Ripley's Gotcha Day Anniversary!
Today marks five years that *The Ripster* has been with us. The vet estimated his age at the time of his adoption to be about 3 so today we are celebrating what might be his 8th birthday. :)
For those who may not know the story, I was in the early stages of thinking about getting a playmate for Bella and a second dog for me :) since I have always had two dogs at a time. I had thought of getting a shelter dog but very rarely saw any poodles (my heart dogs) on Petfinder. One day I was asked by my daughter if I wanted to ride up to the shelter where she got Dandy, her kitty. She had to turn in "proof of spaying" and, in turn, the State of NJ would give her some money back. This particular shelter does not spay/neuter prior to re-homing (at least it didn't back then). I agreed to ride along, and so off we went. While there we decided to just walk through the kennel and see who was there. Well, my little boy was there! He had just been brought in the night before as a stray. He was sitting in a corner so matted that he was twice his size and looking very sad. He even had prickly little balls (that fall out of trees) stuck to his tummy fur. :( I asked the woman if I might be allowed in his cage and she let me go in. I then sat on the floor to see what he would do. To my delight he walked right over, with his tail attempting to wag, but in the down position, :) and plopped himself right in my lap. I told him right then and there that if no one claimed him he had just found his new home. :)
I had to wait for nine days so, in the meantime, I took Bella up to meet him. They pretty much ignored each other :rolleyes: after a few initial sniffs. The shelter gals had, since our first visit, shaved him to the skin in order to get his mats off. He didn't look like a poodle at all :o but was so much more comfortable. :) We brought him home on January 16, 2003 and has brightened all of our lives ever since. He makes me laugh every day with his silly little personality. He and Bella are best buds and life is good. :)
Pictures to follow....
