Looking at this picture of "Snoopy" with Santa, you would never guess that just a few months back, he came to Animal Welfare League in very poor shape. "Snoopy," a sheltie/beagle mix, was found as a stray and brought to us with massive hair loss due to sarcoptic mange and a big, rounded tummy filled with worms. His teeth did not grow in properly, and as a result, he had double canines. Despite his many problems, he was exceptionally sweet and calm, and I felt compelled to save him. When Melissa Archer from Chicagoland Shepherd Rescue came in, I brought her right to his cage. Even though he was the farthest thing from a shepherd, I knew that she had a soft spot for the collie breeds, and I pleaded with her to help him. Luckily for me, it was love at first "sniff." When "Snoopy's" stray hold was up, Melissa took him home and started him on his long road to recovery.
Melissa began by getting "Snoopy" vetted. She treated his worms and mange, then had him neutered and his teeth fixed. She also worked on his housetraining, and gave him the loving environment that he needed to flourish. Soon, "Snoopy" went from nearly euthanized to very adoptable. Once "Snoopy" was healthy again, Melissa brought him in to visit his "Aunt" Tatiana- I was so surprised to see how wonderful he looked! In fact, "Snoopy," the once unwanted stray, now had several great homes fighting to adopt him.
Melissa chose a perfect home for "Snoopy," were he has now settled in and answers to the name "Bailey." Below is a letter written by his new family:
"A few weeks before Christmas my husband and I stopped by an open house at Noyes Animal Clinic to tour the facilities and get our Labrador, Buddy a bandana and get his picture taken with Santa. During this process, we entered a room where a young woman was sitting with a very sweet Sheltie/Beagle mix dog named Snoopy. I fell in love with the dog and bonded with him. He had characteristics I admire in a dog. He was sweet, giving out doggy kisses lavishly, did not seem to mind the multitudes of people and dogs passing through and was amazingly calm. It was obvious to me this was a dog with much love and companionship to
give. Since we fit the same human description, I spoke to my husband about the possibility of adding to our family of 1 dog, 3 cats and set of lovebirds.
We did not respond immediately or on impulse, we spoke about the
prospect and mulled over the possibility for a few weeks before
contacting the woman from German Shepard Rescue who was fostering him. Contacting her was as easy as e-mail. A long phone call and a home visit later and Snoopy was coming to live with us at his new home on December 23rd, 1999. In honor of the hope he would have a wonderful life, we renamed him Bailey, after George Bailey in the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life".
Buddy accepted him readily, it seems our 8 year-old lab was apparently yearning for a playmate. He was slowing down and sleeping a lot and packing on a few extra pounds. Bailey has rejuvenated Buddy and he is like a little puppy again. The two frolic endlessly in the yard, are engaged at every turn playing "tuggy-toy" and enjoy going to the local forest preserve to walk and run the trails with us. We were very fortunate that Buddy was accepting, with one condition- he be the dominant. Bailey is accommodating him in that respect.
It has been a joy and privilege adding this new member to our family. Bailey accompanies me to work occasionally and is well loved by my co-workers. Here are some of the things we have learned that Bailey might tell you if he could talk:
·Snow is great to roll in and eat
·Ice cubes are fun to chew on
·The 3 small "dogs" that purr and hiss are aloof, eat different food that I'm not supposed to eat and don't want to play with me much, but I like them even if they don't want to play
·My new doctor is great- they give me a biscuit when I go there
·The pet store is fun to go to
·The forest preserve is one of my favorite places to go
·My parents tell me they are taking me and Buddy to Dog Days at Comisky Park to see the White Sox play in August, and we'll get to walk around the real playing field, I can't wait ( I wonder if I'll catch a ball!)
·It's great to have a big brother and Parents that love me
I believe Bailey's success and happiness are predicated on him
possessing the temperament of a dog that matches what we admire in a dog, the fact that we can afford both the time and financial concerns that adding a new family member entails and the fact that loyalty and love are evenly distributed and returned. We couldn't be happier. Thanks to all who helped make this a possibility.
Sincerely,
Deb Jarc on behalf of myself, my husband Len, Son Bret, Dogs Buddy and Bailey, Cats- White Sox Slinky and Tabby, and Lovebirds Kiwi and Sweet Pea
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