Straydog UPDATE posted THURSDAY 1/30/03 at ~7:47 p.m. CT

Pat Arnold's Daily Dog Log

THURSDAY JANUARY 30 2003

Davey has a Sponsor

      Sara Jamison and her husband have been friends and supporters of our Happy Home for Strays for quite a while. They are the kindhearted couple who saved Davey's life on January 10th, the day he was to be put down because his owner had died leaving this old fellow with no home and no one to care for him.

      Fortunately we had a kennel spot open, and plans were quickly made for the couple to bring Davey to our vet clinic for us, and they have been sponsoring Davey ever since, paying for his care here, all of his vet bills, and also covering the cost of Davey's special tests done recently by Dr. Deen. (See the first entry about Davey in our January 12 update.)

      Sara emails often to find out how Davey is doing (and how all the other dogs are doing as well), and we thank the Jamisons for their help and for caring so much about this special, big, older fellow.

Recent arrival, Heather, begins treatment for heartworm disease

      Last night at midnight I woke up suddenly, remembering, in my sleep, that Heather needed to begin treatment for heartworm disease! (These dogs and pups Never leave my mind!)

      Now that this beautiful young "Sable Shepherd" (friend Marci says she is a Sable Shepherd) has recovered from her spay surgery she is ready to begin treatment for heartworm disease, and I called the clinic first thing this morning to see if I could bring her in with me when I came to pick up puppy Pepsi from his overnight stay following his neuter operation, and this would be fine the receptionist said.

      I arrived at the clinic about 10:00 a.m., the doctor gave Heather her first treatment. I'll be leaving Heather at the clinic tonight and will pick her up tomorrow after the second treatment is done.

      Then Dr. Morton and I discussed all the other fellas I'd be bringing next Monday for their spay and neuter surgeries: the other recent arrivals, six-month-old pups, Gidget, Brigitte and Justin, and now that Old Davey Boy is healthy enough to be neutered, I'll be taking him in too. The vet tech brought Pepsi to me, and home we came. Tipper and Pepsi were so glad to be back together again!

Justin, Brigitte and Gidget are looking so good!

      These are the three pups who were covered from the tips of their noses to the tips of their ears and tails with sarcoptic and demodectic mange (along with being nearly starved to death) when we rescued them on Friday, December 27, 2002. They've had several "mange dips" now, to rid their bodies of mites, and their fur has just about all grown back. The three siblings are beginning to look like puppy dogs once again, with fat little tummies!

"How's Candy doing at her new home?"

      Many people have emailed asking how shy, little Candy is doing in her new home. Here is an email message we received today:

From : The Dalys

To : Straydog@straydog.org

Subject : Daly Kenned Edition /Jan. 30, 03

Date : Thu, 30 Jan 2003 13:07:06 EST

Wow - early busy, busy morning and lots to tell!

Candy has added the living room to her kennel. She loves to sleep on my feet - and since David says I have the
coldest feet in the world, she is a wonderful comfort to my toes. Yesterday was pretty normal around here. Candy is now
comfortable coming and going outdoors with or without Tommy, and she's pretty much doing what she wants to do and
seldom trembles any more unless there are loud noises or a lot of busy activity and usually she may be trembling but
also very curious and checks things out.

This morning when David carried the big garbage bags out thru the dining room and living room (shortest way for
him and saves breath), Candy came into the living room and sat down by me chair and leaned against my arm but did
not run away - just watched and learned what was happening. When David came back in she went over to him for a
pet and a kiss.

About four this morning I wakened to the click, click of Candy's feet on the dining room floor. (I am the world's lightest
sleeper - even Isis snoring by me wakes me.) Naturally, I threw back the covers and went in to see what her need
was. (We have a "night light" in the dining room) and when I came in she ran to me WITH HER TAIL UP AND WAGGING
IN HAPPINESS!! After a big hug and kiss she raced to the back door, and I opened it, and out she went for her
necessary business, then came racing back in the house, another quick petting and hug and kiss, and she went to her
bed and I went back to mine, and we all slept in this morning.

Candy wants to tell you about her next big adventure this morning:

"Hi everyone at Straydog. I sure am having a whole new world opening up and sometimes I get scared, but Betty and
David say that is OK. This morning David put a leash on Tommy Tootles and they went out the front door for what
Tommy told me was going to be a "walk." WELL, I wanted to go, too but Betty said David can handle only one dog at a
time. So, I sat at the front storm door and whined. Yep, it worked!! Betty went in, got a coat, got my leash and took me
out in the backyard and we walked for a bit. Came back in the house and with her still holding the leash I led her to
the front door. SHE GOT A REAL GOOD GRIP ON MY LEASH, OPENED THE DOOR AND OUT WE WENT.

She walked me all around the front yard and down the sidewalk that she called concrete. We walked down the side of
the house to the back gate, and I just sniffed and looked and had such a good time. When she said it was time to go
in I just walked up on the porch and into the house. I've been laying on my blanket for a while just thinking about all
the things I have seen so far today.
I love all of you and thank you again for the chance to be the kind of dog that someone would want for a pet. This is a
great experience and I am having lots of fun. Hugs, and kisses to all my friends at Straydogs...I hope someday all of
you will have a chance to at least try to live in the big world."

Pat and Bill and all the other Helpers: I am going to copy a "letter to the editor" that was in this morning's Dallas
News. You may have heard of it - we had not before reading this letter and thought that it was a very positive idea.

GUARDIANS - NOT OWNERS
I was happy to see the Associated Press article reporting that San Francisco has become one of seven cities in the
nation, along with [the State of] Rhode Island, to allow those sharing their lives with animal companions to call themselves
guardians rather than owners.

I hope we in Dallas-Fort Worth can have the vision to enact a similar change. Adopting guardian language of our own
will elevate the status of animal companions in our community to a higher level of respect, responsibility and care
from their human counterparts. signed LaDonna K. Smith, DeSoto TX.