TUESDAY February 14 2006

Erin reports ...

     Jimmy Harris came back to Straydog yesterday evening. He had visited with us a few days earlier to meet Border Collie-mix Jimmy on his way to Mississippi to visit his dad. Now he is on his way to visit his daughter in Waco with his new companion, Jimmy, before going back to his home in California. Mr. Harris had a Border Collie previously and took care of him well into old age. He has been searching shelters for the last few weeks to try to find his perfect companion. I saw Mr. Harris's list. Many on his shelter-dog list were older dogs but after visiting with our Jimmy last week his heart was set!

     Jimmy Lee Harris is a member of the long-standing band Riders of the Purple Sage (www.RidersOfThePurpleSage.com). He doesn't travel often to perform, he said, but when he does, our Jimmy will go with him. "I've always had a dog. The band knows this. It's okay with everyone. It'll be fine at the recording studio too. I'll take Jimmy's picture with celebrities next week." Mr. Harris talked with us for a couple hours tonight, and we played with our Jimmy (and Fluffy and Muffin, Jimmy's kennel mates) in the park. Back in the hospital trailer Jimmy lay on the cool kitchen floor in his harness, with eyes open and ears alert. We were getting everything ready for the adoption, and Jimmy was being very sweet and good.

     I showed Jimmy Harris how Jimmy the Dog is used to a crate. (Jimmy stayed in a crate for 2-3 weeks in our hospital trailer after Fancy began beating him up.) Jimmy Harris saw how this could be very convenient, especially when staying with family members. Mr. Harris has never used a crate but learned how easy it was to set up or fold down and thought this would be good to purchase. We folded up a 36-inch crate for him. I got some dog food, all the medical work and rabies tag, and we finalized the adoption paperwork after our long visit. Congratulations, Jimmy and Jimmy!