Misty of the Magic White Feet

Another view from my chair

Today’s featured adoptee is Misty. She will be 2 years old, probably in January.

We adopted her February 13, 2011. She was barely a handful and weighed just a little over 2 lbs. when we brought her home. She was also sick.

Though we happened to find her the same day she came to the shelter, I had some reservations about adopting her. Two months previously I had lost another adopted puppy, Tippi, within a week of bringing her home. Turned out she had distemper.

Before you go thinking that shelter was a terrible place, both Tippi and Misty were sick before they came there. They were each there a day or less before I found them. For Misty’s adoption, we were able to get an exam from the vet on duty that weekend. It appeared she had an upper respiratory infection. After a few days of meds, it seemed like she was going to make a nice, quick recovery, then she started relapsing. We had at least a 3 month fight on our hands, with several visits to the shelter veterinarian and a couple of visits to our family vet. That May she finally started getting better.

That August she traveled with my daughter and me, and was my companion for the solitary drive back. During that trip, she started coming into her own. Now she is our naughty dog, Miss Slick (or just Slicky), and Misty of the Magic White Feet. She acquired the last moniker because of her tendency to dig, and the lucky fact that dirt just doesn’t seem to stick to her. We knew one of the other dogs was digging, but didn’t realize Misty was participating until she was caught in the act.

Now, I know this seems like a cautionary tale, and it is. But don’t decide not to adopt an animal from a shelter because it might be sick. As a matter of fact, there is a very good possibility that shelters will have a lot of sick animals. Remember, they rarely get pampered, healthy pets from loving homes. It’s usually the exact opposite, and these facilities are doing the best they can with limited funds and lots of volunteers. There will be occasions when heartbreak can’t be avoided. And then there will that glorious moment when you realize you got the four-legged companion you needed. Despite the months of struggle to get Misty to the dog she is today, I wouldn’t trade them. I discovered depths of strength and perseverance I didn’t know I had.

The Project Queen



Peace Puppy

The view from my chair

For those who aren’t aware, October is not only Breast Cancer Awareness month, it’s also Adopt a Shelter Pet month.

Pet adoption is an issue very close to my heart. My husband and I currently have four dogs in our household. Three of them are adopted. Today, I’m introducing you to Alexa. She is now the oldest of our dogs at the age of 4 ½ years. It wasn’t so long ago that she was the puppy, keeping our 2 older dogs (both adopted) on their toes. Now that they are no longer with us, Alexa is Queen Bee.

I think one of my favorite things about adopting a dog is the surprises they give you throughout their lifetimes. When we brought Alexa home we were pretty certain the shelter was correct in identifying her as an Australian Cattle Dog. But as she grew it became clear there was something else mixed in. She has the full face mask of a tri-colored collie and is taller, with the deep chest of a dog bred to cover lots of ground. Whether the collie is flat or rough coat, we don’t know. She has the short, slick, spectacled coat of a cattle dog. Her appearance has earned the nickname Pretty Girl.

But Alexa is a lot more that just her appearance. She has one of the most unique personalities of any dog I’ve ever owned. (10 dogs passed though my life before she joined us.) I believe it’s her collie showing through, and anyone who has ever owned one has probably experienced some of these traits. Alexa has several nicknames – Peace Puppy, Nurse Flo (Florence Nightingale), Bossy Boots, Miss Barky Barkington. She doesn’t like raised voices and feels the need to calm upset family members. Not feeling well? She lies on the patient and administers magic dog saliva. She makes sure the other dogs are kept in their places, and she’s very protective of her home turf. Her upright ears guarantee she hears almost everything. She is usually the first one to bark. She’s a great walking companion, especially when it’s just the two of us. She prefers to stay close, and she comes very quickly when called.

I’m sure I will never be blessed with another dog like her. However, that’s true of every dog I’ve known, and will be true of the ones I know in the future. If you have never adopted or owned a pet, give it a try. They make our lives so much richer.

The Project Queen