Laddie

MY FIRST RESCUE!!!!
AND IT'S A COMPLETE SUCCESS

Laddie at four months (I believe). Isn't he a dear!!

Laddie with his favourite ball, and also with Gilbert, his previous owner.

Well, where do I start!! This could be a very long story, but I'll try to just hit the highlights and the fun parts.

Heather Ryan from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia (God's Country, they say) mentioned to me in an e-mail that she was trying to find a home for an eight month old lab mix pup. The present owners were unable to take care of Laddie any more as they were elderly, the wife was not well, and they were going to live in a senior's home.

Well, after many e-mails, pictures and pleading, I finally relented and told Heather that I would drive up to Cape Breton (4-1/2 hour drive one way) and pick up Laddie. LOL. Actually, it wasn't that hard a decision, I'm just a little melodramatic at times. I had made enquiries at the office and there was a possibility of a couple of homes for him.

So bright and early one Saturday morning, Cathy Acker, SHAID's shelter manager, and I (and of course my buddies, Callie and Teddie) piled in my car. Luckily it's a large car and away we went. Cathy had never been to Cape Breton, so it was a first for her. "Off we go into the the wild blue yonder"

We arrived early afternoon, had lunch at Heather's and visited for a while. Callie and Teddie of course visited with Heather's dogs, Midnight, Wrinkles and Sheba. If you visit Heather's page, you can meet them too.

THEN CAME THE TRIP HOME.

Heather had said to me "you keep saying puppy, but you have to remember, he's only a puppy in age (8 months) but he is quite large." Well, she wasn't kidding. He had to be at least 80 pounds and was just full of love and fun. Gilbert brought over Laddie's little suitcase with his food and toys. We all met each other and Laddie took an instant LIKING to Callie. I think he thought she was his girl friend. But Callie would have none of that, after all, she's been spayed. Teddie just decided that if she was quiet, perhaps the big dog wouldn't see her.

So off we start on our trip back. Well, we had a problem before we even left Heather's yard. There was no way on God's green earth that Callie was going to ride in the back seat of the car with THAT DOG!!! and proceeded to get into the front seat. Well, Cathy and I are not small babes, so it was a bit of a squeeze for Callie, but she insisted on being in the front with us so she sat on the floor and hung her head, and pouted. Teddie was doing the "quiet"thing in the back seat and Laddie was determined he was going to get into the front seat with all of us. Cathy's arm was stiff from holding him back before we went half an hour.

I should explain that the back seat of the car has a sort of shelf on it so the whole seat is level and they can't fall on the floor. Actually, it makes quite a nice bed, if one was so inclined.

Okay, back to the story. This went on for about 2 1/2 hours and then Laddie discovered Teddie. Well, she was not having any of that either and immediately climbed into the front seat - now picture this. Two 40 pound dogs and two rather large women LOL. A few miles down the road and then Cathy screamed :) in desperation and said "Stop the car. I'm getting in the back with that big lug, and you can have the front seat with your dogs." Now remember that the back seat isn't really a back seat and there is a rather large dog back there. The only time that Laddie settled down at all was when they were playing The Rankins on the radio. He say there with his ears perked and listened. A TRUE CAPE BRETONER.

We must remember that everything that was happening to poor Laddie was a first. He had never been in a car. He was leaving his "friends" Really wasn't trained to listen - after all, he was only 8 months, and was just one big happy puppy who loved the world and everything in it.

So that's how we arrived back in Bridgewater and I brought THAT ANIMAL into my house. The dogs were rather astounded that he came in the house, and the five cats scattered to parts unknown.

On Monday evening, Kelly and Patrick Fitzgerald came to visit Laddie and fell in love with him instantly. They played around for a while, we repacked his suitcase, and off he went to his new home. But I forgot to tell them about the back seat episode and it turned out Patrick rode in the back seat with Laddie and Kelly drove.

Okay, now you can see a picture of Laddie with his new family.

Who looks happier? Laddie or Patrick. He goes for two or three walks every day. Has a large yard to run in (after he knows where his home is), has his own big bed that they bought for him, and he goes swimming in a nearby lake and has been to his first obedience classes already. I should mention that Kelly and Patrick live near the Atlantic Ocean, so he'll probably have a ball there as well. And of course, he has been neutered.

Note the tennis ball in Laddie's mouth. That is the same ball that's in his mouth when he was a little puppy.

Well, that's the story of Laddie the Dog, my first rescue and adoption for SHAID. Cathy says we owe her big time, so Callie and Teddie will have to get her something special for Christmas this year. All kidding aside, I'm so very happy the story has a happy ending and everyone is happy.

I hope you enjoyed this "Tail" and I didn't ramble on too much.

We will be going to visit Laddie sometime in his new home. I know that Callie and Teddie can't wait. NOT.

Here is the latest picture of Laddie and Patrick. Remember that old TV show "Who's the Boss?"

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MY FIRST RESCUE!!!! AND IT'S A COMPLETE SUCCESS

MY FIRST RESCUE!!!!
AND IT'S A COMPLETE SUCCESS