Snoopy...

Tera!

Since I have learned to talk, I asked my family to send you a couple of pictures of me. The first one is of me checking out the back yard. I am responsible for homeland security around here, and I take my job seriously. Whenever they let me out to patrol the yard, I run around the pool so fast they call me "the black streak." The other one is me in my little sheepskin daybed with one of my nylon covered foam balls. I love to chase them when my family throws them, and they are really good chewing. My other favorite chew toy is my nylabone. I have chewed the ends of that so that it looks all dimpled. Nana and Papa got me something called a "pet sling" on Ebay so they can carry me into stores and on walks. My favorite store is Home Depot. There's just so many things and people to look at! My favorite time of day is my 5:00 AM toilet break, when they let me out of my crate. I go outside and do my business, and then they let me into bed with them for another couple of hours of sleep. Then about 7:00 AM I get my yogurt, which I dearly love! My Papa has been teaching me to sing, and I think I'm pretty good, although Papa says I sound more like a lonely coyote. I still don't like to go out in the yard for very long without Nana or Papa keeping me company. Papa put in a "doggy door" for me, so I can race out the door whenever I hear suspicious noises in the yard. You know how those darn birds are! Well, I have to go now. It's almost time for Bill O'Reilly, and I like to watch him while sitting on Nana's lap.

Love to you and all the volunteers, Snoopy

Tera's NOTE:

Every once in awhile you place a dog and as you watch them walk away you smile because you know that you never have to worry about that dog ever again. Sure, you'll love to hear the follow up stories but there will never be that fear when you call that you'll hear, "Oh he's just not working out." No, Snoopy found his forever home with Bob and Angela and actually their whole extended family. Every once in awhile a family like the Stannard's come along and remind you why you do rescue in the first place.

Update:

The Power Of The Dog

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie--
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumor, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find--it's your own affair--
But...you've given your heart for a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!);
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone--wherever it goes--for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart for the dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long--
So why in Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

            -Rudyard Kipling