a love letter to claire.

Dear Claire,

It's been five years since I first went to the Nashville Humane Society and found you. Well, since you found me, really. You're the first friend I made in this city, and my life here (and in general) would be so different if we never met. Where did the past five years go?! We've been through a lot together during that time, both good times and bad. And while it's so wonderful to enjoy those good times together, I think it's even more of a blessing that you've been able to help me so much through the darker days. A stranger once told me that you're my guardian angel, and I have to say: I believe it!

My favorite memory over the past five years is from last summer when we were back home. We got up really early and went down to the beach before the lifeguards showed up. You'd never been to the ocean before and, at first, you were a little afraid of the waves. Soon enough, you were running as fast as you could up the dunes and then back down past me to jump into the water. I remember that there was a landscaping crew hanging out in the parking lot, having breakfast before starting their day, and they came over just to watch you. When you were done running in circles (showing off again!), you came over, covered in seaweed and sand, and jumped all over them. One of the guys said he'd never seen a happier dog.

Not a day goes by where I'm not laughing at something you've done. You are silly and mischievous and curious and just so smart! You love to show off for people - whether there's something in it for you or not. You love having your tummy rubbed and you get annoyed if there are people nearby who aren't doing so. You are the best squirrel/rabbit/cat hunter around, and I dread the day that you bring one back to me (so please don't). You love walking the neighborhood kids to school in the morning and saying hello to everyone on our typical route. Running is one of your favorite things to do, and I love watching you zoom by with your little baby ears flapping in the wind! Chase is still your favorite dog to have play-dates with, and I've honestly never seen two dogs love each other more. You sleep the best on Grandma Sue's Pier One blanket (that she so kindly parted with on your behalf), and you never go to bed without bringing Lambie and Moosie with you. You love coming with me to run errands on Saturday mornings, mainly because the people at the stores we go to always have a special treat for you. Fetching anything except the peanut butter jar is still beneath you, no matter how many different kinds of balls or frisbees I try to entice you with. You enjoy watching the Food Network, but you're not such a fan of Animal Planet. You hate when I'm on the phone and will go to great lengths to get me to stop using it - like the time you wedged your face between my ear and the phone over and over again until I hung up from my conversation. Whenever someone comes to our house, you always think you're the reason they're there, and you bring your toys to them immediately - but just to show them, not to play with them. And there is nothing that makes you more excited than when I come home from work!

Naturally, ClaireBear, I could go on and on. But the bottom line is: I love you more than anything! You are, by far, the biggest blessing in my life. I can't imagine spending my days without you, and I certainly don't want to! You are a huge part of our family, and even though you don't get to see your relatives very often, you can rest assured that they miss you and love you dearly. I know I say it a lot, but it's only because it's true: you are the MOST loved dog in the world!!

Happy Gotcha Day, little one!

say hello to captain.

Okay, guys. Remind me that I am not allowed to go to the Nashville Humane Society unless I am able to adopt all of the dogs another dog. I stopped by with some friends last weekend because they volunteer there, so we spent some time loving on the sweet dogs. It was my first time back since I adopted Claire three years ago, and I was reminded why I don't frequent the NHA more often: I cry. I cry when I see all of these incredibly amazing dogs who don't have loving homes. I cry because I can't take them all in myself. I cry because I want them to all be adopted right now!!

We spent a lot of time with a 9-month-old Boxer/Chow/Sharpei mix named Captain who was such a fantastic dog. He was trained by his previous owners, so he was really well-behaved, and he loved playing fetch and running around with us. I loved him - and I would adopt him myself, except that everyone agrees that Claire needs to belong to a one-dog family, at least until she's older. But Captain very clearly chose my friend, anyway, and when a dog chooses someone, it's a connection that can't be denied. Sadly, my friend can't adopt Captain because he and his girlfriend live in an apartment with two dogs already. Don't worry. I'll keep trying to persuade them! Do you know anyone who might be interested in adopting this love bug?

Captain.

the exercise junky and busy intellectual.

One of my favorite magazines is Modern Dog - I love it so much that not only do I get a copy in my mailbox, but I also subscribe to their emails. A few days ago, they sent this:

How to Bring Out the Best in Your Dog - Activities to Suit Every Type

Every dog has his game. Identify your dog in the list below for activity ideas to match his particular personality and turn his crank, hence making him a happier (and easier to get along with!) housemate.

• The Exercise Junky (EJ) can be a demanding, pushy, and obnoxious housemate, especially without his daily run. This dog is a perpetual motion machine, rarely relaxing on his own.
• The Busy Intellectual (BI) is a canine-stein who specializes in finding the optimal angle to pull out the security lock on the dog-proof garbage can, and who can open all the baby gates in the house.
• The Lone Wolf (LW) is completely on her own agenda, a bit like the high school loner who just seemed to march to his own tune.
• The Couch Potato (CP) is at the other end of the spectrum from EJ. She may have attracted you because of her cuddle-bug personality, and definitely isn't hankering for a long distance run.

Claire is a mix of EJ and BI, which is why she keeps me so busy. When I was thinking of adopting a dog, I knew that I wanted one who would help me be more active. Claire definitely fits that picture. She only relaxes after she's had ample play time and exercise. And even then, she keeps me on my toes with her mischievousness. If I were to categorize myself with the descriptions above, I would have to say that, in the three years I've had her, I went from a couch potato to an EJ/BI myself. And that's only one of the ways in which Claire has turned me into a healthier person! But more on that later... :)
  
 

contest: name that puppy!

TEN THOUSAND!!!!

On 11/11/11, we hit 10,000 visitors on this thang.

Whaaaat!! Super exciting.

Keep coming and we'll keep writing!

I think this calls for a contest. A contest that has to do with something cute and something necessary and something awesome. Ready for this? Here's the deal. My darling friend Whitney just rescued a sweet 12-week-old blue pit bull puppy. That's the cute. This little lovebug needs a name; names are necessary. Leave a comment by SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13th AT 6:00PM with name suggestions. If Whit picks a name that you thought of, you can choose between one of two prizes - because prizes are awesome: (1) a prize pack full of Nylabone DuraChew toys and a variety of treats for your dog, OR (2) a $50 Target gift card. It's your choice if you win! Whitney obviously picks the winner. Because it's her puppy. Makes sense.

Whitney wanted me to tell you a little bit about this adorable pup, so in her words... "He's a rescue, a cuddle bear, timid and nervous, and he likes wrestling with Roxie already [Whitney's 3-year-old bundle-of-joy pit bull]. I like dog names; so I will not call this dog Joe, Dan, or Mike. [So she would have probably named Claire something like "Mittens" or "Oreo" if Claire was hers]. This puppy was rescued through a connection at CrossFit Music City and I am open to naming him after a WOD, if appropriate [In CrossFit culture - of which I am not a part of - this apparently means "Workout of the Day" which I believe are actually named after people]. I'm not open to any stereotypical pit bull names because my dogs are breed ambassadors and he will be too - although, I am considering B.I.G. (as in Notorious) because I like his music (and music in general - rap, classic rock, indie, pop, what-have-you)."

Here are some pics of Cute Puppy, courtesy of Whitney, to help you brainstorm some ideas. Have fun and good luck!

 

we need your help!

Remember my dear friend Sarah who guest-blogged back in March and wrote this post? She got in touch with me today and asked if I would let you all know about some beautiful dogs who are in desperate need of homes by this Thursday. THIS Thursday, people. As in the Thursday that is just two days away. If these dogs aren't adopted by then, they will be put down. Rescue groups are full and there's a shortage of foster families. This just breaks my heart. Now, I completely understand that some of you may not be in a position to have a(nother) dog - and that's okay. All I'm asking is that you pass this link along to as many people as possible so that these dogs have the best chance to be saved: http://tinyurl.com/6bdzlgk

Thank you all for your help! And please, stay tuned - there's a giveaway coming up (perhaps tomorrow) that you won't want to miss!

  

   

what would you do?!

Stray dogs always find me somehow. And I always want to take them home. The problem? I'm broke. I'm a social worker, for crying out loud. That should explain everything! I wish that I could win the lottery so that I could buy a house with a lot of land (fenced in, of course) so that I could adopt a million dogs. And a million kids, but that's another story.

My friend Rob called me last night to tell me that he found a stray puppy outside his house. She had a rope tied around her neck and had chewed through it to get loose. He did not call to ask me if I could take her, he called to tell me that this sweet girl looks exactly like Claire. I was already fretting about her situation, when Rob did the worst thing that he could have ever done: he sent me a picture.

After I saw the picture, I called him back and begged him not to put up signs for the owners. They tied her up with a rope and left her outside in the rain! Rob said that he would take her to the pound tomorrow. But, oh, the pound! She will sit in a cage and then will be put down if she can't be adopted. And how frightening would that be for a sweet baby like her...

Claire and I are going to see her. In the meantime, I'm going to pray that God brings along a wonderful family who wants to take her home and give her a great life. And preferably, these people would contact me or him before she is brought to the pound...

Good thing that God is bigger than time, right?

take a guess.

I mean, I have to start this post by emphasizing that I really don't care - I'm just curious about your opinions, because they certainly vary, and I can understand why! Okay. Now that that is out of the way, I can tell you what I'm talking about. What kind of breed is Claire? When I adopted her from the shelter, I was told that she was a black lab / border collie. I went along with this until I saw a whippet for the first time. Now, I'm not so sure. Being the kind of person I am, I feel the need to make a list of how Claire matches each of these mixes - but some qualities and characteristics are the same for both breeds! (Go to Designer Mixes for more information on mixed breed dogs).

Claire Baby:

BLACK LAB / BORDER COLLIE:

high energy

extremely smart

playful

extroverted

excitable and has difficulty focusing when excited

loyal to family, friendly to strangers

feathery tufts of fur on her back legs

does not typically bark unless excited or on alert

requires a lot of exercise each day

great at fetching and swimming

BLACK LAB / WHIPPET:

teeny tiny little waist

tall, strong hind legs

runs extremely fast

high prey drive

mischievous

mildly stubborn

very sensitive

loyal to family, friendly to strangers

does not typically bark unless excited or on alert

So, after reading the similarities and seeing the pictures... What are your thoughts? When people ask me what kind of dog she is, I've been saying that she's a Claire, and Claires are the best :)

**Collage pictures were found on the internet. Apologies to anyone who recognizes these pictures and thinks "Hey! That's my dog!" But... take it up with Google Search.

nashville humane association.

As many of you know, I found Claire (actually, Claire found me - you can read the full story here) at the Nashville Humane Association. DogTipper wrote an article in their latest newsletter about their visit to NHA when they were in town, and I wanted to share it with you all. NHA has some amazing programs that everyone should know about. I wanted to spread the word because they have blessed me infinitely by saving Claire and her littermates! Here is the article:

As we mentioned in yesterday’s post, this week we attended a canine nutrition summit at the headquarters for Mars Petcare, located just outside Nashville, Tennessee. The day we arrived, though, we headed off for a visit to the Nashville Humane Association with our fellow bloggers for a look at this special facility.

The shelter places about 2,500 animals every year in their forever homes; during their stay at the shelter, the pets have an excellent home where animals can stay as long as it takes for them to be adopted. Seven air handling systems throughout the building prevent odors and the building itself is bright and cheerful, a happy place to look for your next family member.

Nashville Humane Association also told us about their many community programs. Because the cost of their food (a substantial cost for shelters) is underwritten by locally-based Pedigree, the shelter is able to reallocate that money, usually into spay and neuter programs to help reduce the homeless pet population in the region. Their Rover program helps educate the public to the importance of spay and neuter and offers low-cost surgeries.

They also have several other special programs including Teddy’s Wagon, a mobile adoption service; Bark, Stop, Drop and Roll, a program for law enforcement about dealing with dogs in the course of their work; and Safe Haven, which offers refuge for pets at the shelter in cases of domestic violence. (Many don’t leave their homes in cases of domestic violence because of fear for their pet’s safety so this is a very important service.)

We really enjoyed our visit to the Nashville Humane Association, a shelter facility that proves that looking for your next pet at a shelter can be every bit as joyous and pleasant an experience for the entire family as buying a pet at a store…and you’re saving a life in the process!

italian cheese hounds.

Earlier this evening, I was fixing a lovely dinner of prosciutto-stuffed pasta, and giving Claire a piece or two before I dressed it up with spices. I laughed while thinking that my sweet puppy apparently likes Italian food as much as I do.


It got me thinking back to when I first adopted her from the shelter. Her tag simply said that her name is Claire and she is a lab mix. Post-adoption, while we went shopping in Petsmart for everything she needed, I had called my uncle to tell him about her; he used to breed dogs years ago, so he's my primary go-to for information. He was so happy to hear that I had just adopted a puppy, and was more than happy to venture some guesses as to what exactly her mix might be. I informed him that she is black with little white paws and a white chest, and her fur seemed like it would stay pretty short. Honestly, I could have been describing ANY kind of puppy - I mean, you certainly can't tell what a dog will look like until they get older. But my uncle said immediately, "Oh! Well, it sounds like she has some Italian cheese hound in her. Yes, I wouldn't be surprised if that is what she is mixed with." Sounded good to me!


I went to Banfield Pet Hospital to register Claire with the veterinarian and proudly informed the tech that Claire is a labrador retriever and Italian cheese hound mix. The tech looked at me with a blank stare and said, "Hmm. I've never heard of that kind of dog before. Who told you that?" I told her that my uncle, a former dog breeder, was pretty sure that was her mix, based on my description of her. The tech was quiet for a minute and left the room. When she came back, she said, "So, your uncle... Does he like to joke around a lot?" Well, yes, I thought. "Because," she began, "I just asked the vet, and she said that there isn't an Italian cheese hound breed registered with the AKC."


The pieces all fell into place. Of course he was kidding. And in my excitement about Claire, I completely disregarded all of the indications that he was not serious. So there I was, prancing around town, announcing to the world that my new puppy is a lab/cheese hound mix. And looking like a complete fool! When I told my uncle that I finally caught on, he thought it was hilarious that I took him at his word. And to this day, he asks how the Italian cheese hound is doing...


A few months after I got Claire, I managed to contact the people who brought her litter to the shelter. I wanted to tell them how fantastic she is, and wanted to find out about any potential health problems that her parents may have had. They said that Claire's mother was a lab and her father was a border collie. And now, having spent the past year and a half with her, it's plain to see that she has a good mix of both with her looks and her personality. Although, after letting her try some of my pasta tonight, I'm thinking that maybe she really does have a bit of Italian cheese hound in her...

dachsund and pink.

I had to share this because it's just so cute. My friend Amy, Kingsley's mom, sent the following pictures to me in an email. This little guy, named Pink, couldn't be taken care of by his mother, so he was fostered by someone else:

As Amy said, animals just get it, don't they?

siblings.

I have been waiting for this moment for the past year and a half. And today it finally happened: Claire and I met one of her littermates! I was so excited! Belle looks a lot like Claire, but she is long-haired and has more of the border collie build. They have the exact same mannerisms though, so it was great to watch them play together! Belle's story is a bit sad, though it has a happy ending. She was adopted a few days before Claire by a couple who ended up not being able to invest in an active puppy. They brought her to another rescue where she stayed for a few months until she was adopted again - but this time, by her current owner, Maria. Maria absolutely loves and adores her, and Belle is just as sweet as Maria is! Claire and I hope that we will see them again soon!

Belle, Claire's sister!

(This picture was taken with my cell phone, so I apologize for the quality!)

how it all began.

Let me start by saying: I did not grow up with pets. Maybe a fish or two here and there, but nothing that required more than two seconds of my attention each day. Interestingly enough, I used to be afraid of dogs. I was smaller than a lot of kids my age. Naturally, most dogs were bigger than I was, especially during the more impressionable years. To put it bluntly: I was chased. By many a dog. MANY. A. DOG. The first dog that I actually bonded with was my cousin's golden retriever, Emily. When people talked about a dog being man's best friend, Emily was always the one I thought of. Emily made me want a dog of my own.

Fast forward to June 2009. I moved to Nashville for my job and to get a second fresh start (my first fresh start happened in September 2007 when I moved to Denver. But that is another story for another time). I packed up everything I could in my little Honda Civic and drove to Nashville. And when I finished my first week of work, I decided that there was no better time than now. However... I am the type of person who likes to know everything there is to know about something before I make a big decision. Please keep that in mind as you read on.

I decided to go to the Humane Society and ask some questions about having a dog, about what kind of dog would fit my lifestyle, and about other helpful tips for first-time dog owners. After I spoke to some lovely volunteers, I took a walk around the shelter to read about some of the dogs there. I was doing really well, staying strong, just "gathering information." But then one of the volunteers pointed me in the direction of the puppy room.

Ohhhh the puppy room. The volunteer told me that they had gotten a litter of black-lab/border-collie mixes a couple weeks earlier. The family dropped off the eight puppies because they already had too many dogs. They were now eight weeks old and were so cute. They were black with little white paws and white chests; five boys and three girls. I first held a mellow little boy named BB. As I was holding him, I noticed his sister in the next kennel over. She was sitting there looking at me with her head tilted to the side. I put BB back in the kennel and picked her up. As soon as I picked her up and put her against my shoulder, she rested her head and gave me this big contented sigh. She made herself right at home, all snuggled up against me.

That did it for me and Claire. I put her back in the kennel to go fill out the adoption paperwork, and as I turned to walk away, she let out this one loud yelp. I turned around and looked at her, and she let out another yelp. I picked her up again and took her with me to fill out the application. She walked across the counter sniffing everything, chewing on pens, and giving the volunteers kisses while I gave them all of the information that they needed to know.

She is now sixteen months old. We have successfully navigated through a little more than a year together. She keeps me laughing, keeps me busy, and at the same time, keeps me sane during the ups and downs that life has to offer. My goal for this blog is to share the stories of the past year and to share the stories that are yet to come. Because, as you will soon see, I absolutely love my Claire and can't imagine life without her. I'm pretty sure you will feel the same as you continue reading. There is so much more to come!

8-week-old Claire :)