Daisy & Nikki

After nearly two years of trying to work out our schedules, I finally won the jackpot - six fun filled days with these ultra adorable little girls. Let me just say, it was well worth the wait.

When my daughter saw these pictures, she was certain the Blue Fairy had gone to FAO Schwarz, passed her wand over two stuffed animals and whispered  "Now you are real dogs." I myself think that's entirely possible...

After the Incident

It was too horrific to talk about at the time, but the last time I took care of Buddy Boy, the remarkable little dog, he was attacked by another dog. We had just headed out for an early evening stroll through the neighborhood, and had only gotten around the corner, when a female black lab ( I know, right?) broke from her leash and oh, I don't want to go into details but it wasn't pretty. I managed to pull her off of him but not before she sank her nasty fangs deep into his thigh. I like almost all dogs, but don't mess with my Buddy!

Several hours later he emerged from the emergency vet shaved, stitched, and with a very unpleasant looking drain installed in his leg. Poor little guy! He was in the house for a week, recovering. This picture was taken on his first outing, outside of Peet's Coffee Shop, where he graciously accepted the good wishes of his very large fan club.

Josie

Josie is a rescued street dog from China, and who knows what she experienced before she was adopted, but I'm willing to bet it wasn't a lot of fun. When I first started taking care of her, I called her my little land shark. Out on our walks, everything would go in her mouth, and if it was inedible , she'd spit it back out. That's not  an issue for her anymore now that she can count on being fed regularly, and although at home she is happy and relaxed, out in the world she can still  be quite skittish. Any little thing can send her hightailing out of the park, and leave me trailing after her with shredded nerves.

Halfway through this last visit, she came home with a baby's pacifier concealed in her mouth. She carried it with her everywhere, from the couch to the crate to the deck, and maybe it's my imagination, but she seems to be much calmer. On our last morning walk, she saw three dogs walking toward her and turned to run. I said  "Wait Josie, it's just two Pugs and a Ridgeback, nothing you can't handle." For the first time she paused, considered the situation, and decided she probably could handle it. 

So now what, for Josie? Perhaps she'll decide to help others  - coming out with a line of Panicked Pups Pacifiers of her own.  Remember you read it here first...