NEW ADDITION TO THE FAMILY * From my sister

I just got this Email from my siter in Arizona. It's a gem. I thought, I have to put this in my blog! So, enjoy! I am not going to change her punctuation. You that know me, know I write in sentences with capitalization, etc. Oh well, this is too good a story not to pass on!

NEW ADDITION TO THE FAMILY
we have a new addition to our family. this past saturday we went to costco and got a few things and when we came out we saw this little black and white shih tzu running around the parking lot and the street. definately looked lost. so we looked around and no one seemed to have lost this little dog. so we scooped her up and took her to the groomer asap. anyway she was so matted and neglected and her collar was on so tight that it was choking her. so cliff cut it off with his knife. the groomers said she had probably been on the streets for a long time, becuase she was totally matted and neglected. from her feet to her ears. one solid mat. she had to get shaved. she is the same size as muffin is. the groomer estimated her age at about 2. she has had puppies. anyway, we made a few phone calls and looked for signs of a lost dog and the news paper, but no luck. she is a sweet lovable and kind. doesnt seem to have any bad habits, doesnt bark or chew stuff. she is house traained too. because all her fur is shaved off, we got a sweater on her because she was so cold. anyway, she has an appt to get spayed on dec. 1st. down at the dog pound here in apache junction. our county has a contract with a company called MASH (mobile animal surgical hospital.) i called a couple of vet clinics and they wanted 350 dollars or more for spaying. so when i called the dog pound i found out about the low cost program. so she will get spayed and checked over and all for 65 dollars. then the dog shots are5 dollars each and so probably another 20 bucks. she doesnt have to go back for a check up because they super glue her incision back together and send her home with some doggie pain pills. she and muffin have already gotten to be friends. muffin has lived with other dogs, waits, tiny, cassie and other dogs we have baby sat for. so it wasnt exactly big deal for either dog. so anyway, so far, so good. it does seem like we were in the right spot at the right time, we got a sister for muffin and a good little girl. because the groomer said she appeared to have been on the streets for a long time, we named her tramp. suits her . anyway that is our christmas present for each other, a new little dog..

FOR THE LOVE OF SUGARby Lauri Weinfeld When my dad, a bachelor, was admitted to a Florida Hospice Carefacility for his final seven days, his little side kick, a rescued ShiTzu, Sugar, was missing him a lot! Her best friend was not able to throw her toy, or talk to heranymore. So Sugar spent a lot of time with dad, sitting on his bed atthat Hospice facility. We kept her leash on, since it was a policyat that facility. And we moved dad's hand up and down Sugar's back,as much to comfort Sugar as to bring subliminal comfort to dad. One afternoon, near the end, Sugar got bored and decided to hop offthe bed. Dad was very sedated, very sick, and was no longer responding toanything, nor able to move any muscles. It had been that way for days.But when Sugar got up to jump off the bed, dad's lifeless hand suddenlymoved! He was grasping her leash! Eventually, while we were just down the road getting a bite to eat,we got the call. Dad had passed. We promptly returned to his bedside.As had been the case all week, I was holding Sugar in my elbow, just likeDad always did. Upon entering the room, I immediately knew that Dad wasgone. There was an indescribable yet conspicuous change in how he looked. Sugar also realized, in an instant, that Dad had died. Sugarpanicked! She scrambled and clawed at my chest, trying to leap overmy shoulder to run for the door we had just come through. I quicklyremoved Sugar from the room, and we sat on the veranda and gatheredourselves, together. In that week, Sugar and I had bonded. When I flew home toOhio, Sugar came along, to join our entourage of pets. At first shewas insecure, grumpy, aloof. She was used to being the only dog inthe house. This business of sharing a master was NOT her idea of howto live. When the other dogs tried to play with her, she would back away,then try, then quit, not sure of what it was TO play with another dog.(We have another Shi Tsu and a Standard Poodle.) Sugar hoarded food, got possessive of me -- growling at otherswho approached when she's near me -- and refused to leave my side. It's been over a year now, and Sugar loves her new life. She is theimp that instigates dog play, the one who purposely sleeps pressed againstour other Shi Tzu, who loves all of our family members equally, and who,no doubt, remembers her loving former owner, but wastes no time grieving,as there are chew toys to chase, treats to beg for, and kisses to give! Sugar is her own person in our new family. She's found her niche,as our clown, our cuddler, our little fog horn (what a guard dog!)She still follows me everywhere, but that's okay. She is my link to a very important past, and I am her link to asafe and fun future. -- Lauri Weinfeld