Lacey has joined our Family!

[Freedom]

Yup, we added another dog!

Last Wednesday -- the day after we found the cat, Billy, dead -- I get a phone call. "Do you know there is a bichon at Providence Animal Control?" Not exactly what I was planning to do in the midst of grieving a loss, but hey, when it's Animal Control, you have to run or the dog may be PTS!!! I spent the next few days going back and forth. I had to go see the dog. Marked as a poddle, but yes, it is a bichon. I put in an application. They wanted to interview both me and Dad. Then they wanted to see Sugar with the dog, to make sure no aggression issues. Are you kidding? With 7 pitbulls barking and a female husky woo hoo'ing in the background? Sugar was terrified! Then they had to do their thing and we couldn't even get the dog out for the weekend. Poor dear just sat in her kennel trrembling with all those big noisy dogs around her.

On one trip (this AFTER I've seen the dog) I'm talking with one person there and the conversation went something like this. He: "You're interested in that deformed poodle?" Me: "Ah, what's wrong with her? Does she have 3 legs?" He: "Nah, but she has short stubby legs and a weird tail. And when they are deformed like that, they get sick easily. You shouldn't take her. We haven't even posted her photo on PetFinder. She needs to be PTS." Those "deformities" are all the things which make her a bichon, NOT a poodle!

Monday, I couldn't stand it anymore. I phoned my vet, then I went back down to the kennel. This is about my 5th or maybe 6th trip. While I am there, my vet phones; surprise surprise! We timed that well. After the phone call, I was told I could have the dog. Whew! So here is our newbie, Lacey:


She was stained in yellow, and you could smell her 4 feet away.


Maybe there is some bloodhound mixed in; her nose never left the ground!





Sugar wasn't too keen on giving up her spot as Number 1 Princess:





More in next post!

[Freedom]

In the first hour, Lacey had her nails trimmed, her ears cleaned (and cleaned and cleaned and cleaned, my goodness they were FULL of gunk!) and a bath!



She went to sit on Dad's lap to dry off, he he.


I gave her a trim, but she is covered in mats and the groomer will have to shave her down. She goes in for that Friday morning. So I've been getting as many shots as I can of her with some HAIR on her!

She likes to follow along right behind Dad:


One pic of the two dogs


Sugar has NEVER done this before!


More pics coming next post!

[Freedom]

Sugar had FUN!


Then she had to rest in a hosta.


This afternoon, my new DIGITAL camera arrived, so now I can post right away rather than waiting for the film to be developed! Here are a few.

I gave the girls bones in the backyard this morning. Lacey --



And Sugar --



Poking around in the yard --




Lacey again


One more set of photos next post!

[Freedom]

We took them both to the vet for Lacey's first check up. They weigh within 4 tenths of a pound of each other! No wonder we are having trouble telling them apart! Lacey is a female, she will be spayed next Tuesday. She has definitely had a litter (or two). Vet guestimates she is about 5 years of age. (Sugar is 10). She is currently a bit malnourished, her back bone muscles have dropped and her spine is quite prominent. She does NOT have heart worm -- yippee! - and seems to be house trained. She wakes Dad up at 4 AM each morning! she gets off my bed, trots down to his bedroom and gets him up!













I can't believe it! We got another one!!!

[Karen]

Poor stinky girl, called "deformed" by someone who just didn't know! Perhaps you should print out the description of the Bichon from the AKC website and anonymously mail it to his attention!

Welcome, Lacey - you've made it! You are now a Pet Talker's doggie!

[Taz_Zoee]

I can't tell them apart!! They look identical!! I am so glad you were there to rescue this cute little girl! It sounds like her and your Dad have already formed a bond.

[Muddy4paws]

Beautiful!! Sugar is a cute as ever too! You can see how matted she is in the photo! Looks like it going to be a short haircut for her!

[k9krazee]

Congratulations...what a lucky, lucky girl!

[Catty1]

"Deformed POODLE"?

What a darling set of twins...you'll have to get different coloured collars?

And how precious that Lacey is following your Dad around and bonding with him...you have to wonder if Billy sent Lacey to him.

'Course, beautiful Billy probably weighed as much as those two pups together!

Congratulations, Lacey and family - lucky puppy!

[Freedom]

Thanks all. Yes Karen, I considered that. The breed rescues routinely patrol Pet Finder; I learned all about that at the Bichon Bash on Saturday. No one would have seen this girl to get her out!

Taz Zoee, they are quite close in looks. On the park bench, Sugar is on the left Lacey on the right.

Holly (Muddy4Paws) thanks so much for all your help re grooming! Even though I did it wrong in the end.

Catty1, yup, Dad has suggested I paint the nails, he he. Billy was 21 pounds and a bit; these ladies are 10.8 and 10.4, so right on the mark! I hadn't even realized that until you pointed it out.

[Muddy4paws]

Dont be silly, you did what you thought was best! You will need to post photos of her once shes been groomed Sugar is looking so good! She looks so happy in the photos.

[moosmom]

Sandie,

You have a beautiful pair of bookends!!! They look like a matched set!

Congratulations on your new addition.

[chocolatepuppy]

Welcome to Pet Talk Lacey! I'll bet Sugar is going to love having you to play with. I like the name Lacey.

[Freedom]

Oh Donna, I like that, "the bookends!" He he he.

And Chocolate Puppy, another Lacey with an "e"! In the 1980's I regularly attended sheep trials for Border Collies. One petite little female was name Lacey. She was the only Red and White; the others were black and white. And she ADORED her owner / mistress. So I always liked the name and it suits the bichon too.

[sammy101]

Congrats on the new addition! She's beautiful!