This little girl turns 5 today. I think she knows it is her birthday because she was prancing around the house this morning and wrestling with Jake like it was her special day. Let me share her story.....it's a good one :)
So Aaron and I got married November 2007 and went on our honeymoon, which ended on a late Saturday night. The following Monday I told Aaron, "Honey, I want a dog....like now." He said okay just pick one out- because he knew I wanted to adopt one from the shelter. So I looked online all day on Monday on petfinder.com (I was laid off from my job two weeks before we got married, so I had a lot of time!). I couldn't find any puppies near where we lived and I saw a few that were okay around our area. Then I clicked on a little shelter in Windsor, NC and found Goldie. Goldie was 4 months, light tan fur that looked so fuzzy and she had little spots on her legs which I loved! I loved all her unique features, I just had to have her right then! So I called the shelter about 5 that evening and told the man I was interested in coming to look at her the next day, he said well unless you can come tonight, she is being shipped to Boston ( I think) with the rest of the puppies first thing in the morning. I said well I would really like for my husband to come and he is working so I guess it's a no. So I got over my short obsession....until 11pm that night the phone rings and the man said I'm so sorry to call so late but the van we were going to take the puppies in is broke down and we won't be leaving late Tuesday. I had plans with my mom on Tuesday so I said I'm sorry but I can't come, but if anything changes call me back. Well Tuesday came and went and I was thinking about other dogs I had looked at. Wednesday morning came and the phone rang....the same man said You won't believe this but the person who was taking the puppies had a death in the family and will not be taking the puppies today, are you still interested? Y'all if it was not fate for me to get this puppy then I don't know what you call it. I was like I have to go get this dog, there is a reason all of this has happened. So my mom, being the worrier she is- love you mom ;), insisted she go with me. So off to Windsor we go to pick up "Goldie." We get there and it is covered fences outside of I bet at least 50 dogs and puppies. The lady was very nice and explained that they were just starting out as a shelter. So we look at all the puppies and they were all cute. We get to the last fence and there is Goldie and her "roommate." Goldie was clawing the fence, wagging her tail like please let me out of here!! So the lady brings her out and Goldie paces along about a 2 feet wide stretch of concrete, she refused to go on the grass. I was like mom, she is scared of the grass! This is crazy to me because dogs love the grass and love to waller in it! So she was loving, a little shy, but refused to get off that little square of concrete. My mom pulled me aside and said are you sure this is the one?? She is so shy, why don't you look at these? I said mom it is fate that I get this dog after everything that has happened that past few days. So I pay the lady $10, sign some papers and attempt to put Goldie in the back seat. You know those cartoons where the animal has all four legs stretched out on the door frame to not go in??? .....yeah that was Goldie when we put her in the car. Not an easy task. So mom drives us home and I sit in the back seat with Goldie. She would not touch me at first, then a few minutes later she had one paw on me and by the end of the trip she is in my lap. We pull in to town and what does Goldie do....puke! I say mom speed up, we're covered in puke!!! Ha funny now, but then....not so much.
So we get home and Goldie is still scared of the Grass, the trees, the birds, the furniture in the house...you name it, she doesn't like it. My mom leaves and Aaron comes home shortly after all excited about the new puppy. He comes in the house and Sandy hides under the coffee table, refusing to be anywhere near him or let him touch her. I'm thinking okay, this is not good to have a dog that will not even go near him. So after some talking, Aaron really wanted to name her Sandy when all day I wanted to name her Daisy. So we decided on Sandy.
After about two weeks of hiding under the coffee table and darting to the bedroom at bed time, Sandy started to get a little more comfortable. We discovered that she was scared of any man and barked at them....except Aaron's dad. So weird, he's like a dog whisperer or something, ha. All dogs love that man! Sandy hated Aaron's friends but she slowly warmed up to my dad...his ignoring her trick with her toys on his lap worked. (I forgot to mention she was scared of everything but her toys, she was in love with her fuzzy, squeaky toys!!) We figured out that she must have been abused. The lady told us that the people who had her before couldn't keep pets at their house...but I think there is more to that story.
Fast forward 8 months later, we get this cute little puppy named Jake. Sandy wouldn't even look at him the first night but after that it was like true love. Scared of everything Sandy came out her little shell and played the momma/protector role. We now know today that Jake is Sandy's saving grace. Thank you Jake for being that for Sandy and thank you Sandy for trusting us to take special care of you :)
So here we are four and a half years later with both our pups.....I told you it was a good story!!
Happy Birthday Sandy, I love you so much. It is amazing how much love you can have for a dog :)
Mini photo shoot this morning before I left for work :)
Sandy right after we got her. Look at how fuzzy she is!! And all her cute little spots on her legs- which she still has. I love this picture of her :)
We will be celebrating with this doggie ice cream tonight. Yes I know it may be a bit much for some, but for a mom of just furbabies....it's the least I can do :) THEY LOVE IT!
Happy Wednesday y'all!! The weekend is not too far away :)
