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Home Annabelle Tales Annabelle Tales II Annabelle Tales III Annabelle Tales IV Annabelle Tales V
In 1994 our dog, Sassy passed away. We left this sign up at the gate / carport entrance (see above sign). We went through our grieving process and of course "swore" that we would "never have another pet" !
At least two times a year we have to take dogs to the vet or call animal control to come and get a dog that had been dumped on our doorstep. "We are never going to have a pet again ! Our children are grown and we are nearing retirement... we can travel without worry of a pet !"
In March of 1999 this dog showed up behind our yard . . . .
She had a collar on, so our plan was to capture her and get the owner's phone number and return her. That was much easier said than done. After a week I finally got "our target" to come into the yard and eat, before that she would only eat the food if I put it outside the back gate. She slept by the woodpile outside the gate with her collection of plastic bottles and fast-food wrappers. Another week passed before I could trap her inside the yard. She finally let us get close enough to look at her collar.
Poppa called the phone number on the tag. The man he gets on the phone is the "first owner" of Belle. Poppa found out that Belle was about three years old and had been given away to another family a few months earlier. Poppa called the "second owner". The man's mother said her son found her another home. Yea, right! Thrown right out the back of his truck at our house. There were witnesses to this happening.
Belle was so skittish... she only had a slight trust in me. I let Poppa decide whether she stayed or went. He thought and thought and fought it and fought it...... "better keep her, she won' t have a chance at the shelter." I agreed to feed and bathe and such... he had to help with the poop scoopin` though. After a few days he regretted that part
After over a year, Belle won our hearts..... probably was her intended targets anyway !
It is now December 2001. Annabelle has become a loving pet. She trust me.... not completely, but to her point. She also responds to Poppa. To start with she did not want to be around him. She would only come out of hiding in the pampas grass to greet me.
Annabelle doesn't skirt around parked cars anymore on our walks. She sometimes gets carried away on the leash and winds up dragging me some. We both prefer the walks we take without the leash. Annabelle thinks I walk too slow.... she gives me a look . Annabelle investigates grocery bags in hand and such now, she used to run.
We've communicated a little better the last year. My son came for a visit and he works with "redneck" sorts and has picked up their manner of talking. He used it on Annabelle and she responded well. Instead of "come" it's "c'mere" or "mere". She understands sit and stay pretty well; except when a tennis ball is involved
I changed her name to Annabelle..... well she just looks like an Annabelle.
Sonja says: " that Annabelle was just answering the sign ! "
Home Annabelle Tales Annabelle Tales II Annabelle Tales III Annabelle Tales IV Annabelle Tales V
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