Straydog UPDATE posted WEDNESDAY 12/25/02 at ~11:47 p.m. CT

Pat Arnold's Daily Dog Log

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 25 2002 CHRISTMAS

Melissa arrives at her new home at 9 a.m., and what a gift she is!

Melissa is timid at first, but she soon warmed up to the boys.

 

     Early Christmas morning Bill and I drove 175 miles to Plano (and back) to deliver Melissa, a Christmas present decorated with pretty bows on her collar, to her new family. (This Christmas surprise has been in the making for the past two and a half weeks.) We arrived at Melissa's new home at 9:00, as scheduled, and as soon as we rang the doorbell, the two sons opened the door to meet us. I think they had just unwrapped the gifts containing the presents for their new pet, including dog food, dog leash, name tag, a harness and toys, which the parents saved for last, so that the boys would open them right before Melissa's planned arrival, which gifts really caught the boys, Brentt and Ryan, by surprise, the dad told us later.

     Needless to say the boys were thrilled to finally have Melissa join their family. They had first seen Melissa at our Saturday adoption day on Saturday, December 7, and the boys fell in love with her and wanted to adopt her then. At the parent's request (so they could surprise the boys at Christmas) we held Melissa for the parents, during which time the home visit was made when the kids were away from the house.

     Bill took pictures while Melissa checked out her new home again with the boys close at hand, and their father and I went over Melissa's health record, which shows Melissa to be up to date on everything.

     Just before Bill and I left to come home, we all helped put the new blue harness on Melissa so the boys could take her for a walk. Melissa will be so happy in her new home with her wonderful new mom and dad and two terrific young boys to play with!

*Photos taken at Melissa's new house with her new family.

 

Mike Nicholson emails pictures of "their kids," Stevie (the blind dog) and his seeing-eye buddy, Pete

     Later Christmas day Mike and Ann Nicholson, who adopted two of our dogs, Stevie and Little Pete, over two years ago, emailed cute pictures of "their kids." Stevie (who is blind) and Little Pete, Stevie's seeing-eye buddy (both very handsome fellows) were decorated in little reindeer headbands for their "photo session."

Stevie wearing raindeer antlers, Mike and Little Pete at the right waiting his turn.

Little Pete

 

 

A BIG THANK YOU:

     MANY THANKS to all the wonderful people who have given so generously to help the rescued dogs and puppies at our Happy Home for Strays. Without your help caring for the abandoned dogs we take in--the sick, the wounded, the frightened old dogs, the scared mother dogs found with their litters of pups--just would not be possible. These dogs all owe you their lives and we are forever grateful to you all.

     A special thank you to Greta, Steve and Michelle, for the boxes and boxes of dog toys! WOW! And for the cases of hot chocolate and tea for our employees. You really made Everyone happy! The Fichthorns came to our Happy Home for Strays Tuesday (Christmas eve), but unfortunately I missed seeing them because I was at the vet clinic with Snowflake. They delivered three huge boxes of dog toys (including stuffy-squeaky animal toys, and balls, and rope tuggy toys), and for the employees they brought several cases of hot chocolate and tea. Guy took the couple on a tour of our shelter so they could see the many furry fellas they were helping. I'm sorry I wasn't here to meet them.

     And thanks to Michelle for her yearly, big box, of Christmas doggie treats. It must take Michelle forever to prepare the individual baggies (with bows) for up to 60+ dogs, so that every dog and pup here will have his or her Christmas treat. The doggies all thank you!

     Thank you contributors for the donations you have made to our vet clinic, Morton's Small Animal Clinic, to help us with our never-ending, seemingly always growing vet bill. This is a huge help, and I'm sure our vet thanks you too!

     For those of you who have asked for the address of our vet clinic, it is:

Morton Small Animal Clinic
1404 E. Tyler Street
Athens, Tx. 75751

and please make a note on your check that the donation is for Straydog Inc. so they'll be sure to apply your donation to our Straydog account. (Or you may send a donation directly to Straydog Inc., P.O. Box 1465, Gun Barrel City, Texas 75147.)

     We thank you very much, for your help.