Suzy
This is Suzy, the silly, cute, loving Staffordhire cross Jez and I got from the rescue centre just after Christmas. She is black with white paws and a white tie, and communicates mainly through wiggling her ears and wagging her tail.
She just looked so pathetic standing there in her cage at the dogs’ home, three bigger dogs behind her, and her at the front with her head down, looking up at us with those huge brown eyes. I knew, even then, that there was something special about her. We walked round and round the home - a very upsetting experience actually, I was in tears for the little things - but kept coming back to her. When the man took us into the office with her, I put my hand to her face to introduce myself. She jumped on me and licked me all over my face. I fell in love immediately.
She was not a well-behaved girl. The last family had given her up to the dogs’ home because they just couldn’t cope with the amount of attention she required. And when the two weeks of fostering were over, we took her back to the dogs’ home. She had been aggressive, was pulling on her lead, weeing and pooing on the carpet - we decided it was more trouble than it was worth to keep her, so on the Sunday, Jez put her in the car and took her back to the home.
On the Monday, we were back at the dogs’ home, anxiously looking through all the cages wondering where Suzy could possibly be. Taking her back had left such a hole in our daily life, that we realised we couldn’t cope without having her to love. We felt that we had betrayed her by taking her back there.
Eventually she was tracked down to the Assessment part of the home. She had been taken by another family within hours of her return to the home, and this other family had brought her back within hours for being "aggressive". Just imagine how confused she was! How could they have sent her out so quickly? Knowing how much it costs to keep a dog for a day, and how overcrowded the home is in danger of becoming, we shuddered to think of what Under Assessment really meant.
We took her home and showered her with love and affection, and she became part of our family. She made us a family. We started working on her problems, we bought her a harness rather than a choker lead, and taught her a few more commands.
Seeing her is what hurts me the most when I go to Jez’s house now. I can’t begin to tell you how much I miss her. I think what I miss most is coming downstairs in the morning and her jumping up and down with excitement, and pretending she’d been in her dog-bed all along and not on the sofa. Or maybe it’s just the constant playfulness, all the tummy-tickling and jumping around, or maybe it’s all her affectionate little ways, her love of cuddles and kisses and stroking, and just lying curled up together. I dream about her most nights.
Love you Suzy!
Despina & Suzy
Cute dog, nice pics. :-)
Comment by Brennig — March 20, 2008 @ 7:22 pm
Ahhhhh … she’s so cute. I hope that you will still get to see her from time to time xx
Comment by Stratford Girl — March 20, 2008 @ 9:58 pm
“Abba Xanthios said, ‘The dog is better than I am, because he loves and does not judge.”
-Sayings of the Desert Fathers
Comment by John — March 21, 2008 @ 4:09 am
what a cute dog! I’m really happy you guys gave her a second chance…don’t most people/dogs deserve that? Can you have shared custody (1 week here, 1 week with Jez)? or would that be too confusing?
Btw, I sent you an email in regards to the password…but got no reply. I’m just checking that you got the email…
Comment by Kinuk — March 21, 2008 @ 9:04 am
Hi Kinuk! Didn’t get your email, but will send you the password because I have your address. I think it would be too confusing, she is his dog now and I just have to let go. Although I have told him that if he’s planning on going away, I will babysit her :)
John, you’re so right. Or rather, the Greek guy was.
SG and Brennig, isn’t she just gorgeous?!
Comment by missdespina — March 22, 2008 @ 1:58 am
Ooo too cute. Babysitting is a good idea, at least you will have a little bit of contact. Part of me wants to read your passworded post, but I don’t want to be nebby. If you want to share please ass it on, if not, I will not be offended. :D
Comment by Jo Beaufoix — March 22, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
My dog is the best friend I ever had. You know where you are with a dog.
Comment by Napoleon Fantastic — March 27, 2008 @ 12:03 pm
That’s true enough! They are just so lovely.
Comment by missdespina — March 27, 2008 @ 12:29 pm