After placing him on a strict diet regimen, and exercising him as much as he
could tolerate...increasing his active time gradually...he dropped half his
weight, and began to run and play with the others scampering up and down the
steps like a young pup. He's a neat little guy who has thoroughly enjoyed being
a dog, and he is the perfect companion, content to lie quietly beside us on the
couch although he still requires help in getting there. His age, and the
crippling effects of the weight that he carried for so long pretty much negated
his ability to jump very high...but when he wants our attention or at
suppertime...he bounces up and down and flaps his generous ears in his
enthusiasm...yapping in his distinctive voice.
Sir Joe is here to stay.
After his world was turned upside down twice...I don't think that he could
weather what would be to him just another abandonment. So, for what little time
he has left...he'll be where he's happy. It also goes without saying that...just
as I've done with all the others when it was time to let go...when his time
comes to go for the last ride, I won't let him face it alone.
Sir Joe's full story here
Bobby is a Toy Poodle/Chihuahua mix that also has a Scottish Terrier in the
woodpile somewhere along the line. Kellie brought him home on a Saturday
afternoon in October 2004 from the Flea market. A man walked up and handed him
to her and said: "Want a dog" and walked away. He was about the size of my
hand..scared and seemed to understand that he'd been tossed away and adopted
on the same day. We figured that he was about 5-6 weeks old, and not completely
weaned. When Kellie held him up close, he tried to suckle her ear lobe. By the
time we'd had him for three days, he was right at home and fell right in with
Pepper...happy to have a dog companion that was actually her size...accepted her
new brother readily, and without any rivalry issues. She seemed to understand
that he was an unwanted cast-off, and made every effort to welcome him. Of
course, Sassy made sure to mother him and stand guard over him until he was 6
months old, often curling up around him to keep him warm through that first
winter. Many times, if we'd miss Bobby...we could find a little black nose
poking up out of all that Collie hair.
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 Bobby is our clown. Easily the most comical, most expressive, and the most
animated dog that ever sucked air and ate Milk Bones...he keeps us in stitches
with his antics and his personality. He thought his name was "DAMMIT BOBBY" for
the first three months that he was here because he was constantly into something
that we'd rather he not be into. To this day, whenever somebody says
dammit...Bobby's ears perk up. As for the guy who handed him to
Kellie...He doesn't realize what a jewel that he threw away. Good enough for
him. His loss. Our gain.
As you can clearly see Johnny is dedicated to looking after animals that are in
need of help. Animal abuse or neglect is inexcusable. Though we do have reign
over the animals of the planet that does not give us the right to abuse or take
advantage of them. If one believes it is OK to abuse an animal I invite them
to locate their nearest mountain lion and poke him in the eye. Let me know how
that works out for you.
I want to thank John Travis for his help with
getting his dogs together for the photographs and his contribution to the
article on his story and his dog’s introductions. I would also like to thank
Jenn of Jenn's on the Job for her help with the dogs and putting together the
article.
Images by Phoenix Photography
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