Straydog UPDATE posted SUNDAY 6/15/03 at ~9:14 p.m. CT

Bill Arnold's Daily Straydog Log

SUNDAY JUNE 15 2003

With Pepsi gone his mother, Krissy, needs a kennel mate

     Rudy, one of Rosie's puppies, had already begun spending time with Pepsi when he was adopted the first time two weeks ago, and they were compatible, so today we moved Rudy into Krissy's kennel, and the two of them are getting along just fine.

Rex, another of Rosie's pups, moved in with Nikki today to stay with her full time

     As you may remember, these two have been visiting each other every day both in the big play yard and in Nikki's kennel, but Rex would always start whining for his mother and siblings after about an hour or so. Today we moved a dog house into Nikki's shelter for Rex, and so far he's doing just fine away from Rosie, who now has only Puppy Benny with her. Rosie's probably very happy that all but one of her kids have moved out.

Lots of rain again today on and off

     Thunder and lightning with this morning's storms, this afternoon we had just intermittent hard rain with periods of bright sunny sky.

Thank-you letter ready to mail

     I've spent most of the day so far (in addition to all the other things I have to do) composing the following letter, which will go out in tomorrow's mail to our new (and former) contributors:

S t r a y d o g . o r g

Pat and Bill Arnold's Happy Home for Strays, a No-Kill Dog Shelter
P.O. Box 1465, Gun Barrel City, Texas 75147 * (903) 479-3497 * EMAIL: straydog@straydog.org
Straydog Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Non-Profit Corporation - DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

Pat and Emily at the vets Friday, May 30, 2003, the day before Pat suffered her fatal brain aneurysm + Megan and Pat on May 23, 2003

June 15, 2003

Dear Friends,

It has been two weeks since Pat died, and I still cannot believe it. Carrying on Pat's dream and mission keeps me going without much time to even think about what has happened. Our children along with Pat's wonderful crew of kennel team members and caregivers have also dedicated themselves to carry on Pat's work. Together we will take care of Pat's dogs as (in the very last words she spoke) she asked us to do: "Take care of my dogs while I'm gone."

We are very grateful for your kind and generous contributions to Straydog Inc. in memory of Pat. As Pat often said in her thank-you letters, your financial and moral support sustain us. (Please let us know if you need a receipt for the IRS.)

We will continue to report to you daily on our website (www.straydog.org) writing about (and including photos of) the important goings-on at Straydog, and we will mail you our periodic newsletter, the next of which will include all the highlights of Pat Arnold's Daily Dog Log from the first of this year until Pat's death.

Since Pat started this mission back in 1992, I have fully supported her and her dream to rehabilitate, care for and find forever homes for the dogs we've rescued, and through our example we will hopefully help to encourage all of humanity to achieve a sustainable and maintainable population of dogs (and cats) without having to resort to euthanasia. During our almost 47 years of marriage I always encouraged Pat and never tried to dissuade her from pursuing her dreams, and I will not now or in the future ever abandon her dream and mission to convert every stray dog into a lucky dog.

Sincerely,

Bill Arnold