Submitted the story of Meiko's adoption, "This is the Dog". We adopted him August 2012 and he's definitely one of the best dogs I've had the honor to own. Here's the link to the story http://www.petfinder.com/adoption-stories/index.cgi?story=28640 , but if you want to read it here, it's below. I don't like the way it formatted on their site. I followed their directions and I didn't copy and paste. I added it by hand and it still came out wrong. Oh well, the story is still true.
Submitted a writing sample to FamilyHow.com. "10 Ways to Show Love to Your Children" is 870 words. Not sure how long it will take them to get back with me. If you remember, this submission is for a position as a freelance writer for the website. Wish me luck.
Thank you for your support.
Happy writing, submitting and waiting.
This is the Dog!
“I need another
dog,” I told my husband, Thom.
“I’m not ready,” he
responded.
Toby, our 12 year
old 125 lb merle Great Dane, Had died about 6 months ago. I still miss him, but
I was ready for another dog. Until his death, I hadn’t been without a dog in 32
years and I was feeling the hole he left.
Our last three dogs
had been rescued Danes and I decided I needed a smaller dog this time. Trying to help
Toby get around, toward the end, was as taxing on me as it was on him. I decided
to adopt in the 15 – 20 lb range.
I chose This is the Dog!, www.thisisthedog.com, an
animal adoption agency located in Homestead, Florida, because I was familiar
with many of their foster parents and volunteers and they had a dog that caught
my interest. I sent them an email and on August 3rd I attended
their adoption day at PETCO. There
were many adoptable dogs available, but I couldn’t find the one I’d been
watching on facebook.
When I saw Meeko
(now Meiko), a 3 year old blue and white long-haired Chihuahua, I knew I’d
found my next dog. I had my picture taken with him and sent it to Thom
and then went to This is the Dog!’s representative
and asked for an appointment to meet him in his foster home. (He was too
skittish and didn’t show well at the shop)
Thom’s remark at
seeing the picture was expected. “No, I don’t want a Chihuahua.”
My response was
expected as well. “This is my dog and we’ll get you your poodle when you’re
ready.”
Meiko had been
locked in a crate and hidden among bushes on the side of the road. He wasn’t
discovered the first night they heard his crying pleas. A thorough search was
conducted when his crying was heard again the next day in the same area. He had
gone at least one night without food and water. His neck and upper body was
covered with scabs and his hair was matted about his neck. Fearful and unsure,
he met us barking as we entered his foster home. He remained in Thom’s arms, his
long neck stretched as far away as possible and looked as if he’d leap if he dared.
Thom continued to
hold him as we discussed his temperament with his foster mom. We wanted to know
if he’d fit in with our daughter’s 12 year old English Shepherd, Jake, and the
two cats. It was decided he’d meet the rest of the family, in our home, later
in the week.
Thom handed me Meiko
and said, “Never mind the poodle. This is the dog I want.”
It was difficult to
wait for Meiko to meet Jake, and the cats. Horchata, our white DSH, met us at
the door. We set Meiko down, they sniffed and Horchata, bored, walked away. I hadn’t
realized how small Meiko really was until he stood next to him. Horchata
towered over him. Later we discovered he’s 3 times Meiko’s weight.
Meiko then walked
over to Jake sleeping in his usual place under the dinner table. Jake looked
up, sniffed Meiko, sighed and went back to his nap.
Kikyo, our DLH,
refused to leave the high ground and stared at him with her large gold eyes
glowing against her black coat. Meiko acknowledged her existence with a sniff
and continued to explore.
Saturday, August 18th,
Meiko joined our family and, in less than 8 hours, broke the number one rule of
our home—no one, human or animal, sleeps with Daddy and Mommy. (He’s been there
ever since)
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