me to stay and promised she wouldn't leave me.
I sat there, on an incline, for a long time. A couple times Mom came back and said, "Don't worry, we're coming!" It seemed like I was there for days, alone, on that ledge. I was really scared, but I knew my Mom wouldn't leave me.
It was starting to get dark when I heard Mom! And then I saw Travis, too, and started wagging my tail! "Stay, Baby," Mom cooed to me. I wanted to give them kisses and get pets so bad, but if I moved too much I might fall off the ledge. I was so scared!
As the light faded, I lost sight of my mom sitting on the cliff looking at me, but she talked to me the whole time. "It's okay, they're coming Clay. You stay good boy!" I heard a lot of noise above me and saw a lot of bright lights. And then a man started coming down the canyon wall on a rope! He was scaring me and I tried to leave but I had nowhere to go. Mom calmed me down and talked to me and before I knew it the man was standing on the ledge with me. He had on a shirt that said L.A.F.D. and he pet me and told me I was a good boy.
I never expected what happened next! The man strapped a harness on me, with lots of buckles and ropes. He said "Okay, GO!" and the ropes around me tightened. Pretty soon I was dangling in mid-air on this rope! I saw my Mom most of the time, and I was a little scared, but I trusted this guy. As soon as I came to the top of the cliff, I saw my mom and Travis and they were talking to me and pouring me water. I was so happy, my tail was wagging a hundred miles a minute.
They unhooked me from the ropes and the man that rescued me said goodbye to me. We got in the fire truck and drove back home. I got to sleep on Mom's bed that night - it was great! The next day, though, Mom made me go to work with her - I HATE going to the veterinarian! They listened to my heart and moved all my legs around. Mom just kept saying "He's so lucky. He's just fine." I figure that's a good thing, because she's been so happy since then.
One thing I know for sure, if we ever go back to that canyon, I am NOT leaving Mom's side!
The Dog Show: Who's Your Mama?
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