No one knows how his story began. He was found wandering the streets of Pasadena, California. Picked up and housed at the local animal shelter for 7 days. No one came to claim him. At the end of that week his "fairy tale" journey began. A wonderful angel named Jean took him away from the shelter and directly to a "Self Service Pet Bath" for not one, not two, but three baths. Those thousands of fleas just didn't want to let go. He bravely stood tall and allowed this gentle person to scrub and scrub and scrub.

Away fell the fleas, dirt and oil. What emerged was a beautiful "ridge-free" Ridgeback. I met him the next day and we decided that his name must be Camelot. For he was about to embark on a journey that he could not have imagined in his wildest dreams.

After he tried to pull me down the stairs at Jean's house (what's a leash???), he happily hopped into the back seat of my truck. As we drove away, he sniffed out the window a few times, made three tight turns and lay down. He snoozed the whole hour home, except when we stopped at McDonalds for a cookie.

When he got home, he was introduced to Jodi (his main RR trainer over the next few weeks), Michelle ( my roommate and Cam's biggest fan) and the two cats (who HATE dogs).

I knew he probably had to go to the bathroom, but he wouldn't go into the back yard. I guess he thought he would never be let back into the house. so, we all went out and left in the house with the door open. A few minutes of two human and one Ridgeback romping in the yard brought him out the door. Of course, when it was time to go back into the house he was the first one in line.

In the 3 weeks he stayed with us, he has learned many things. A leash is for touring the neighborhood, food comes twice a day-no need to get it yourself, "sit" means "cookie" and people can still love you even after you chew the handle off their toilet flusher!!

Last night Camelot traveled to his new home. If this is not a Ridgeback fantasy, nothing is. He now has a permanent home with a mom, two 2-legged brothers, two 4-legged sister and horses too! These wonderful people live on 10 acres in the country. all 10 acres are fenced! He can run and play and chase bunnies to his heart's content. He gets to sleep in the house at night on a nice warm bed.

When I left him last night he was lying on the floor with his two human brothers, watching Monday night football. I drove off into the night with tears in my eyes. Tears of sadness because I will mis his sweet face. Tears of joy for the life he now has and has always deserved.

Mary Straling, Camelot's foster mom