Brandy Tails

Hello, my name is Brandy. I was born July 10, 1988. My Mom and Dad got me when I was 6 weeks old. I was living in a empty chicken coop, with 7 sisters and brothers. Our doggie Mom weaned us when we were 5 weeks old. We had to learn to eat food real young. I was the first one to be adopted. Lucky for me I found good parents. When they came I tried real hard to be the one they'd like, wagging my tail and giving lots of kisses. That wasn't easy, the others wanted to go to and did the same thing as me. But I won and they took me home.

When we got there I was introduced to my new fur kid sister, Sassy. She was a gray tiger and white cat. She was 6 years old when I first came to live there. She was set in her ways and I had to let her know right off the bat, that she wasn't going to run my life. After while she made up with me and we did alot of playing. I liked it when she would get on the back of the couch and we'd run from one end to the other. She had her claws and could hurt me if she wanted, but she never hit me with them. She was a good sister and I miss her. She had a bad heart that couldn't be corrected and my Mom and Dad had to have her put to sleep when she was 11.

I have a little cat brother named Tucker now. He is 4 years old now and we fight all the time. He thinks he's the boss. I like to tease him and he likes to tease me back. In the end he usually gets mad and bites my ears, when I'm sleeping. He's not very nice some times. He is working on his own page and I'm sure he's going to say things about me. But don't you believe him. OK?

The day after they got me, we went what, they call, campin. I didn't know what that was. We got in the van and pulled a little house behind us. When we got where we were going, they set up the pop-up. There were other people there that they knew. They all wanted to hold me. Saying how cute I was and that I was so little. I made a real good friend named Sheba she was Rick and Debbie's fur kid (That's what Mom & Dad call me and Tucker). She was older than me, about 9 months older. If it hadn't been for her it would have been really boring. She kept things exciting and we'd play all the time. I really liked my Mom and Dad's friends. We all had a good time on that trip. We camped with 5 families and they were all fun to be with. Campin is a good thing. I love it and can't wait to go.

When I was 5 months old, I had something called my first Christmas. My Mom and Dad put up something they called a Christmas tree. What a strange thing to do. Why would anyone put a tree up in their living room. I soon found out. They put all kinds of pretty things on it, and it even had lights. I like this thing they call Christmas. They bought presents and wrapped them and put them under the tree. I had some presents under the tree to. I love to open them. That's the best part. Mom made all kinds of good things to eat. I love Christmas!!!

When I was 3 years old, we were getting ready to go to the big water (Lake Huron) to go camping. I started to limp and my Mom took me to the vet. They thought I had sprained my leg. They gave me a shot (I don't like shots) and told Mom to keep a eye on me while we were gone.

I love the big water, it's fun to play in. But I couldn't play much, my hip hurt to bad, I couldn't tell them what was wrong. I didn't know how. When we got home it was back to the vet for me. That's when we first met Dr. Susan Lewis. She took X-rays of me and found that I had bad hips. Something called Canine Hip Dysplasia. Mom was real upset when she told her that. She told the doctor, she had lost two other shepherd's to Dysplasia. She said I was only 3. What could they do. Dr. Lewis said she would make an appointment with a Dr. Braden at Michigan State University Veterinary College. He was very good at what I needed to have done.

When we got to Lansing, Dr. Braden took more X-rays and said I needed hip replacement surgery. They said I would be there for a week. This was the first time I had ever been away from home, for any length of time. They were very good to me, but I missed my folks. I didn't know why they just left me.

When Randy (Randy was a senior at the college who took good care of me.) was taking me to them I could hear them and I pulled him down the hall screaming. I gave them lots of kisses.

When I got home I couldn't go outside without one of them going with me, I couldn't go upstairs or go onto the kitchen's vinyl floor for 8 weeks. I had to have my other hip done when I was 5 years old. This is a picture of me after my second surgery. But I'm fine now thanks to some very good care from my doctors. Thank you MSU and staff for my life. Without you I wouldn't be here today. I just had my 13th birthday.

Brandy's Favorites

Color........ Tennis ball yellow
Toy.......... Tennis ball, Squeaky toy
Breakfast.... IAMS
Dinner....... More IAMS
Treat........ Bonz, Eggs, Cheese
Place........ Big Water
Music........ "Jingle Cats"
(I like to sing with it)
People....... Mom & Dad, Uncle Bubba,
Auntie Gloria, Aunt Gale, Uncle Bill,
Uncle Norm, Uncle Rich, Aunt Betty,
Aunt Molly, Aunt Jeri, Uncle Lew
Dog friend... Sheba, Buddy
Cat.......... Tucker
(Mom made me say that!)
Bye Bye...... Van rides,
Campin....... Big Water