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The Latest Baby

CHLOE

"Countess Chloe of Croydon" was born January 18, 2003, at the Rocky Creek Kennel, Luray, Virginia. Her sire was Rocky Creek's Second Chance and her dam, Fancee La Ba Loon. Chloe's a 7-week, gold and white Shih Tzu, weighing in at 3lbs-6oz. The breeder gave us a toy bear which had been in the whelping pen with the litter and Chloe cuddled up with it in her carrier during the three hour trip home...no wimpering, no fuss. It looks like this gal's going to be another good traveler. Chloe is paper trained (if you can believe that) and has taken to the bed we originally bought for Daisy (who refused to get it in from day one). Chloe passed our vet check with flying colors, except for a common protozoa parasite for which she is now getting medicine. It apparently tastes quite good because after she gets the prescribed dosage she licks the oral applicator! The pup is sleeping pretty well through the night and we're looking forward to many happy years with this fine breed of dog.

Chloe's now seven months and still wants to use the paper instead of doing her "business" outside. We've put paper outdoors and soiled it with her scent and still she insists on "in-door" activity. It's driving Mom and Dad mad! She's as cute as a button otherwise and has some really nice quirks. She loves that old bear (we've already placed the original) and has mastered jumping into one's lap, turning sidewise onto her back, and presenting her tummy for scratching. And, true to speculation, she's an excellent traveler. I call her short-stuff in addition to all the other nick names she's inherited. Unlike, Daisy, Chloe is a licker...and that's fine with us. Most of her black hair has now turned golden, she has the typical Shih Tzu conformation - long body and higher back end with a more pointed face...all more pronounced then with Daisy. All in all, we think we'll keep her .

Say "Hi" to Daisy

DAISY

Everywhere you turned there were warnings against buying dogs from pet stores. Pups sold through such "animal factories" were often sickly and highly unlikely to possess good dispositions. So when Judy and I visited a local pet store on May 21, 1988, it was with the idea of simply window shopping to pass some time away. However, since I had picked our last two dogs (both of medium size), Judy thought it only fair that she get to choose the next one. Okay, I said, just so it looks like a dog and doesn't wear a silly ribbon in it's hair. You can see who won that discussion! Shih Tzus are small and characteristically have ribbons in their hair. Daisy spent every available moment licking us and trying to persuade us that she would be a welcome addition to the family. Well, we bought her (against our better judgement), and she has brought us joy every day since. Daisy loves to travel and went with us cross-country in the travel trailer. She loves everyone, but tends to be my shadow. I cannot look at her without feeling good inside. It is impossible to describe just how much love and devotion this dog gives without asking for a thing in return. Of course, she welcomes the brushings, play time and her nightly treat of one Bonz at 8:30pm sharp each evening. Among her names of endearment were: annie fannie, button nose, crazy daisy, daisy doodle, fuzzy face, lefty louie, miss priss, poopsie woopsie, poppy's puppy, and twinkle toes. "Duchess Daisy of Croydon" was born February 13, 1988 and died February 28, 2003.

PENNY

Penny was the first addition to our family, joining Judy and me only six weeks after we were married. We spotted her at the local pound and fell in love with her immediately. She was so small she fit in the palm of my hand and it was so comical to see her climbing into her new wicker bed which sat only several inches high! Penny and our girls grew up together and no dog ever displayed greater devotion than did this one. She was with us twenty-one years and the night of her departure was one of the saddest times of my life. Her vision was by then poor and she moved quite slowly. Judy had put her out to do her nightly "duty," and made sure Penny was all the way at the end of the back yard before stepping into the powder room to get her a baby aspirin for the aches and pains. I was upstairs getting ready for bed when I heard Judy scream that Penny was in our pool. Running downstairs I leaped into the water and pulled her from between the ladder and the side of the pool. I pressed on her chest as heavily as I dared given her frail condition, and breathed into her mouth to no avail. The vet says she probably died of a heart attack soon after hitting the water. Our dear friend was gone...August 14, 1980, at the age of 18.

FLOPPY

Floppy was three years old when she joined our household. I had always wanted a hunting companion and saw her advertised in the paper as free to a good home. It took a little persuasion, but Judy finally agreed that I could check it out. Well, I melted when the owner opened the door and there sat Floppy in a begging position, bottom flat on the floor as you see in her picture, and ears hanging down to her nose. Overweight and untried as a hunter, I brought her home and started training. I would put some rabbit scent on a cloth and drag it in zigzag patterns across the back yard. As soon as I opened the door, Floppy would pick up the scent, start howling as only a beagle can, and follow that line like she had it memorized. Not the best mannered dog (headstrong and full of some interesting habits), she nevertheless was a remarkable hunter. Many days I would stand on a knoll and watch her follow a rabbit that I had spotted long before her nose crossed it's trail. Once on it, she was in 7th heaven as she "doggedly" pursued her quarry as she was designed to do. My buddy died of natural causes...July 30, 1983, at the age of 20.

FLUFFY

One day in 1971 our daughter Karen excitedly announced that her friend's cat had just had babies. It didn't take her long to convince mom and dad that she would really love to have a kitten of her own. She picked the orange and white one, with a "C" on his back and named him Fluffy. He had many adorable traits, but the one I particularly enjoyed was how he played "hide and go seek" with us. We would hide in the powder room (with the door slightly ajar) and call for him. Fluffy would run through the house with his trail high in the air, push open the door with his paw, and sit down to wait for the game to start again. He and Karen enjoyed a special bond that lasted 16 years. Health finally failing, Fluffy passed on December 24, 1987.

PUFFY

Don's mother took one look at Fluffy and decided she had to have one of those beautiful kittens. She picked the calico and named her "Puffy." Well, mom's dog didn't like the new "intruder," and the kitten scratched mom's legs all the time. Conclusion: mom was going to call the SPCA! Judy and I had heard this more than once, and it appeared mom was going to follow through on the threat. So, having left her home and almost half way to ours, I turned around, went in and took Puffy, her dish, food, litter and pan while mom was upstairs showering! Welcome to our house, Puffy. Kimberly adopted Puffy and the two had a special bond for many years. My favorite memory was how Puffy used to say goodnight to me. As I lay on my back in bed, she would jump on my chest, put her head under my chin and nuzzle me several times. This she did every night of her life. Puffy was with us 19 years, passing on December 3, 1990.

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