Winston and Ladybird
It seemed the Universe was calling and I heard “Her.” She was saying, “You need to get another dog. A dog that needs you.” Well, that was interesting. Once that seed had been planted it sort of sprouted, but months later no dog showed up ‘that needed us.’ I called different rescue groups and told them we didn’t need another dog, but we wanted to do a good thing and would give a home to one. I talked to friends, looked on line at rescue groups and dogs that were available, and stopped in and visited the Yavapai Humane Shelter. Nothing ‘rang my bell.’
But in the back of my mind and in my heart I longed for another Miniature Schnauzer. I had loved Little Miss Muffitt for seventeen years and adopted little Maggie, a puppy mill mother. She lived with us for four years, enjoying a lovely life after ‘who knows what’ happed to her. Another one would be lovely—but whatever the Universe had in mind would be ok.
A couple days ago I was looking at Facebook and saw a post from Circle L Ranch Rescue and Sanctuary about an elderly Basset Hound whose owners had taken her to the vet’s to be put down—because she peed on the carpets. The vet tried to tell them she might just have a UTI, but giving medicine would be too difficult they said, so the vet called the rescue and arrangements were made for Dottie to go there instead of being euthanized.
Well, I thought, this sounds interesting, so I called Circle L, got a message, left a message, told Bob, our son, that I doubted I would hear soon and why don’t we just go to Costco instead. Just a few miles down the road I got a call, it was Ann from Circle L, and yes we could come see the dogs, Dottie already had a couple possible homes, but if I wanted to see other older dogs or the rest of the animals, we could.
First Universe sign: I got the call from Circle L and we were already on our way. We arrived, met Ann and she took us to see the older dogs including Dottie. There were two dogs in the room, Dottie and an older Boxer/Mastiff mix. I barely gave Ladybird a second look; she had a Boxer’s face, her tongue stuck out on the side a little because of missing teeth. A little on the thin side, certainly not pretty. She wasn’t outgoing at all, not shy or frightened, just reserved—very reserved. She had been a stray, picked up in Yuma and because they have a very small shelter, she made her way up north to Prescott and Circle L. She hadn’t been previously neutered, obviously had had puppies, perhaps another puppy mill dog.
Bob petted her more, and I could tell he felt sorry for her, but I had eyes only for Dottie—who was absolutely adorable. She kept following me around, sitting down in front of me and looking straight at me. There was no doubt in her mind that she was going home with someone, quite possible me—and I was actually hooked. Those eyes, oh my goodness, those eyes!
However, it did not appear likely Dottie would become ours; she had other chances for a forever home. So I looked at Ladybird again. The Universe was poking me. Something was wrong with her eyes. Ann said she could see, but not real well. She was very mellow, she was good with a puppy that was with her and Dottie now and then; she offered her paw. She stood quietly while Ann opened her mouth and looked at her teeth, yes she had some to chew with, but others were missing. There just was nothing in the world to make Ladybird stand out or make someone want to take her. I don’t know that she had given up, but when I looked at her again she had poked her head in the corner of the window and just stood there while we talked. “I know I am nothing special, who would want me? I know Dottie is adorable, ” she seemed to say.
Little did Ladybird know that this was going to be her lucky day. She was about to get her forever home. As we were walking back to the car with Ann, I saw some puppies running about in a pen farther away. “What are those?” I asked?
“Miniature Schnauzer puppies,” She said.
Be still my heart! “May I see them?”
We went through gate. Ann said that the puppies were recently weaned and were a mix of Miniature Schnauzer and Brussels Griffon but she said they looked mostly Schnauzer, which was true except they had long tails. Two were spoken for but one little guy who was the largest was quite a mellow fellow, Ann said, and absolutely endearing. I picked him up and called out to Bob, “Hey, how about two?” Bob is my partner in crime where dogs are concerned. I don’t know what I would do without him. “You do whatever you want,” was his answer.
The other problem that the Universe had to take into consideration: We have other dogs. A female twelve year old Giant Schnauzer, an eight year old Rat Terrier female and the ‘terror,’ a two year old female Doberman. Buttercup has her own issues, some anxiety, but protective of her family and especially if other dogs are involved. We knew it would take just that special dog to live with her. Someone very submissive and tolerant. I knew a puppy would work because Buttercup could easily be the boss of a puppy, but an older dog would be more difficult.
This day the Universe found a Schnauzer puppy for me and a home for a gentle old lady who would not give a hoot about an obnoxious Doberman who thought very highly of herself.
Truly, I had just been going to ‘take a look’
Anything Equine & Canine 
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