A Second Chance - Our Family's Newest Addition

[Amie]

Brian calls me at work yesterday, and lets me know that there's a yorkie at the store he works at that looks a lot like the pictures of my yorkie Ritse from when I was younger. Ritse was MY first dog. Yes, my parents bought her and paid for everything, but Ritse and I were inseperable. She's the first dog that slept in my bed, starting a trend that sometimes aggravates me at 3 in the morning when my schnauzer crawls under the blankets and takes up all the room.

I went to visit on the way home. Brian told me his story then. Brian started calling him Chance because he got a second chance at happiness. It stuck. Chance was bought as a gift for a rich man's wife 4 months ago. About a month later, they realized he wasn't a teacup yorkie, and he got too big to be cute. They had bought a small cat carrier for his kennel when they got him, thinking he'd max out at 3 pounds. It's about two inches too small for the little dog, he can't turn around in it. They put him in there 3 months ago and left him in there, taking him out only to hose out the box. They put a bit of food and water for him. Finally, they walked to the pet store owner on Wednesday night and said "Here. We paid $1300 for him, here are his papers."

Chance is champion bloodline. His sire was a champion, as was his mother's sire. He's perfect in conformity, and beautiful. And about 2 pounds underweight. His little legs are soo skinny and his ribs are showing. He was so covered in feces and vomit that they had to cut him VERY short. The pet store was going to sell him for about $300 (negotiable) to make sure he went to someone who would take care of him, but the owner kept taking him off the floor because she couldn't let him go to someone she didn't KNOW was going to take care of the dog.

She started asking Brian more about my schnauzer's story. Bella, my schnauzer, was a rescue of sorts. She was born to a bad breeder, and her markings weren't the right color. She is of a very good bloodline, all of her siblings went for $1500 - $2000. But, because the breeder couldn't get that for Bella, he had put her in the back and was going to sell her to a puppy mill as soon as she was 8 weeks. When I went to see her litter, she was the in the back of the pen, separated from the other dogs. Not groomed, ears unclipped, extremely underfed. I paid the breeder $250 because the puppy mill was going to pay $200, and I took the baby and never looked back. Called the Humane Society on my way home, and she was investigated. . .they eventually took all of her dogs away. Bella had worms and a strangulated hernia that was so dangerous she had to have surgery and be spayed immediately, so the puppy mill would have euthanized her when they realized she wasn't able to breed. She hadn't had her shots, and she reacted to everything. Poor baby took 8 months before we could housebreak her because she was constantly sick. And now she's the best dog ever.

It looks like Chance may take a lot of work, like Bella, and the owner didn't want to leave that to just anyone. So she asked Brian if he thought I might take him.

Brian told her that we were talking about getting another dog, but that I wasn't a fan of "purse dogs." My yorkies growing up weren't toys or teacups--the smallest one is the one still living with my parents, and he weighs a good 12 pounds. The owner asked him to have me stop by.

If you've read my posts, you know I have a thing for needy animals.

So, Chance came home with us for a trial. I told Brian that if he couldn't get along with Bella, then the deal was off. Well, Bella (who has a bad back foot and usually shies away from other dogs because of it) immediately took to Chance. They spent the entire time running around and playing. He spent the entire night with us and slept through the whole night. He doesn't know what treats are, doesn't know what love. He won't leave us alone because he's so much happier.

The only thing he has to learn is that Bella does NOT share her manatee pillow she sleeps on. She'll share toys and food, but NOT mama's old manatee pillow. I swear I've spent $75 on dog beds around the house, and that's the only thing she'll sleep on.

So, yeah. We had an unexpected addition. Hopefully we can get him healthy again. We'll have a small problem since all of my dogs have always been kennel trained and I can't bring him near one without him crying and shaking. But we'll work it out.

I'll post pictures later.

[Sashagirl]

Amie

What a sad start for Chance I'm glad that Brian was there to take him home.
Now we both have a Chance and a Scarlett.Keep up the rescuing.It's ashame some people don't see through the inperfection like we do.I'm sure with all the love you have he will flourish.

Marcia

[Tom Lawless]

What a nice ending to a terrible beginning. It looks like Chance and Bella have it made.

[red192]

Awwwww what a sad story with a happy ending! Oh he's gonna stay with you, I feel it. Pictures! Please?!?!?!?

[Amie]

Thanks everyone!

He's actually a perfect little guy, despite the health troubles we're having. His body hasn't had good food or shots since he was 6 weeks old, so we're getting sick EVERY TIME we go to the vet, and we're still fighting the healthy food. BUT, he's already essentially housebroken, has learned sit, stay, down, and come (and that we leave the big red feathered thing alone!) and LOVES his new sister (who, thankfully, loves him, too!)

I'm going to post a picture as soon as I get my laptop back! I promise. HE's ADORABLE!!