What a surprise I had, to see the handsome Marley this morning! I thought I was looking at my Sweetie!!! Marley and Sweetie could be sister and brother, and they both had unhappy beginnings in their lives! To explain, see her story below (copied from when I submitted it to DOTD). You can see her on her website (sweetiedog.homestead.com). Congratulations, Marley, our DOTD!

>>>>Hi! My name is Sweetie. Until this year, though, I didn't have a name or even a home. For more than two years, I lived in the parking lot of a trucking company. The truckers would leave me food, but I was afraid of people and wouldn't let anyone get near. One nice man brought me food every day on his way to work. When it rained, I would hide under the trailers to try to stay dry. Winters were the worst, though, with no dog house. Many nights it was below zero and windy, but I survived, somehow!

One bitterly cold, snowy day last January turned out to be the luckiest day of my life! A trap was set for me, with fried liver inside -- my favorite! I was taken to a strange house, and was sure something terrible was going to happen to me! Instead, I was given a bath, all the food I wanted and a nice, WARM bed to sleep on!

Today I live in a real home, with a Mom and Dad who think I am very special and give me lots of hugs. There are three other dogs living here, and we have a great time playing together and chasing squirrels. The man who fed me in the parking lot for two years now comes to visit me here, and often brings yummy treats for all us dogs! Mom even made a website for me at http://sweetiedog.homestead.com so my trucker friends can see how happy I am in my new home.

My life is good now! I have a job (guarding the house), and other dog friends to run and play with in a big yard. We get treats first thing every morning and last thing every night. Whenever it gets cold and windy outside, Mom reminds me how I used to have to sleep out on the bare pavement in bad weather. Now, I have my own soft, warm bed, but during the day I like to get up on Mom and Dad's big bed and rearrange their covers. Mom just laughs about it, because she loves me!