HAPPY TAILS

Hi, I'm Hoover, and I think I am the happiest dog in the world.  I wasn't always happy, though.  You won't believe my story.  I had a hard time for a long time, but now I am in the perfect home for me.  About a year ago, my family had a terrible car accident and couldn't take care of me or my brother Nicky anymore.  Nicky was a purebred longhair dachshund, so some people who were taking care of us called DARE.  The DARE lady said she just couldn't tell my family that she would take Nicky but not me, even though there wasn't much dachshund in me --- so DARE took me.  Nicky and I went to live with her for a while.

At first I couldn't walk very well, because I had been in the crate for so long.  I also had a lot of bald places on my back because I have a thyroid condition.  I was very scared of the other dogs, and I would attack them if they came near me, my food, my crate, or my toys.  I stayed in the crate all the time, to protect myself and my stuff.

I lived with my foster mom and dad for almost a year.  I got lots of exercise, good food, and love.  My foster mom always fed me in my crate because it was my safe place, and I was still very afraid of the other dogs getting my food.  But I liked to go on walks with them, and pretty soon I started to think they might be okay.

I started coming out of the crate more after about 3 months.  I still didn't want any other dogs in there, though.  I started feeling comfortable enough to eat in the kitchen with the other dogs. 

After about 6 months, I never went in the crate any more on my own.  My foster mom made me sleep in there, though, because sometimes I would fight with the other dogs on the bed.  But during the day she let me stay on the bed all I wanted.  All my hair grew back and I got a beautiful shiny coat, with my thyroid medication.  I started to play with the other dogs, chasing around the house. But I still protected my toys and my crate, all the time I was there.

Then a wonderful lady named Jennifer came to see me.  She said she wanted a dog just like me.  My foster mom made a lot of phone calls to make sure Jennifer was okay.  Then I went home with her, and now I can sleep on the bed all day and all night.  She doesn't have any other dogs, so I never have to worry about my toys or my crate now.  I get lots and lots of love, and Jennifer takes me to the park, right down the street from our apartment, all the time.

I don't know what would have happened to me without DARE.  I guess I would have gone to the shelter, where I probably wouldn't have made it out, since I'm older and kind of anxious, and I need that medicine every day.  But DARE took care of me for a long time.  They knew I would eventually find my forever home, and I did.