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I first met Whitney as I walked to the post office one summer day. Her face was almost covered by the white, woolly fur that covered her body. She wagged her tail in a most friendly way and we became friends immediately. She belonged to a family that had just moved into the house next door. They were very busy and paid little attention to Whitney & her daughter Tiny.
My dog, Gally, had mysteriously disappeared and I needed a dog to love. Gradually Whitney became my constant companion, first in the yard and then she began sneaking in the house at every opportunity. Lying on her stomach, she moved all around the room in swimming movements. She liked to sit in my lap as I brushed her long, tangled fur. I even gave her a bath. She loved the attention. When it became evident that she would have puppies, I asked her owners to save one for me, I wanted a little white, woolly, sweet-tempered puppy like Whitney!! Fall turned into winter and it was time for the puppies to be born. Her doghouse was moved to an enclosed pen, but she found a way to get out and visited me every day. One day she didn't come-2 days- 3 days and still she didn't come. I went as close to their doghouse as I could get every day. Finally I heard noises! The neighbor boy told me that puppies had been born Dec. 26th, there had been 3 but one didn't live. It had been below zero on Dec. 26th, but some way Whitney had kept her babies from freezing. After several days, the neighbor boy brought the puppy I could keep. What a surprise, I was shocked - It was the ugliest puppy I'd ever seen, short hair, brown with streaks of black. I told the boy I'd decide if I wanted the puppy when he was old enough to wean. I was quite certain I didn't want that ugly puppy! Days went by and no sign of Whitney. Then the neighbors told me that a Rottweiler they owned had killed her. My grief over Whitney's death was overwhelmed by concern for her puppies - they weren't old enough to wean! Soon the neighbor boy came to the door with my puppy - more dead than alive. I didn't hesitate a minute - that puppy needed me. I didn't know what to do with him so I wrapped all 1½ lbs. of him in a towel and took him to bed with me. Then began many trips to the vet - shots - medication - baby food and slowly the little dog, I had named Amego, came to life. The first time he toddled across the room and climbed into the basket I had fixed for him, I felt he had accepted me and would live up to his name. Now long days of housetraining him began. I spent hours waiting for him to find the right spot so I could go into the house and get warm. Eventually he could crawl up in my lap. Puppy teeth are very sharp, my hands and arms were proof of that. Everything in the house was fair game to chew! His ambition knew no bounds. He destroyed two chairs by tearing the upholstery. If left alone he trashed the house. A favorite trick was to pull all the covers off the bed. He loved to snatch gloves or anything loose and run as if he had stolen them. He hid two sets of keys, after a long time he proudly appeared with one set in his mouth, he had hidden them in a boot. The other set was found months later tucked under some boxes. Now Amego is nearly five years old and has outgrown most of his puppy ways. He cries when I leave him but no longer trashes the house. The greeting I get when I return overwhelms me. He has assumed certain roles and the high point of his day is when the mail carrier drives past. He ignores other cars but barks and insists I follow him to the mailbox when that certain car goes past. He embarrasses me by staring at callers indicating he wants them to leave. He is so obvious with the hint they often say I think he wants us to leave. He meets everyone at the door and escorts them out. When Sonny arrives he dashes around the kitchen table several times, sometimes taking a side trip through the bed- and bathroom. He pays no attention to my scolding but immediately obeys Sonny's command. Sights of the car keys cause him to jump and bark with joy. He likes to ride in the front seat but one look from Sonny, sends him quickly to the back. The vacuum sweeper is his enemy. As I move things getting ready to use it, he goes to the place it is and bites and barks at it. He quickly learned to use the doggy door Johnny fixed for him. He dashes in it at the first sign of danger and from the safety of the porch, sticks his head out the door and challenges any enemy! He has special friends, Renae who carried him under coat when he was a baby, is special. Then there is Matthew and Rachel who have played with him since he was a bundle of energy. Beatrice, she calls everyday and asks how is my little dog? Olive, who gets a loving greeting at the back door. Teresa and Doug, Katherine and Ike and of course Sonny and Johnny who he knows as family. As I think of the companionship and joy he gives, I can't believe that I thought of rejecting him because he wasn't white, woolly and sweet-tempered like his mother! The ugly duckling didn't turn into a beautiful swan but he became a challenging, interesting, loving, lovable friend and companion, that I adore. |