Being Little Can Be Hard

Another boarder came to live with us on St. Patrick's Day in 1999. She weighed one and half pounds and could not use her back legs. My son, now a veterinarian, was working at a clinic during his college vacations. A fuzzy toilet seat cover became her king size bed. With her front legs bowing out and unable to stand on her back legs, she visited Angell Memorial Hospital in Boston. There an orthopedic surgeon corrected her back legs with pins. Yes, the fad to insure your legs for a million dollars began with Betty Grable in the 1940's and continues today with Mary Hart and Mariah Carey. This little canine cannot claim million dollar legs, but she can boast two thousand dollar legs. Was it worth it? Some will say yes, while others will ask, "Are you kidding?"

Today this 5 and 1/2 pound ball of fire manages well on her mishapen front legs and not-very-agile back legs. Take a look. (video coming).

Some Call It A Flophouse

Animal lovers will agree that we are not popular with all our two-legged friends. They tolerate, but don't condone, our devotion to our four-footed family. Over the years I have heard many comments about my beloved boarders. They may sound familiar. One of my favorite comments comes from a friend who described my home as a flophouse for dogs. Now we know that such an establishment sometimes shelters those that society shuns or those who shun society. Knowing that, I am quite happy to share this flophouse with some friends who you will meet in the coming blogs. Some are no longer with me, but remain forever in a past enriched by their presence.

Beyond introducing these friends to you, I will explore a lifetime with animals. Won't you join me on this journey with pictures, memories, and thoughts about your special friends.