I saw him in my driveway one morning when leaving for work. It was about 3am. When the headlights hit him I could see he was all emaciated with hair missing in several spots. I cant stop for every animal that people drop off in the desert. People are so screwed up... Well its like 4pm when I get home and he is under my truck when I pull in the driveway. I live out in the desert a ways. Lots of Coyotes. Its was August and around 115 fegF. I went in and grabbed a bowl of water. All the while he just stared at me. I set it down, he was about 20 yards away down the drive. He didnt move. So I whistled for him and he comes running out of there like we have been friends for years. He was still a pup around 10 months old I would guess.

Every bone in his back and hips where sticking out. His skin was loose. He didnt have long left. I threw him up in the truck and took him to the vet.
30 lbs under weight, canine tooth broke in half with the root showing, the other one chipped. He had a lot of scaring on his neck and back. He has had a rough life up to this point. I will try and re-socialize him. It may or may not work due to his emotional scars. Every time he falls asleep he is having bad dreams, growling and yipping.
I have had him for 2 years now. He is healthy as a Bull. He has scars under his fur and is missing a tooth.
Smartest dog Ive ever had. He is also a best friend of mine.

 

Awesome story and good for you and for him! I certainly hope that you can help him to not feel the need to attack other dogs, I'm sure you will. He'll get there.

Me too, all my dogs have been strays, since childhood when my father would bring them home from off the streets. I was actually dropping of my roommate's deceased dog last month (died in the home at 17 years old) at the Houston SPCA, was on my way out to my truck when these girls came in with Sadie (her name at that time was Lady), said their mother wouldn't allow them to keep her any longer. Turns out they'd had her for four months and had still not gotten her any shots. The SPCA was leaning towards putting her down. I couldn't let that happen so I took her, got her her shots and spayed the same week. Sweetest damn pup in the world!

Pumpkin was on the street when I picked her up 8 years ago. She was about the size of what her head is now, all matted and had hot spots. I thought it was mange but luckily it was not. She was suffering badly and wasn't only a few months old, skinny and hungry yet from the get go jumped right into my life offering nothing but love, happy. She doesn't have an aggressive bone in her body, unless I pet another dog in front of her. Then she gets a bit frustrated, jealous, comes running up and puts herself between myself and the other dog, wants to be petted, warns the other dog with a soft growl that I belong to her. That always makes me smile!

I'm just like you, these dogs are my best friends. Keep up the good work, my friend, and good luck!

 

Man those story's remind me how I got the best dog I ever had.
Rufus was an abandon pup up at the lake my mothr operated. I was up helping her set things up for camping. There was this pup wandering around. I never fed or petted him but he followed me everywhere. My wife did not want any pets.
I went home and back up nearly a month later and he was still there. Lot skinnier. again he followed me everywhere. Once again I never fed or petted him. Well when I went to leave. I just could not leave the fella. So I open my car door ad told him to get in. He just did not hesitate. Got up on that front seat and curled up and went to sleep.
It was humorous on the drive home a deer ran in front of the car and I hit the brakes. He slid to the floor and got right back on the seat and growled at the deer.
Of course my wife did not like the dog. But my daughters loved him. I promise he would stay outside and I would make a door for him to get into the garage.
3 days later I found my wife was letting in the house when I was not home.
That dog we never had to house break, he taught us when he wanted out. He slepted with te girls at night and when ever any of them was sick or feeling down he was always comforting them. I worked shift so he always got in bed with me when I slept.
He learned tricks in a flash. The kids always dressed him up in silly clothes and he just enjoyed it. Also very protective of the girls. He pull them around in a wagon or sleigh. He would ride the tobaggan with me down the hills and pull the sled back up us.
He walked and greeted the girls everyday at their bus stop. He was gemtle to everyone.
I went through a divorce and every time I pick the kids up for a visit. He want to come so badly. The sadest looking dog when I had to leave him behind. After 2 years my ex now finally told me to take him. All he would do is whine and moa for hours after I left.
Well that was his happiest day being able to be with me again. I also shortly after got custody of my girls.
So the ritual of bus stops started again. Girls moved on and it was just him and me. Well he got cancer. The look of thankfulness when I took him the vet to be put down. He could not walk anymore. Well he passed away before getting any shots. That was a hard day for me. The vet even was good enough to carry him out to my jeep for me. I buried him here on my place and planted a lilac bush on the spot.
I lasted a month and had to get another dog. So I got Foster. e was not a stray.
3 years later I got Sadie another heeler that was from a breeding farm. She was skinny and had scars on her. The humane society that rescued her was going to put her down. She was an old dog. Well they let me have her for $1.00
She got fat and was a happy dog with me. Just this spring it happened so fast she quit eating. The one night she kept hiding in the doghouse. Then Foster got my attention and I found her outside vomiting blood. Late night trip to vet. She was very weak. and exrays found a mass in her abdomen. We figure she was about 16 years old by them. They said she would most likely not live through a surgery.
I was at work when told of this. So I deceded I have to put her down. Was going to do that after work. The vet called an hour later that she passed away. I broke down at work and they told me to go home.
I picked up Sadie and she now is with Rufs and a new lilac bush.

Sorry about the long thread. I write this tears in my eyes. Darn furry critters. Why do they make grown men cry.

 

Now you got me all teary eyed. Thanks for the stories, both of you!

 

Here is my dog Ruger, he is a Queensland Heeler.

I think he was about 3 months old in this picture. It was back before he grew into his ears. He is a great dog. It is amazing how much your disposition changes when you have your dog with you at work. He doesn't go to work with me near as much anymore. My kids get mad that I am stealing "their dog". I remember I had to lift him up into the truck at first. Now he remembers that he has to jump to get in, and there are times that he almost lands on the dash he jumps so high. He is probably 45 pounds now. He thinks he is a lap dog at times when I am driving, he will stay on the floor till I tell him and he will come over and put his head on my leg for a while so I can scratch his head and ears, then he will go lay back down. He is not allowed on the seat, but of course when I am out of the truck he will climb up and look out the window, till he see's me look his way, then he ducks down. He loves going to work cause I leave the Ac on all day for him, he doesn't get that at home, as he is an outside dog. He is crate trained, but he is happier out in the back yard.

My Brother has both of the parents. He looks so much like his dad, Red, that I found myself calling him Red some times.

 

This was my Daisy, She was the best traveling companion. She had been on several road trips including an 8000 mile road trip. She passed away on 04/12/2011. Once we went to Nebraska to visit my uncle and when we got their Daisy was in the back seat laying down. My uncle reached into the passenger window to greet her and I thought she was going to take his hand off. She was very protective of my truck. These pictures were from when I just got my truck. She loved to go everywhere with me.
<a href="http://s1066.photobucket.com/albums/u420/IslandBlueV10/Dogs/?action=view&amp;current=grandmasdogs099.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u420/IslandBlueV10/Dogs/grandmasdogs099.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s1066.photobucket.com/albums/u420/IslandBlueV10/Dogs/?action=view&amp;current=grandmasdogs100.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u420/IslandBlueV10/Dogs/grandmasdogs100.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s1066.photobucket.com/albums/u420/IslandBlueV10/Dogs/?action=view&amp;current=DaisyNibbles017.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u420/IslandBlueV10/Dogs/DaisyNibbles017.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

Today I plan a short road trip and will be taking Foster he just loves trips in the truck. Going to look at a 83 ford parts truck It has a decent box.
He thou gets to sit on the seat and watch the world whip by.
When Sadie was alive she loved the rides too. She would sit next to me like a girlfriend on a date, lean her head against me evry so often. , put her paw on my lap.
I love my Blue heelers. I may get another one yet so Foster can have another playmate. He gets bored with me gone to work.

 

Mine are the two on the left.
Zoe our French Bulldog.
Sunny our Mini English.
The other is my buddies Olde English.

 

Cool looking dogs I think they like to stick thier toung out at you.
Trav

 

Ok so all y'all have some pretty cool lookin' dogs so I though I would show off our current ones.

First is my dad's Miniture Pinscher named Buglaria but everybody calls him Bug Bug Pee Pee Pants or just bug. He has to wear a diaper because he was nuetured late.


Next is Puggles this is my sister's dog. She is a chiwawa She was born last easter she is so funny she loves this bucket for some reason I don't know why. If she doesn't have the bucket she has tooth brushes. Yes that is my sister holding her:


Then thier is Robby. But everybody calls him slobby he is my yourger brothers dog. he is a basset hound whom thinks he owns the whole mountain.


Next is Yoda or little man. this one is my mom's dog. He is also a Chiwawa. He thinks the expedition is his if he doesn't go in it then he tries to make sure nobody goes in it. Every day when we are pulling up from working he will run out and try and get a ride in the truck. He is the biggest yet smallest spoiled brat thier is. This is as big as he will probably get.


Then thier is Lassy. She is a mini Sheltie that we rescued she came up to our house and some neighbors told us that the current owners didn't feed her or anything so we took on Lassy. She is a very friendly dog.


Here is a pic of Savanna my dog and her sister Daisy who passed away a while ago both are blue tick coon hounds. Savanna is the dark colored one. She is an outside dog whom sleeps in the bed of my 88 F150 every night. She is a cool dog really but sometimes likes to be a pain in the rear end but she is a great dog. She use to be an inside dog but isn't anymore.


Then here is Seemore just a dog we got after the house fire. A long haired Chiwawa. She is pretty old I know that. She thinks she is the king of the bed.


Then here is my youngest brothers dog Sniffels. I don't know what kinda dog she is. I do know though that she is bigger then in this photo this a pretty old photo and I can't get one of her because she doesn't like me for some reason.


And thats all other then we have a pig whom thinks he is a dog for some reason.
Trav

 

Your dogs are precious, your little sister is utterly cute and adorable.

NOW GO CLEAN YOUR ROOM!!!!

 

thanks Texas chain ring. By the way those pics of Yoda and Savanna aren't my room. The one of Yoda is him with us at work stripping a mobile home. the one with savanna is my brothers room. I don't have a room right now we are working on building it. LOL. Plus most of the time my room is clean.
Trav

 

No apology necessary...thanks for sharing.



He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
- Unknown

 

Annie is my truck dog, tractor dog, 4 wheeler dog, and all around best friend.

 

hey drey04 you hunt you GSP? Mine cant wait for Pheasant season to open! took him canada goose hunting yesterday and he retrieved 16 for me and my brother, i was so happy he stayed still in the duck blind i forgot to take pictures!