Straydog UPDATE posted WEDNESDAY 7/16/03 at ~9:30 p.m. CT

Bill Arnold's Daily Straydog Log

WEDNESDAY JULY 16 2003

An email from Darla Fort about their beautiful deaf and nearly blind Great Dane named Helen, who's enjoying the summer in a much cooler Montreal, Canada

     As you may remember, last December 1st Darla Fort and her husband, Neal Fort (who plays offensive right tackle for the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes), came to our shelter (on their way from Montreal to Houston where they live during the off-season) to adopt Helen, the deaf and nearly blind Great Dane.

     The Forts are back in Canada now for this year's Canadian Football League season, which has already begun, and Darla just sent us the following email, including a couple of photos of Helen. (See the December 1, 2002 update via the PREVIOUS WEEKS link below.)

Dear Bill and Straydog followers - Neal and I were thinking of you when we took Helen to the Dog Park [in Montreal] just a few days ago. We had mixed emotions as we drove up to the park where about 20 dogs were running and playing. It was like taking your kid to school for the first time but our "kid" was special. Helen was MAGNIFICENT!!! Neal and I were both a little teary eyed watching Helen explore and discover a whole new world of fellow dogs. Aside from an occasional "run in" she behaved like a champ and showed no aggression of any kind. She is an amazing dog, who is deeply loved, and we couldn't have been more proud of her. Thanks again to Pat, Helen's first mother, for loving her and giving her a chance for a normal life. There is no doubt in our mind that the compassion and love from Straydog enabled Helen to be the wonderful loving dog that she is! Darla Fort

Helen, asleep in her Canadian chair

Beautiful, beautiful Helen

Darla and Neal after Montreal won the Grey Cup Championship last November.

 

Other news from Straydog today:

     Hot, hot, hot! We're considering putting up more lights and at least doing the very heavy kennel cleaning work at night. We're working on a schedule.

Max wouldn't eat at all today--not even a cookie

     Other than having no appetite, Max acted fairly normal. He ran around his kennel when caregivers came around, and he seemed fairly active for such hot weather. We'll see what Dr. Morton says tomorrow morning.