Tag Archives: adoption

A Walk In the Park

04 Sunday Jul 2010

Posted by in border collies, Dog walking, dogs, loving dogs, nature, rescue dogs, Uncategorized

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Bailey told me she had something to say so since this really her journal, she said she wanted to write something, so I gave her the keyboard…
I LOVE going to Buehl Park! I love when Sherri & I go there. It’s so beautiful and big. She took me TWICE this week. It takes us about 20 minutes to drive there, but it is really worth it. There is so much to see and we always meet lots of people and dogs. I love seeing dogs- well at least the nice ones, like me.

I always make Sherri proud because for some reason people always stop and pet me and tell me how beautiful I am, which I have to say at age 9, I am liking a lot. No one thinks I look my age and they tell mommy that too. We both like the fact that people always think we are younger than we are- not that we are old but it’s nice to think that we are still looking good! That is important to us both, but I digress!
We had two gorgeous days in the 70’s and neither of us like the really hot weather, so it was perfect for walking in the park. We saw so many lovely flowers and we discovered an area with a fountain and little lake. What I LOVE about the park is that each time we go there we walk a different way. The park is so enormous that you can take so many different paths. Each time we seem to find new things to look at. I am anticipating how beautiful it will be this Fall.

When we walk, I sometimes think Sherri is thinking exactly like me. We usually walk for an hour but the other day we went nuts and walked for an hour and a half! I know she thinks I am the greatest – except when I beg and beg and whine for table food – but I am not stopping that! I think she is greatest too… Not many people are willing to adopt dogs in their senior years, but she had no qualms about it. I like to think I am in investment in her and Russell’s happiness. They do love the heck out of me and Safari. Russell calls me his beautiful girl and Safari his Big Sweet Boy. He loves my big, brown eyes and say Sherri and I look like each other. Some other people have said the same thing. Sherri has pretty eyes – everyone tells her that – so if mine look like hers, than that is big plus for me!

She likes to say that we both won the lotto by finding each other. I know she wonders about where I was before the shelter. I am so glad those people who adopted me before she did ( for ONLY 3 weeks) took me back. They were idiots. I don’t even remember where I was before the year in the shelter. I think I have blocked it out because wise people live one day at a time and I like to think my best life started the day they sprung me loose! This is the life I was supposed to have and them as well. I always hear them talking and Russell always tells Sherri that she was the best thing that ever happened to him and I know she feels the exact same way. They too feel like life for them began 21 years ago. They are so in love that sometimes I have to get out of the room!

Life with them is really a “walk in the park.” Today America was born. And my adoption day, July 20th, is my personal independence day and I could not be happier. I think Safari & I make them pretty darn happy too and that is just nice to know.

A Merry 2nd Christmas!

26 Saturday Dec 2009

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It’s only our 2nd Christmas, but it’s funny how quickly a family pet can be adopted into your normal routine of life. Sometimes I feel like Bailey has been with me forever. After finding her through www.petfinder.com and then adopting her in June, 2008, it hardly seems like this can only be our second big holiday together! If it were not for me still trying to figure out her health issues (excessive panting, excessive hunger, allergies, etc) I feel like I have known her a long time.

It’s Christmas day. Well, now it’s almost 10-pm and I have spent the better part of the evening reading about  natural dogs foods so I can test out something new. I keep thinking that this ultra allergen prescription food I have her on has something to do with her seeming to be starving all the time and maybe it’s not so ultra-allergenic at all. Much like people doctors, nutrition is not taught in Veternarian Medical school so it is up to me and many others to do the research for our furry kids. I do not want to see her suffering from itchy skin all the time. I do not know why they don’t teach medical students of all kids about nutrition – makes perfect sense that they should! We are what we eat, after all! What happened to the body is a temple? That SHOULD be taught!

Bailey continues to be such a joy, but also such a challenge with her ‘”special needs.” I know my efforts are appreciated though. Since I never had kids, the animal companions that have graced my life have taken that space in my life and I have welcomed it generously. You have to be their guide and all they ask is for love in return – that seems like a great deal to me.

I was recently reading a www.petfinder.com story about a lady who adopted a Sheltie mix which had only two years. When I read that I had thought about when I agreed to bring Bailey into our life. She was a 7 yr-old dog who had been a shelter-drop-off and in Foster care there for an entire year. No One wants an older dog. Everyone wants a puppy. You come into the dogs life when they have the most challenges and then those become yours as well. I knew that going in and that was part of the reason I wanted an older dog. They need the second chance. Today I read an article in my local paper about someone’s mantra – it was something like, recognize a need and meet a need. I liked that and that too, reminded me of Bailey. She needed me and I guess I needed her too. She teaches me things every day. You need patience to deal with an older dog who is stubborn and set in her ways. But, with a lot of love, anything is possible and while you never know how long you might have together, you have each day and the opportunity to make the best of each of them and hopefully you can celebrate many more Christmases toegther.