Sunday, December 21, 2008

At Christmas Time

Hello everyone!

My mom wants me to talk about something very important today. Old, homeless dogs.

I was an old, homeless dog when mom took me from that man. I don't think he was going to take me home with him. I don't know what I would have done if mom hadn't "bought" me from him! I am not sure where I would be today, but mom says it could have been at the shelter, a place she visited yesterday with her sister.

I knew mom was upset because she showed me articles in a big paper book about a dog named "Hopper". I could see that he had age on his face around his mouth like I do. Mom told me he was even older than I am (14) and that he didn't have a home for Christmas like I do. He was at the Ess Pee Cee Eh, and he couldn't find a home because sometimes he couldn't hold his pee. Mom and her sister were pretty sad and said they wanted to bring him "home for the holidays" but the old man and woman said "absolutely not!". They decided that even if they couldn't bring Hopper home, they would go visit him at the Ess Pee Cee Eh Shelter.



So mom and her sister bought some toys and treats and went to the shelter to visit Hopper. They were really happy when they got there because the girl working there said Hopper had just found his new home! The best part is that he went home with a veterinarian (just like the nice lady who looked me all over a few months ago) who will be able to look after his problems. Mom said it might be Hopper's last Christmas, then she said she hoped it was not MY last Christmas! I hope it's not mine either, because I love mom and I want to spend more time with her.

Also, while they were at the shelter, mom and her sister met a dog named Cyrus. Mom said he had kind eyes and sat close to the wire in his pen so she could scratch his back and shoulders. He was quiet and didn't bark a lot. He is 6 years old. Mom said sometimes dogs that aren't puppies anymore (no matter how much like a puppy they feel!) sometimes have a hard time finding homes because they aren't as cute as puppies (I don't know what she's talking about, she tells me I am "soooooo cute!" every single day, so I don't know...). Mom especially loves old dogs because she says they are really "appreciative" - I am not sure what that means but mom tells me it is like how I love all of the things she does for me, even though she doesn't have to.

Mom really wanted to bring Cyrus "home for the holidays" but she said that she thought that the old man and old lady that live here might "tear her head off" if she did that! I say the more the merrier, but apparantly the old man and old lady haven't gotten that memo yet!

If anyone in New Brunswick would like to meet Cyrus, he is at the Fredericton Ess Pee Cee Eh, and he is still waiting for a new home. He has "kind eyes" and mom loved him!



Mom said there is also another dog there that reminds her and her sister of Bella-the-bad-dog, but he is not on the Ess Pee Cee Eh website yet. He barked a lot and then looked at them and mom said it was just like looking at the REAL Bella. She thinks that someday Bella could have ended up at the same place, too, because she can be hard to get along with - for dogs AND for people.

Mom also said she would probably never buy a puppy again. She loves old dogs like me, and she told me about her other old dog, Sarah, that left the house about a year before I came - she was 13 years old and a great dane like Sasha. She says puppies are cute but old dogs are "the best".

So everyone, if you are thinking about getting a dog for the holidays, please consider an old dog at a shelter or rescue. They can sometimes be a challenge (ask mom about the trouble she had getting me to take my medicine at first!), but they usually come around and there is nothing better than making sure an old folk like me is loved in their last days.

Merry Christmas and Happy Howlidays,

Callie-dog.

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