My special little “Retirement Dog”

It was December 19th. 2005, I was still very much grieving the loss of Brady my 11yr. old Schnauzer, whom I lost in early Oct. I had just retired and Lucky my 13 yr. old cat, who also missed Brady very much, were trying to make the best out of an empty “Dog-less Home”. I had just retired in November and decided that perhaps after the Holidays, I would look into getting another dog - as I’m like a fish out of water without one, my feeling is a home is just a house without a dog. I wasn’t sure of what breed I wanted - not another Schnauzer, as I had lost 2 of them to the same disease, each at 11 yrs. old - plus with being newly retired - the grooming was getting to be an expense I could no longer afford. My daughter had talked about a Chihuahua, and even offered to buy me one for Christmas, as a man that worked for her was a breeder - I said “NO” they look like little rats, shiver and bark and I just need a little more to hang onto plus no puppy until after the Holidays, I’m just too busy. A neighbor of mine had recently bought a little cream colored, long haired 5 month old Chihuahua from another local home breeder, and he was so sweet, I just fell in love with him - no shaking and shivering, no barking just licking the “heck out your face” and wagging his tail until it almost fell off! When we met earlier on this day, she said to me “You should call this lady, she has a litter of all black puppies that I think are about 8 wks. old —-So I said OK, let me check it out - I called her and yes she did have a litter, just 3 puppies -2 females, 1 male - one of the females was already sold and she had just put her ad in the paper/on line that very morning - I wanted a male again and she wanted $500 for him - it was $200 more than my budget would allow, after talking with her for almost an hour, she finally said “If you want him, I will sell him to you for $400 - as I am more concerned about a good home than the money, and I know you will give him that”. I asked if she would hold him for me until I could get over there later in the afternoon, which she agreed too. So a trip to the bank, & grocery store to buy some food and a few new toys, “Just in case” I brought him home —-I headed over there to see what a Black Chihuahua puppy looked like and what kind of home he was raised in. It was Love at first sight, for all the above mentioned - they were the nicest, kindest people with several other Chihuahua’s of their own - who all acted the same way as the neighbors little guy - no shivering, no shaking, no prolonged barking, they just all “licked your face” and wagged their little tails —-I only had to hold him for 15 seconds to have him lick my face and it was a done deal. He was brought home that very day, and had his picture taken with me in his “Christmas Stocking” the very next morning —-all 3 lbs. of him. He’s now 10 months old, 7lbs, and not “a little dog”, only in size - he’s like “Velcro” and has become my constant shadow & best friend- and has never stopped “licking my face” & I know he was sent from “Doggy Heaven” by his predecessor Brady, to help fill that empty void, and give me another Furry Friend to love and share my life with. Gayle F