Hi Jolene;
Your call last night advising me that there was one of your pup's at an animal control facility pulled at my heart, and when you asked me for assistance in getting this pup out of there I did not hesitate to say yes since I know what you are always willing to go through to make sure none of you pup's are ever left at any type of shelter.
With not knowing the circumstances of why this pup was at this animal control facility, the family and I decided to make a day of it and started out on our over 130 mile drive early this morning. We arrived at the animal control facility shortly after 11:00 this morning, and it was already over 106 degrees in the area. The animal control officer advised us that this pup lived with a family on the military base, and this pup had been taken by the Marine Military Police, right out of the back yard of the owner's residence as this pup was left outside in 113 degree heat with NO water.
The animal control officer had nothing but the nicest of things to say about you, as he was very impressed that you as the breeder, as well as someone that does rescue, took such quick action to make sure that this pup was taken care of. He told me that he spent time yesterday reviewing your website, and was just amazed at the beautiful dogs you had, as well as your kennels, and your beliefs and policies. He asked me if I thought you would mind him keeping your number for future guidance if he needed it as they get huskies and malamutes in their facility since they are really good escape artists. I told him I knew you would also be willing to give guidance, and you would most likely always be willing to get him to someone that would be able to help if you could even if it was not a dog from your breeding since this is the type of person you are.
Ok - back to the pup
He was so happy to see someone there to pick him up, even though he had no idea who I or my family was, he showed such love with kisses and tail going a mile a minute, we left with him for our over 130 mile trip back home. He rode in the car taking up the entire 3rd. row seat to himself and you could tell that he loved being close to my daughters. We stopped in the town to pick up some water for him and let him get out and stretch his legs since he went right from the animal control facility to our SUV. He drew quite a group of people, all wanting to stop and see what a cute little pup we had with us. One lady stopped to talk to him, and he told her quite a story back, and she laughed at how cute he was.
I wanted to be able to give you a full assessment of the pup, so we stopped off at my parents home first to see how he was with other animals. They have one huskey and we thought that might be easier to judge as with Miki and Ah-Me at home, we knew they would be all over him, and we did not want to scare him. Well, he went right up to my parents huskey, and wanted to play. We let him venture around their back yard for a bit with their huskey and him hanging out the whole time. We then took him to my sisters house as I wanted to see how he was around younger children. Well - he LOVES them. It was the cutest thing to see him with my youngest niece, she kept telling him no Miki (his face does remind me of Miki). No problems with little kids. So we headed home, as I thought Miki and Ah-Me were all over him, and the pup was so excited, he wanted to play. Next test - the cats, the pup walked right over one of them with no care that she was lying there. Of course we made it out to the back yard, and in the pool he went, with Miki and Ah-Me watching over him, when he got out of the pool he was moving around the back yard with Miki and Ah-Me like he had always been here.
We took him with us to get him a collar, leash and bowl of his own and to get his weight checked. Everyone just LOVED him at the pet store, they just could not believe what a beautiful little pup this was. He picked out a toy from the shelf, and we had him weighed at the vet's office that is in the pet store - he currently weighs 72.2lbs.
Looks like he is going to fit right in with our family (both human and fur kids). He had a big day today, but he has had no problem adjusting so far, and is currently sound asleep at my feet.
Rastus - means "The loving one" in Greek, which he is :)
Misty and Family July 19, 2009
