Thursday Thirteen - Edition 12

(This is the very first picture that my Mom and Dad have of me - the lady I lived with at the time took it. I'm about 10 months old here.)

Thirteen Things About My First Five Days at My Forever Home

1. These people came to meet me on February 10, 2001. They were nice enough. Until they put a leash on me and put me in their car. I was askeered. The lady kept talking to me in a really nice voice and making sure I was comfortable and everything. I finally curled up on the backseat and went to sleep. (Day 1)

2. I got really scared and wouldn't come in the house. The lady hooked my leash in the house and left the back door open so I could go in the house if I chose to. While she ran to answer the phone, I slipped my collar and slipped through the fence and ran away. And didn't come back. (Day 1)

3. I ran and ran and ran away from the lady and dude who would become my Mom and Dad. Everytime they got within two feet of me, I took off. They followed me in the car for a while and at one point I was running over 20 mph. Even across a very busy street (twice) - which made the lady real askeered. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. I REPEAT - DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS!!! (Day 1)

4. I stayed out all night. The lady and the dude took turns staying up all night just in case I came back into the yard. (Day 1-2)

5. I continued to run and run and run all morning. The lady had a bunch of neighborhood kids helping her spot me, so she was never far away from me. (Day 2)

6. The lady called the lady that I used to live with and she came over and followed me for a couple of hours. Finally, I recognized her voice and jumped in her car. She drove me back to the new lady and the dude's house and hugged me goodbye and hugged the new lady because the dude told her how the lady had been up all night crying and worrying about me. She said she knew I was going to a good home if the lady was that upset. (Day 2)

7. I ate supper and took a nap while the lady and the dude finished blocking off all the spaces in the fence where I could get out. (Day 2)

8. I got a bath and got my paws cleaned up. They were pretty cut up from my night on the town. I was not sure that I was going to like these people. (Day 2)

9. I slept all day. Lots of kisses and ear scratches and treats from the people. I got a brand new collar and ID tag and bed. (Day 3)

10. I got to sniff Shadow (my new sister) and Jazzy (my grandma's dog) through a crack in the door. More ear scratches and treats. (Day 3)

11. I pooped in the basement. And the lady didn't yell or anything. I was pretty embarrassed, but she said it was ok because 1) I picked the basement, and 2) we didn't really have a schedule for me yet. Plus, I was eating new food and sometimes that upsets your tummy at first. (Day 3)

12. I had to go to the V-E-T. They poked me with needles and stuck a thermometer somewhere it didn't belong and gave me some shots. The lady made an appointment for my hooha-ectomy. It sucked. I sniffed Shadow and Jazzy through the door some more. (Day 4)

13. After the V-E-T called the lady and told her that I didn't have any weird diseases, I got to hang out with Shadow and Jazzy for a little while. It went really good. I acted a lot braver when I was with the other dogs. The lady was very happy. I decided that these people were ok, and I've been with them ever since. They're pretty cool. (Day 5)