ADOPTED

Sandy  Here, reporting from Foster Home Central.

Where do I begin? There is so much to tell and well … this typing thing … I am still kinda new to it.

I guess I'll start back at the beginning. I used to live with my buddy, Bandit, with this nice lady in a little house. Well, to make a long story short, she had a baby, didn't have time for us, and gave Bandit and me to her Mom and Dad who ran a B & B. They didn't really want to keep us, but since they ran a B&B, we ate really heartily, and… well… you know what that does to a girl's figure… anyhow, one day some other folks saw us relaxing out in the front yard and said "we will buy your beautiful Goldens." And off we went with yet another new family! Those people didn't think dogs (did you know I was a dog? - me neither) should be in the house - ever. And then they decided to move to a house with a teeny tiny yard and said there wasn't room for us …

Anyway, fast forward to GRR. These nice people from GRR picked up Bandit and me and we got to do something we really enjoy-ride in the car-YIPPEEE! First stop, some guy named Vet (weird name for a guy, doncha think?). Anyway, he poked, prodded, and checked places I didn't even know I had. He left me with these really great ladies including Debbie-she was my bestest friend by the time we were done-anyway, Vet came back (oh yeah..I found out Vet was his title - his real name is Dr. Weeks and a really great guy too!) and said he had some bad news - he told me that I tested positive for Heartworm-and I didn't even STUDY!! He also told me that I needed to stay away from those rich B&B meals and lose some weight. Oh the Burdens us Girls have to bear to stay beautiful!

I stayed with Debbie, Dr. Weeks and the gang for a little while and got my first treatment for HW (that is vet shorthand I learned while working with Dr. Weeks). I have to say the treatment wasn't too bad, but then he told me I needed to restrict my activity for few weeks while I was going through the treatment and he also said I needed to cut back on the food and start getting more exercise when I was up to it … sheesh ….

After about a week, these nice people (I call them Mom and Dad now) dropped by with a buff and built Golden called Cooper - wow, what a hunk! Imagine my surprise when Debbie got my leash and told me that I was going to go home with my foster (?) Mom, Dad and Cooper to stay with them while I was finishing my HW treatment and while GRR found my forever family! We left Dr. Weeks's clinic and guess what? I got another ride - this time in Dad's big truck. Wow - what a great ride - looking DOWN at the world. We got home and I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Cooper showed me around - the big yard, lots of birds to chase, and TOYS!!! Wow, that was really something. I never saw anything like that before.

One of the first things I found out is if you stand still, people will pet you, and let me tell you, that is a little slice of heaven. Dad wasn't so impressed at first though. He started to pet me and came up with handfuls of hair. He told me that was going to have to change so he got this thing called a brush and wow… that felt good, but Dad got tired too fast (hey, I woulda stood there all night it felt so good). and the next thing I know, I am back in the truck heading for this place they called the "groomer." At first they were just going to give me a bath and a brush OH YEAH!! But they soon realized that I hadn't been around a brush since… well… forever. They said they were going to have to break out the heavy artillery. Yipes! I was wondering if I should duck and run, but I soon realized that they were just planning to do something called a "sanitary trim" as well as trim the 10 inches of hair I had between my toes and all the other clumps of knotted hair. When they were done and handed me the mirror, I didn't even recognize myself. Wow! I think they found a whole different Sandy under all that hair. I found out that I actually had a shape… "round" is a shape, right?

Back home at Foster Central. I discovered something else: air conditioning! I found out that staying in the house, while it has some rules, it is soooo much better than being out on the porch in a crate. It is indescribable!! Getting rid of all that excess loose and overgrown hair makes everything easier, too. It also was like taking off my winter coat, which considering it was June in Texas, it was about time. Now I understand why everybody kept calling me "Bear." Well, I can tell you, that is behind me (pun intended).

Since I have been at Foster Central, Mom says I have charmed everyone. I just love to sit and be petted. I have really learned my manners and will sit quietly and let anyone with a spare hand pet me or brush me. I have been through all three HW treatments with no ill effects (I really think that Dr. Weeks was just pulling my leg about taking it easy - I felt great, and Mom was always telling me to stop chasing Cooper around the yard). I sure am glad I don't have to be careful anymore. I love to run and chase the ball and bring it back again and again. I also like playing tug of war and wrestling with Cooper. My favorite thing, though, is to jump up next to you - after I am invited - and snuggle down deep next to you. Let me tell you, hanging out with people everyday is A-OK in my book. Mom used to call me Bear, but now she calls me Sweetie Pie or Wiggly Tail (I think she likes me -what do you think?).

I have to admit that I had a couple of accidents in the house when I first got here. I tried telling Dad I had to go, but since he just got home from work and I was just learning how to talk to him… oops. Once Dad and I figured out how to communicate, well... PROBLEM SOLVED… not a single accident since. I have also really been watching my diet and actually discovered my waist - WOW - I have curves!! Look out world, here I come. No wonder I am always wiggling my tail.

While living here with my Foster Parents and Cooper has been fun, what I really want is a forever home. Mom and Dad say that I will make anyone a great pet. I really am laid back and will take your lead about the level of activity. Dad says I'd make a great therapy dog - whatever that is - but if it means people are involved and petting is part of the equation - count me in! I still am learning that stuffed toys don't need all the stuffing to be removed to be fun to play with. My favorite toy is a handball - just soft enough and just hard enough. I even use one as a pacifier when I go to bed (oops…should I be telling you that?) I have learned that when the lights go out, it is time to snooze. I sleep throughout the night without waking up, except when Dad accidentally steps on me in the dark on his way to the bathroom. I love the water. Since I have been dealing wit the HW thingy, I haven't been able to go swimming, but I found playing in the sprinklers is almost as much fun. Mom says she really wants to keep me, but as much as I'd love to stay here, I know that if I did, Mom and Dad couldn't be a foster family to another Golden like me looking for a forever family. If you have room for a sweet, mellow, gentle friend, I promise I will do my best to make you proud of me.

P.S. I guess Dad was right - practice makes perfect - It only took me a week to type this on his laptop!

P. P. S. Are you wondering about my pal Bandit? He had HW and, er, a little weight problem, too, and while he was staying with HIS foster family getting his treatment and slimming down, they just fell madly in love with him and decided they couldn't let him go! So he already has his forever family, but I know I will have mine very so
 

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