Hi, I'm Sarah from Louisiana. I am a German Shorthaired Pointer. I know I had a Mama, and she was sweet and gentle like me. We lived in Iowa. After I grew up, I was taken to the Animal Shelter and tied to the doorknob. It was scary, but some nice people came in the morning and took me inside. They put me in a cage, which I didn't understand at all, but the food and water was good. They named me Dottie.
Strange things began to happen. My belly got bigger. The people said "she's pregnant". They took me to a quiet building and made me a larger pen, with a special bed. I was the only dog there, so I slept a lot and felt my belly grow. One day I began to feel odd, and by the end of the day I had eleven puppies in my bed. I was a Mama!
No
one had to tell me how to care for these little darlings. I loved
them so much, and it was a joy to meet their needs. Each had unique
markings, and would grow to be great looking dogs. When the pups
were old enough, strangers came to look at them and hold them. Then
they took them away to new homes. I was a little sorry to see them
go, but they didn't need me like they did when they were little.
Soon all my pups were gone, and I figured I was next.
Here is my son, Jordan, at
the age of one year:
He
looks like a purebred, doesn't he? The families who adopted my pups
said all were highly intelligent AND they housebroke easily.
So...I waited. One day some new ladies came to the shelter and thought I was a very special dog. They spent time with me and took my picture to go on the "web". The only web I know about is a spider web, but they put my picture on it.
I waited some more. I didn't know it, but my future Mama saw my picture on the web. She called the Animal Shelter and said "I want to adopt Dottie". She lived many, many hours away, but her sister was one of the shelter people...good luck, eh?
The phone calls flew back and forth. My new Mama (Ruth) and Dad (Charles) wanted me as soon as possible. Mama's sister and her friend planned a trip where we would meet half way, in Missouri, at a dog friendly motel.
Ruth will be the first to tell you that the speedy way that my friend Lora got those extra photos and information to her really sealed the deal on my adoption! She deserves a lot of credit. Funny thing: my new family had inquiries out all over LA and TX for a dog. Then, after they had decided on me, some of those inquiries bore fruit in the form of positive replies. That's a good illustration of what a difference it makes when the shelter or rescue people are quick to respond as Lora from PAWS & More was. Here is what Lora wrote to Mama's sister:
I have been emailing with your sister Ruth, in regard to Dottie. I am so excited I can hardly type. All I can say is YEAH!!!!!!!! for Dottie!!
How exciting! I fell in love with Dottie the minute I saw her. She is a bit excited in her kennel, but once out she is the most submissive sweet dog I have ever met. I can not wait to get updates about her from your sister.
With the magic of e-mail and faxes, my adoption was quickly approved. Ruth's sister, took a day off and took me to see the vet. I was tested for heartworms (negative!), got a "rabies" shot, and the vet checked me all over so I could have a pink slip that allowed me to travel far away. I had to have a bath, too. I HATE BATHS!
At the end of the long drive,I got out of the car, and Ruth's sister said "this is your new Mama!" My new family took me off into the grass and petted me all over and sat and talked to me. I liked them right away! Ruth knows how to massage dogs, and she really made me feel relaxed.
I stayed in the motel room that night in my new crate with my new bed, which Ruth sewed special for me. Everybody ate human food, except me...I ate regular food. It was good to not feel carsick.
In the morning Ruth, Charles,
and I got on their car and we started to drive. I thought we were
already home, but it seems home was still a long ways away. We had
a 9 1/2 hour trip home. Four stops for clean ups, one stop for cotton
towels & paper towels and a short pleasure stop at the Buffalo River
in northern Arkansas ( according to the Nat'l. Park Service the last totally
unspoiled pristine river in America - Mama read about it a while back)
and it really is great. No houses, or buildings, signs, just a nice
river rock drive to get down there and a walkway to get to the bank.
It's very shallow at the edge, absolutely clear, birds & butterflies
all over in the lightly wooded area nearby. I was really intrigued,sniffing, seeing & hearing everything, then I walked to the edge and I waded along in ankle deep cool water ...it was the neatest thing I'd ever done! If Ruth hadn't had a firm grip on the leash I would have gone for a swim. I walked along at a brisk pace enjoying the moment. I did not want to leave at all! Maybe I can go on a weekend trip to northern Arkansas if I can get over being carsick.
Dear Mary, Evie, and Lora,
Thank you a hundred times
for bringing Sarah to be our dog, for caring
for her all the last 17
months of her life, helping her with her puppies
and everything. I'm
so glad there are people in the world like you who
give the best care you can
to a dog like Sarah instead of "the
alternative".
At the moment she is lying
on the floor beside me as I type. Took her
out in the yard twice this
morning but she just looked, listened &
sniffed a short while and
wanted to come back inside and lie down on her
soft pad or on the rug nearest
where ever I am. She seems very content
and relaxed over all.
She's sleeping or resting with her eyes closed now
-- I think she is a bit
tired from two days of riding & feeling sick part
of the time, also so many
changes in just a few days. This morning I
turned on the TV for a few
minutes for the weather channel and she seemed
pretty curious, do you think
she has seem a TV during the time she was at
the shelter? Was she
ever at anyone's house?
I put her soft pad in the
LR where she can see into the DR and down the
short hall into the kitchen.
I think she likes to be able to see as much
as possible. Gave
her a massage all over and took her out side for a
good brushing as it's supposed
to be in the near 80 degrees today so I
expect she will be shedding
a lot for a while as it warms into summer.
We think she is a wonderful
dog and we are so glad she is part of our
family now.
Ruth
I will continue my story, so check back in a week or so.
Love,
Sarah
Please see my photo album! CLICK HERE!SARAH'S PHOTO ALBUM
Sarah spent 18 months at PAWS & More Animal Shelter in Washington, Iowa, a private, no-kill shelter. Local Humane Societies do not receive funds from the national Humane Society (HSUS). Animal Woman maintains this website to promote adoptions from the local Humane Society and is solely responsible for the content of those particular pages. Personal Pages are identified as such.
Please e-mail me: maryaw @ iowatelecom.net (REMOVE THE SPACES BEFORE MAILING) and please come back to visit!
| Spay and neuter your companion animals. Leave breeding
to responsible, knowledgeable breeders. Every year an estimated fifteen
million fine dogs and cats are euthanized in America. This is no way to
treat our best friends, so when it's time to adopt a new family member,
go to a shelter and SAVE A LIFE.
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