Sunday, May 9, 2010

Toot, Toot, Tootsie

It's been a big week or two for older and the less fortunate dogs we have been tending to in ARF. My oldest foster -- a dear snoodle named Tootsie who records say is 10 and maybe 11 years old -- was adopted. Toots has congestive heart disease. She often acts like a much younger dog -- an 8 year old, perhaps. I have adopted her out twice before to senior citizens who kept her a year or two and then asked ARF to take her back because they could no longer care for her.

I always took her back with no reservation because Toots is a good girl. I just felt terrible for her. It seemed that no one in the extended families wanted to take her in. That is bothersome to me. You would think that a son or daughter would take in a family member in need.

This time I had decided Tootsie was staying with me unless someone very special came along, which I sincerely doubted would happen.

But it did happen. Along comes a nice woman in her late 50s, early 60s who has had dogs with cancer and congestive heart disease before and has no problem letting them live comfortably with her until it is their time to depart. She e-mailed me about Toots and I e-mailed back, thinking that would be the end of it. But she persisted. She filled out an application and met Tootsie. Toots had just come from the groomers and was looking especially gorgeous with purple toe nails and a purple bow in her hair. Also a hot pink and purple scarf around her neck. The lady liked her and decided to adopt her.

I just received an e-mail from her that Tootsie has settled in quite nicely. Toots was always good about that. Bless her. She said that Toots does a happy poodle dance when she comes home from work. She said watching the dance and how Tootsie runs around and barks happily makes her think she is a much younger dog.

It makes me think that there are many, many special people in this old world.

Don't shop! Rescue!