Hello! I am a beautiful red Chow, the oldest dog

member of the Cleeland Clan.  I was born

into this family twelve years ago.

My mother had been bought from a

pet shop (a puppy-mill puppy) as a gift for

the Big Guy in this

family, before he even got married.

He really loved my mother,

whose name was Choo-Choo Bear.

(They said she sounded like a choo-choo

train and looked

like a black bear!)  He hand-picked my

father, who was owned

by a reputable breeder.

That’s why I’m still so healthy and beautiful,

even though I’m twelve years old

right now.   I was the “pick of the litter”

and they kept me, so I have

always lived with this family and my mother.

However, she wasn’t healthy like me.

She got blind a few years ago, and then

started having hip problems.

It got harder and harder for

her to walk, and she would sometimes get lost

in the yard.  She got sicker and sicker and then

one day, the Big Guy took her in the truck,

and she never came back.

I miss her, but I am

glad she must finally be rid of all her pain.

I wish people knew better

that they shouldn’t

buy puppies from pet stores,

and that puppy mills

should be put out of business.  My mom was

a good example of what happens

because of unethical breeders.

If maybe you don’t

know about all that stuff, please go here.

I am so thankful I have my dad’s genes and

am so healthy and happy.

Anyway, I’ve seen a lot

of dogs come and go from this family.

When I was little, there was another

dog named Sugar Bear

– a “disney dog” they called her.

She was blonde & shaggy, and she was Mom’s

dog before she married the Big Guy.

She used to run & jump into Mom’s arms

and then sit on her hip with arms

around her neck, just like

a kid!   She lived to be very old,

and then one day

Mom came home from the vet with her

wrapped in a blanket.  She was crying

real hard and asked the Big Guy to dig a hole in

the ground – out in a pretty sunny

spot where Sugar Bear always used to lie.

I have never

seen her again, but pretty flowers grow

on that spot all the time, and a

piece of pink marble says

“Sugar Bear – Love of My Life.”  I have also seen

a couple of dogs come here for just a

little while before they found a new

home.  I have never seen people who

love dogs as much as Mom and

the Big Guy.  They say now that we’re an official

foster home for rescued dogs.  I have never had

a hard life, but I know that some dogs do

because they’ve told me what it’s like out

there. I am the queen of the back yard.

I have never wanted to live in the house –

I love my freedom and the fresh air and

sunshine.   My heavy coat keeps me warm

in the winter, and the

yard is shady and cool in the summer.

I always can go into the basement when

I want, where there’s lots of good food and

water and a nice soft bed for me.

I love my home and am proud to be the

eldest (and wisest, of course!)

dog member of the Cleeland Clan!

       

"I was the prettiest baby of 'em all...."