Five years ago this week, a West Highland White Terrier puppy was born. Her pedigree was impeccable! She wasn’t a mutt or a product of a puppy mill. She was loved and socialized from birth, and several weeks later found a new home with our family in north Alabama.
We named her Daisy.
As Daisy grew, we began to notice that she fell short of the breed standard in a few areas. Her tail was erect, but curled. Her coat was pure white, but thin, with one stray black hair perpetually sticking up. She had crooked teeth. Finally, when rough housing with her one day, Mr. Andi discovered that her teats were misaligned – and one was missing.
A show dog she wasn’t.
But we didn’t care, because we loved her. Showmanship wasn’t important to us. We brought home our pedigreed pup, not to attain status in the community nor to breed others like her, but to be a part of our family. We brought her home to love her.
Five years later, Daisy has become exactly what we wanted: a valued member of our family.
She’s a companion, a playmate, and occasionally a court jester. I’m more inclined to take Nathan down to the beach for a walk in the mornings because Daisy needs to get out, as well. She doesn’t have expensive doggy clothes or a fancy bed to sleep on – ours is just fine – but she is loved and cared for and happy.
On Tuesday, we added another member to our family. Her pedigree is unknown, but she looks schnauzer-ish, or maybe schnoodle (schnauzer bred with poodle). Her history prior to the past eleven days is unknown and (almost certainly) unpleasant. Her age is a vet’s guesstimate, placing her around Nathan’s age. We don’t know what her permanent coat will look like, because most of it had to be shaved when she was dumped unceremoniously (and illegally) at the local shelter after hours.
We call her Stella.
And henceforth, she will be loved. Though she doesn’t have a disability like Sarah Kate or Nathan, she does have special needs. She will require extra patience and an abundance of nurturing. She came to us, not as an adorable newborn puppy, full of energy and optimism, but wounded by mistreatment. She came to us hungry for food, but starved for love.
Not everyone would accept an imperfect pedigreed dog, and some others wouldn’t be willing to take in one with special needs. But Sarah Kate, with her heart of compassion, fell in love with Stella, so we brought her home.
OMG Stella is adorable. Congratulations on the new family member. Definitely schnauzer-ish. In fact I think that’s what you should tell anyone who asks. “What breed is Stella?” “Schnauzer-ish.” It’s perfect. As is that photograph of her with Sarah Kate. I think you have a budding veterinarian for sure.
I can’t quite figure out her pedigree – she definitely has some schnauzer, and best I can tell some poodle. Her tail is docked, so that makes me think she was an intentional schnoodle, rather than a random mutt. Our neighbors across the street have a schnauzer but I’ve never paid her much attention before – I walked over today to ask if I could take a look, but they weren’t home. 🙂
Fantastic! Shelter dogs are always the way to go!!
Love the pic and Stella is adorable! Love her ears. Congrats!
We had shelter dogs before and currently have two shelter cats. Miss Marlo sat in a kitty cube for over 5 months since she’s a little older and needs special food so people passed her by. Their loss, our gain!
Daisy is actually the only pet (out of four dogs and three cats) that we’ve had that wasn’t a shelter dog. I always wanted a Westie, and when we got her they were virtually non-existent in our area – most people saw her and thought she was a Maltese (???). When we moved here, there were a lot and I probably could have waited for a rescue Westie, but at the time I didn’t know that. And Daisy is a sweetheart…
Daisy & Stella are both beauitful! Shelter dogs & cats are the way to go; I have three shelter cats! Anna Kate & Nathan are getting so big; congratulations, to your new family member!
Sarah Kate, not Anna Kate!
Sorry, Sarah Kate, not Anna Kate!
Stella and Sarah Kate are beautiful together! Congratulations!
Hi Daisy! Don’t worry my tail is straight either and my coat isn’t right either but my family loves me just as much as yours. Now be nice to Stella and show her the ropes and that your the boss, because Westies just have to be in charge 🙂
Lovely tale! And the photo of Sarah Kate and Stella is gorgeous. (Well, it’s actually Sarah Kate that took my breath away!)
Stella is definitely an adorable puppy!!! I showed her picture to my friend Adrienne who has a Bichon, and she melted right away, as did I of course. I love how Stella’s ears look like sweet little-girl pigtails, and I love her name because my cousin Josie also owns a dog named Stella.
I think your Stella has found the perfect home because you will all give her plenty of love and attention – especially Sarah Kate, judging from the photo. They’re way cute together! <3
If you like the pigtails today, you must come back to the blog tomorrow. 🙂
Congratulations! All three of my dogs are rescues and very quietly, at risk of offending everyone in the SN community, I will tell you they all have some SERIOUS special needs.
I don’t find that statement offensive at all – even many typically developing children have special needs, due to abuse and neglect rather than disability. Any of the above can happen to a dog, cat, or child.