ZOEY IN THE HOUSE!

I grew up the Dachshund's - there were 6 of them along the way but it's been over 30 years since the last one!!  I've been wanting to get another one for some time and this time really wanted to get one from a shelter or rescue group.  Puppies have advantages and disadvantages as so older dogs but there are so many good dogs out there needing a home - dogs nobody wants anymore for one reason or another that this time I wanted to adopt.  I filled out applications with several rescue groups indicating dogs in their databases I was interested in but none of them every got back to me.  The one reply I did get said they were too busy to get to my application.  Makes me wonder how badly they want to find homes for their dogs!  There were a couple that came through our local humane society, but neither were a good match - my one requirement is that the dog had to like or at least get along with cats since I have 4 and they were here first.  As I was checking out the www.petfinder.com web site for the umpteenth time a couple of weeks ago, I came across a new rescue group - one not far from where I live that only had one dog listed.  I emailed the lady and found out she actually had several, all rescued from a puppy mill over in Missouri, all older dogs that had been breeders all their lives  She agreed to met me and bring the one dog she had that was ready to be adopted and the rest, as they say, is history.  Meet Zoey:

She's a 5 1/2 year old minature female who's only known life as a "breeder bitch" living in a cage.  She has a very sweet personality though, despite her past, and is quickly adjusting to life outside the cage.  She loves to run!  Get her outside on a sunny day and she'll just run and run and run!  So far, the only things she's not fond of are rain, wet grass and our cats.  She isn't aggressive towards the cats, just scared of them.  Being the smart creatures they are, the cats have figured this out and are using it against her.  They'll chase her around the house, lay in wait for her to walk by and then jump her and in general just cause all kinds of ruckus.  Zoey will bark and carry on like she's being mauled, when in fact they haven't touched her - yet.  I have a feeling that's coming.  Especially with Bugby - he's not happy about this latest intruder at all.  He's going to bear close watching in the days ahead.

Other than that, she seems to be learning how to be a normal dog - housebreaking is coming along well, she's starting to learn a couple of commands (down and sit) and she follows me everywhere.  Probably to make sure she's not left alone with the cats!  I took her to the vet for a heartworm test - the only thing the rescue group had not tested her for - and to get her teeth looked at.  She's going to need some dental work.  On the way home we stopped at Petsmart so I could pick up some dog food and browse dog "stuff" in general.  Zoey came in with me and I put her in the cart so she wouldn't be underfoot.  She's never had dog treats, bones or toys before, so the ones I had already picked up for her were just laying around the house.  As we were going down the aisle with all kinds of doggie toys and treats I stopped to look at something and when I turned around Zoey had climbed up on the side of cart and was leaning over the side.  I thought she was just smelling things, but then she leaned a little further and picked up a "BoBo" off the shelf!!  You can see it in the picture above.  She got down off the side of the cart, curled up in the bottom of the cart with it and gave the biggest sigh.  I was amazed - she'd actually picked out a toy she liked!  Since then, her and BoBo the Binky are pretty inseperable.  It's the only toy she likes and will play with.  She likes you to squeek it and then toss it for her to go fetch and bring back.  So, I guess when it comes to dog toys, I'll have to take her shopping so she can pick out her own!