The day I got my long-awaited dachshund-looking buddy, my mom woke me up to show me in a cute picture of him in the paper, where he was open for adoption.  We still had time before the animal control opened, but knew we had to eat breakfast quickly.  The shelter located in the next town called Harker Heights and we tried to be there way early, so that nobody could snatch him from me!

We were the first one's to see him that day and I was really excited.  It was somewhat troubling to know that if we picked a sick dog, their life could go either way once you adopted them.  The animal control just picks up dogs that are strolling around alone without a home.  They don't receive any funding, just donations, so they clean the cages with bleach and have no medication, or money for medical care, so they never know in what kind of situation they are health-wise.

But even knowing all that, I was very optimistic because either way, at least if the dog you adopt ends up passing on from sickness, at least you made their last days, or even hours better that they would be in the shelter.

Back at the shelter I couldn't contain my excitement as the control officer pointed to the first cage on the left.  As I walked over and saw him, we locked eyes and that was it..Love at first site, if I can say, I think we felt both the same way..

My mom looked at his skinny, chaffed body as he let us know what he thought about us..lol..boy was he barking loud, nostrils flared..but looking like he had a story or two to tell..

so, my mom told me it would be a bad idea because of the way he looked, because she was worried that he had a bad sickness or something;  I gave her a shocked look and was disappointed at her opinion, but she was just concerned about the financial aspect of the healthcare I would have to pay for, if he was sick;  because I wasn't exactly growing money in my yard..lol

But after I gave her that look, she asked the officer to let him walk in their yard to see if he can walk and that's when he really warmed up and let me pet him..My mom decided that it was just the condition and situation that made him seem ill, especially how thin he was, you could count each rib in his little body.  He also had chaffed skin on him butt, but we realized it was probably the bleach.

As I picked him up to take him upfront, I realized how light he was in my arms and as I paid my $ 10 for adoption him..lol..I know, what a deal!?  I was filling out the paperwork for his name and signed for an agreement that I would get him neutered, 2 or 3 other people came in to see him.  My mom laughed and pointed at who I was holding and laughingly said "Too late!"

He was officially mine, and it was funny how I came up with his name on the spot, "OSCAR."

We first took him to the vet where he received his first shots (Rabies, etc.)  and a healthcheckup.  The doctor also took different test for sickness he might have picked up while straying around.  He came back with the results, he had fleas and worms, which were taken care of right away.

We drove home and my mom told me to let him outside to do him business but he just looked confused..lol  He peed and my brother said that he probably just doesn't have to go..the minute we got inside, he took his first official dumb..right on top of my mom's lovely beige carpet....but it was okay, we just laughed about it and cleaned it of..lol

In 2005 I got married and moved with my husband and of course my little buddy, Oscar from Texas to Washinton;  several month's later we got orders to Germany and so now he's on in first overseas trip to Europe.   Oscar also loves to travel, just like us:  So far he's also been to San Fransciso, Arizona, Idaho, Missouri, Colorado, Iowa, Paris, Berlin, on top of the Swiss Alp Mountain called "Saentis," and even my hometown in Germany!

He's a really great dog and a good buddy, I have never regretted getting him.  However, I do regret that I had to neuter him because we're planning on getting Oscar a companion.  A "dog wife," she will also be a dachsie, but we're waiting for just the right one!