The Samson Story

My sister Sue lived a good part of her life on the family farm back in Kentucky.  She recently made some monumental life changes, including her decision to leave Kentucky and move to Houston to be near me and my husband.  

Sue’s beloved Delilah, a 14 pound Jack Rat Terrier, joined her on this adventure.  Once settled in their new home in Texas, Sue and Delilah felt lonely for the animals left behind in Kentucky.  So, it was inevitable…they decided to add just one more little one to their family… it just seemed to be the right thing all around.

We were excited at the prospect of a new doggie, and planned a visit to the Houston shelters. The first venture proved that all we had been told was true…the little ones go fast!!!

The last kennel on the left housed Tim-Tim, a Pom/Chihuahua mix who pranced to the door, wagging his little tail and looking up at us with soulful eyes pleading “please take me home with you!”

Tim-Tim went to his new home on October 24th and was promptly renamed Samson.   Delilah snarled and snapped at him a few times at the beginning but over all, they have done very well together.  They now lay together on Sue’s patio side by side in the sun. Samson follows his new HuMom everywhere she goes!!!

On behalf of Samson and all the other animals in need, a portion of the proceeds from the Meadows Craft Show was donated to the Houston Humane Society.

Romeo, Romeo…Wherefore Art Thou Jake?  submitted by Merlin Magic

It was early evening, around 6:30 or so, on Thursday, June 7, 2007.  I needed lettuce from the grocery for our dinner that night.  I asked my husband if he would go but he said he was really tired after working all day so I decided to go myself.

(Husband’s note to self - do not, repeat, do not allow wife to go to grocery store or any place else unless accompanied by a responsible adult…it is a very “dangerous” thing!)

On my way to the store, I saw a chow-looking dog, lying up against a fence by one of the local bayous.  I made a mental note to check to see if he was still there on my way home…he was…

I told my husband about the dog when I got home…he said that the dog was probably just chilling before going to wherever he belonged.  I didn’t think so but decided to let him think he was right (for once <grin>).

About an hour later, I asked him to go with me to see if the dog was still there.  If he wasn’t, great…if he was, we needed to rescue him and try to find his owners.

As luck would have it (or perhaps fate intervened), one friend sent the email to another friend who responded with the following email…

“This is where we are; our Cheyenne went to the Rainbow Bridge Thursday afternoon (June 7), I received your e-mail on Friday and took one look and nearly died.  It's just too soon, plus the fact that my daughters are going overseas in a few weeks and we'll have both their dogs (two very large dogs.) We also have a Lab mix (male.)  PLEASE, if you should still have this cute doggie at the beginning of next month let me know. There's a word in Hebrew "beshert," which means meant to be, guess if it is, he'll be living with us. Please continue to look for a new home for that wonderful face (Cheyenne was Chow mix...!!!!!!)”

That email was followed by another one…

“Just showed your e-mail to my husband.  Again, if he's still with you (hopefully) by the beginning of July, he'll have a home with us. I have already named him Jake (I'm assuming you have been calling him "doggie.")…I realllllllllllllllllllly hope that this can work.”

A meeting was arranged for the folks to meet JAKE on Father’s Day.  I think it’s fairly safe to say that it was “love at first sight!”  He met his new HuDad, HuMom, and BroDog Bennie!  He kinda figured out the doggie door and he learned that even though he is a very special dog, he cannot walk on water!  You see, they have a pool in their backyard.  He walked around it the first time but then tried to take a shortcut - PLOP – in he went!  Thankfully, he could swim and was almost able to get himself out of the pool – I only had to help a little bit with a tug of his collar. 

Because they are dog-sitting for their daughters until July 2, we have made arrangements for Jake to go to his new forever, loving home on July 4^th.

Oh, one more act of fate….Jake’s new last name is going to be Spencer!!!  Check back soon to find out how Jake is doing at his new home!

Rusty was found at a dog pound when he was about a year or a year and ½ old by one of the angels on earth who walk among us – we will call her Angel.  Angel is a Chihuahua dog rescuer who is sometimes notified by the local pound when a Chihuahua is about to be euthanized.  She rescues the dog and fosters it until a loving home can be found.  Rusty, although a very far cry from a Chihuahua, was one of the lucky ones. 

One day while Angel was on an errand of mercy at the dog pound picking up a Chihuahua, fate intervened.  While she was talking with the manager, an employee came by and said one of the dogs that should have been euthanized on an earlier run had been missed because he was hiding under the bench in his run.  The manager gave the order to get the dog and euthanize him right then.  A worker then came dragging a straggly little Rusty on a leash.  He was resisting with all his might – as if  he knew something bad was about to happen.  He was terrified.  Angel noticed the little pooch was limping on a lame back leg.  She felt so bad for the little pup and said to the manager “Okay, I will take him too.”   This was not a breed she normally fostered but Angel being a true Angel could not leave without him after seeing the fear in his eyes.  Once home with the little prize, Angel realized that Rusty had been abused and guessed it was probably his abuser who broke his back leg.  He also had heartworms and had to endure long, rigorous treatment.  It took a while for Angel to earn his trust, but once she did, he became just the sweetest little guy.  

Things began to look up for Rusty for a while.  He got adopted, but was returned.  Then got adopted again and was returned again.  The problem was, little Rusty didn’t trust strangers and was especially suspicious of men.  He was afraid to be hurt so he decided to hurt first.  He would growl and snap and generally make himself a nuisance.  He loved his immediate families with fierce loyalty, but tolerated very few others.  His adoptive parents couldn’t deal with his aggressiveness.  Although they loved him very much, they were compelled to give him up. Rusty was certain all outsiders were enemies – out to hurt him and his family. 

But then one day fate intervened on Rusty’s behalf again.  While he was back in foster care with his Angel, a little family consisting of man, woman and a dog, was looking for a second dog and saw Rusty’s picture on the Internet.  He was described as a sweet affectionate dog with serious trust issues – a dog who couldn’t be around children, a dog who needed special care and monitoring.  His picture was cute, but – gosh – his behavior appeared to be questionable at best.  He was passed over.  A few weeks later, Merlin Magic (yes, this Merlin Magic) who just happens to be a good friend of the “little family in search of a second pooch,” saw Rusty’s picture on the Internet and sent it along to them.  Thus, the family was treated once again to the sight of the cute little orphan.  After extended conversations among friends and serious consideration by the family, Angel was contacted.  After discussion of Rusty’s charms and challenges, a meeting was arranged.  Rusty was to get another chance to win over yet another adoptive family.

All were worried.  All wanted it to work out for everyone’s sake.  Rusty needed a loving permanent home very badly and the family and first dog needed another baby to love.  Angel needed more space in her home to shelter another homeless pup.  It was love at first bite sight.  A match made in heaven.  Not a bite, not a growl.  Rusty loved everyone and they all loved him.  He was adopted without a hitch into a perfect home....a permanent home.   

 And he is learning from them to trust in his good fortune, that most people are his friends, that his family will always take care of him, love him and treat him with kindness.  Rusty’s tail does not stop wagging.  The love in his eyes is impossible to miss.  The pride in the faces of his family is evident.  Rusty is home to stay.  This he has been promised.

Like we said, Rusty is one of the lucky ones.  There are many more out there, who do not get the chance that he was given.   Around 80,000 animals are euthanized every year in Harris County, Texas alone.  That is a staggering number.   There are also the strays living their lives on the streets, and die young of starvation, disease, abuse or car accidents.  Yes.....our little Rusty is one of the lucky ones.  He had an angel on his shoulder.

I began searching rescue sites on the Internet for local agencies who could help us find a companion for Wilma.  We felt an older dog rather than a puppy would best suit her. Eventually, I hit on Petfinder.com and began looking for Bassett Hounds that were available for adoption.  One dog in particular stood out the minute I found his photo listed with a group of animals from the Scott County Humane Society in Georgetown, Kentucky.  Here staring out at me was the most soulful, sweet looking red and white Bassie boy I had ever seen.  He had big chocolate eyes and a look on his face that just said, “Take me home and love me, will ya?”  I wasted no time contacting the foster doggie-mom, Catherine Keefe.  Catherine got right back with me about this special boy and I filed an application for adoption.

As I talked with Catherine, she told me the story of how Alfred came to be in the care of folks in Scott County.  A few weeks prior to his being placed with Catherine he had been discovered wandering alone, hungry and dirty on I-64 near Owingsville.  The woman who found him was a doctor from Boston who strangely enough had come to Kentucky to adopt a dog from one of the rescue agencies here!  She was on her way back to Boston, saw this beautiful dog on the side of the highway and stopped to pick him up.  She drove back to Scott County and left him in the care of Humane Society folks there.  Alfred went to one other family before being fostered with Catherine.  She took a charming photo of the big guy and posted it on Petfinder.com. 

I first went to Catherine’s home to meet Alf.  She also had two Bassett Hounds that she and her husband had adopted, along with a German Shepherd, a Chihuahua, and a cat.  Alf came right to me, sat in my lap on the floor and just snuggled.  I was in LOVE!  Within a couple of weeks, we introduced Alf and Wilma at a local park in Georgetown.  She didn’t much care for him at first, but seemed to perk up some when he showed an interest in her.  Catherine was impressed with Wilma, I was in love with Alfred and we continued the process.  Alf came to our home to see how he would like it there, and all went well.  My husband also fell for Alf, Wilma perked up a bit more, still wondering about this strange boy who she kept running into, but not all together too put out.  Soon, Catherine informed us that of all the people she had received applications from for adopting Alf, we were the family she felt could give him the best home.  We were psyched!!!  Our hope was that another 4-legged low to the ground creature in the house would make Wilma feel like she was not so alone.  Actually, things couldn’t have turned out better. 

Our rescue dogs give us so much unconditional love.  Our house might be cleaner without the dogs, but our life would sure be lonely.

Merlin Magic is sad to report that Dear Wilma crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Monday, January 15, 2007.   Sending warm fuzzies to Tammi, Greg, Alf, and Buford!