I had been without a canine companion for over a year and felt the tug and need for a buddy again.  I had started gathering information to be interviewed by the Greyhound Rescue project and was on my way to Pet Smart for the interview.  Little did I know it was a public adoption day as well.  I parked my truck and was on my way into the store to begin the Greyhound adoption process and noticed the sidewalks lined with pet carriers, cages, and leashed animals of all shapes and desciptions. There was a big crowd of adoptees and adopters. As I threaded my way through the crowd my eyes locked on a big beautiful face with big expressive eyes.  I went over and looked her over ( even though i already knew in my heart she was the one).  I asked the owner a few questions about this big puppy and then asked if I could take her for a walk.  She agreed and gave me her leash.  Her name was Isabella, a 60lb (at that time) lab shepard mix.  We walked over to an island in the parking lot and I sat under a tree with her.  She was not timid at all and was licking my face while I talked to her. Then she basically flopped down in my lap and looked up at me.....  That was it,,, I had found my baby girl! 

After about 20 minutes we walked back to the owner and I asked if I could take her. The owners eyes filled with tears and made me promise to take great care of her and love her forever.  Of course, I agreed eagerly.  We walked out to the truck with all Belle's belongings and the owner walked Belle for their last walk together. As we talked and she told me about Belle's love for Kraft Cheese Cubes! LOL 

It was a very tearful parting for the owner and Belle as well, Then, Belle and I started our lives together.

At the time, I had a motorhome, so we went back to the RV park and began learning each other. She was still growing and kept growing, 90lbs at present!

At present, we have had  5 + wonderful years  together.  She loves to travel, I suppose that is because she has traveled extensively with me in the motorhome and in my truck.  My truck has a bumper sticker on the back window "DOG IS MY CO-PILOT" because she always has her head out the back window with her nose to the wind checking my driving. People on the roads get a kick from this!

Belle is very well trained, well, I should not say trained, she knows!

She listens, most of the time, and is very smart ( a daddy talking, cause most of our babies are very smart!).

  She has been my rock since we met.  She has helped me through some rough times, She listens to me and knows when something is not right and will "guard" me as if to protect me  from whatever is wrong.  She can just give me a look  as if she knows what I am thinking.  I have never met a dog like her before, and,,, I have had dogs all my life.  Since I have been on this site, our first, we have seen many instances of humans meeting their "soul pet" when most needed.  It is fate and I believe "meant to be!"

But,,,, now, we have a problem.  Belle has Lymphoma.  She finished her first round of chemo February of '08.  We take it month by month now and are always hopefull that this disease wont come back. But,  Belle had a recurrance in April, a mere few weeks after her last treatment.  We are fighting again. ( The blogs explain it all, this is an update)

My sister offered me some very comforting words "  Belle has exceeded all expectations so far, so why not expect her to perform above expectations in this battle?"

Everyone that meets Belle falls in love with her,, I know that is a daddy bragging, but I love my girl!  She is not a K-9, she is a K-10!!!

The Ultimate dog in the Universe!!

My ole Bad dog! He's sooo bad he's GOOD! 

I was looking for the perfect pup that could be happy in the house while I was at work as well play on the weekends at the park, weekend trips, and camping.  A buddy of mine was passing the SPCA one afternoon and stopped by to see what was available.  He knew of my "dogsearch" and was a dog lover too.  He called me at my office and told me I needed to get to the SPCA ASAP!!!

I took off work and took a ride.  I walked in and my bud was waiting for me.  He would not tell me which one he liked, but made me take the walk looking at all the pups and see if I saw what he saw.  About halfway down the run, these huge doe eyes caught mine.  Brad was about 6 months old at the time, still a pup.  He was not running up and down his run, he was not yapping, he was just sitting there sending VIBES my way.  Yes, this was the dog my buddy had singled out too.  Brad and I played for a while in his run and took him for a walk, he was such a good boy. 

I did the paperwork and he was mine!

Bradley and I had a long time together and a lot of fun.  He loved to go tent camping and sitting on the center console of my Chevy truck making sure I drove correctly. I had to buy a bigger recliner because he was happiest laying on the extended footrest when I was in the chair. He was also a great companion and teacher to Tristan, a rescue you will read about on another tab.

In his later years he started having mini seisures that were able to be controlled with meds.  Finally, he just wound down. 

I still miss my buddy and think of him often.

Tristan,,, aw sweet Tristan....

One sunday morning I was reading the paper, classifieds,,pets, found, adoptions, etc.  I noticed this one ad,,"Special dog needs special human.  "Very shy and nervous"  The ad was from a Vet's office on one of the coastal islands here in Charleston.

I phoned the number provided, a young lady answered, i asked about the dog in the ad.  She would not say much except she ws a young long haired female and that I really needed to come see her.  I drove over bringing "Bradley the Wonder Pup" with me. His vote counted too!

She was shy all right, she hid under bushes and in corners and was terrified of people.  The lady, a vet tech, explained that she had been recued from the woods outside of town.  She had been shot by a shot gun in the hind quarters, had been repeatedly kicked, and more things I care not to repeat.  The vet's office had taken her to treat her wounds, at least the physical ones, and try to place her with a "special human".  To be honest I was skeptical, but being an optimist and not willing to give up, especially when Bradley could be her friend and maybe he could break through her fear. We finally caught her and got her in the truck where she promptly threw up all over the back seat.  Poor girl.

As the weeks passed, she still hid behind the sofa and had to be pulled out to go outside to potty and then pull her out from under the bushes to come back inside.  She would not eat till she was alone.

Then one night after Bradley and I went to bed, I heard the clicking of canine toenails coming up the stairs and into my room.  Bradley perked up,, jumped down off the bed and greeted her.  She went to a corner and layed down and slept there all night.  Finally, a crack in the mantle of fear.  The next morning I made her a bed in that corner, every night she came up when we went to bed (and continued to sleep in the same spot her entire life).  She started hanging around us more, even an occasional wag.

Over the next year she bonded to Bradley, mimic-ing every move he made even to hiking a leg to pee! LOL  She fell over a few times doing that! LOL

Tristan blossomed, she allowed herself to become a part of the family ever so slowly. 

She was a wild woman, moaning and barking when excited and happy.  Loving walks, camping and trips, just like Bradley.

She had a beautiful coat,, silky, long, and shiney. 

When Bradley died, she lasted about 3 months more, even though there was nothing physically wrong.  She grieved and pine-ed for him so much, her grief finally consumed her.  I lost the second member of the "WONDER PUPS"...