Thursday, December 29, 2011

Our Christmas Day Dog Rescue

Maybe you'll think I'm nuts after reading today's post. I looked back on it later and remembered tearing up after Christmas lunch when the TV at my inlaws' house ran that SPCA commercial with the mournful animals. I've always had a soft spot for strays, and have gone out of my way several times to bring an animal home: climbing over interstate guardrails or fences for kittens, and two Springs ago when we brought Penny home from the SPCA as my very unconventional Mother's Day gift.

Penny passed away over the summer, and I've been missing having a little furry thing to snuggle with. Our Pomeranian, Emma, is not much of a snuggler, though she'll make the effort if you have food. So when a family friend walked up my inlaws' drive on Christmas night, carrying a tiny bundle of fur that he found on the side of the highway, my heart skipped a beat.


Someone apparently dumped this tiny Yorkie on the side of the road. She was filthy, underfed, and freezing. T knew better than to argue much with me when I said we were bringing her home. After searching the papers, Craigslist, with neighbors, and having the vet do a microchip scan, it looks like her new owners are us! She's a full-grown Yorkshire Terrier (around 4 years old), and weighs in at just over 3 and 3/4 pounds.

We named her Annie (Little Orphan Annie), and she is slightly obsessed with me. I'm not sure if this is a Yorkie thing or an attention-deprived thing or what, but she has become my little shadow. We're working on house breaking her, and it is slow going. Little dogs are hard to train, and she isn't particularly interested...but I'm being as patient as I can. She's getting some good food, had a nice bath, and seems to enjoy wearing one of our old dachshund's sweaters.

We had such a wonderful Christmas that I never expected God to send a dog down my inlaws' driveway. To me, it seemed like an added little bonus to the day. T might say otherwise, but I catch him petting her when I'm not looking. The girls, of course, are thrilled.

Any Yorkie owners out there?


35 comments:

  1. What a cutie! Strays just tug at my heart strings since 3 of my 4 staff members were literally picked up off the side of the road! It seems that they love and appreciate you so much! Happy New Year to you and your sweet family, including little Annie!...hugs...Debbie

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  2. those are some of the cutest faces ive ever seen. how lucky you are!

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  3. Oh Amanda, what a beautiful story! I love yorkies and have also rescued 2 dogs in the past (not yorkies, boxers) isn't it the best feeling! What a great lesson for your daughter also about animals in need. High5 for you :)

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  4. Oh my goodness Amanda, she's so scruffy & cute! What a wonderful thing to do to open your home up to a pet in need. How is Emma adjusting to her?

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  5. What an absolutely darling puppy! She is so lucky to have found you :-). I know what you mean about housebreaking small dogs...we have two Bichons, and it was NOT a fun experience. But it's over and they're good as gold now. We used the bell training method btw.- So tickled for your bonus Christmas present!

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  6. aw, so cute!!! i bet she is feeling so loved!!

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  7. Oh, my gosh, this got me all choked up this morning. I'm so happy for that sweet pup that he found a loving family to care for him. What a wonderful Christmas gift for you, too! :)

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  8. So cute! My aunt had a Yorkie and she was one of the most loving dogs. Annie's lucky to become part of your family!

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  9. Amanda! What a little cutiedoodle!
    Kerry at HouseTalkN

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  10. Annie is adorable! Christmas Eve ended up being her lucky day when you rescued her. Good luck with the house training!

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  11. Bless you for rescuing Annie! She looks like such a sweetie! She seems very happy in her new forever home.

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  12. She is just too cute! And it looks like she's already feeling at home with you guys. :)

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  13. Aw. So cute! Yay for God granting the desires of our heart!

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  14. Aw this is such a sweet story. I love it. And don't at all think you're crazy... I did the same thing, only with 2 newborn orphaned goats. Now that, my friend, is a lot crazier :)

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  15. What a wonderful Christmas gift for the family!

    Here's the dog that joined our family earlier this year(adopted from a local dog rescue group): http://www.sidetrackedartist.com/2011/06/our-newest-family-member.html

    Enjoy your little sweetie!

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  16. What a cutie! We are getting a new dog today...and it was not on my list of things to do for this week:) The boys have been begging for a pet and a friend of my mom had some cute half dachshund half beagle puppies she is giving away.

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  17. She is adorable and your little ones look so happy with her!! As a mommy of 5 rescued pets this melts my heart. She found her forever family. What a blessing.

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  18. oh my word she's beautiful!! have SO much fun with her!!!!

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  19. So sad...glad she has a new loving home!

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  20. congratulations on your new baby! what a lucky girl she is to have found a loving family!

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  21. Such a cutie! Hope your new member of the family is fitting in well.

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  22. What a wonderful gift...for her and you :) I do the same thing...only with cats! lol My mom had a yorkie for years and they are very devoted and loyal pets.....Buddie loved my mom more than anyone...

    Enjoy :)

    Lou Cinda

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  23. AWWW! Oh my goodness. Love her & love rescues! Our nearly 16 year old dog is a rescue - we have had her almost 10 years. I'm sure our next will be too...
    Merry Christmas to you!

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  24. Aw! What a cutie!! So sad that she was deserted. My daughter used to call those commercials the sad doggie commercial. No fun to watch for sure.

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  25. This story warms my heart! What a wonderful Christmas gift (and story)! Our pup is a former shelter dog and I've rescued my fair amount of strays. Going as far as pulling over on the side of the road and putting a dog in my car-- 3 times, 3 different dogs. Wishing you and your family plenty of happiness in 2012!

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  26. Hi...I'm Ashley and a new follower to your blog, thanks to Veronica over at Life in The Thrifty Lane. The first post I read was your recent one about your Yorkie rescue pup! Let me start by saying that I'm a proud mama to a 4 year old (just turned 4 November 27th) female pure-bred Yorkie named Izzy. She's 2.7 pounds and has been my very best friend in the whole entire world. Secondly, who in their right mind would abandon a yorkie? To abandon any animal should be a crime, but after owning and loving a Yorkie...yeah...I can't imagine abandoning her!

    Your little Annie is precious. She will be your forever pup. Her following you around so much isn't necessarily from her recent lack of attention. Yorkie's are very needy and crave TONS of attention, especially from their master. If she has identified you as her master, then you are in for a treat. While it's not in their nature to be "mean", yorkies are very territorial...especially with their "person"/master/whatever you want to call it. My husband can't even sit beside me without my Izzy "coming to my rescue". It's very cute, but can be annoying. Hopefully your Annie is already house-trained, if not, you are in for a treat. Most yorkies are VERY STUBBORN...and not just with potty training...they are that way about everything. They tend to be extremely smart, but the stubbornness kicks in overdrive when you are trying to train them with tricks and such.

    I apologize for the ramble. I'm just crazy in love with Yorkies and, while I don't know you, I'm so excited for you and your Annie!

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  27. She is so adorable!! I would have kept her too!! No question about it!
    Glad she has found a loving home
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  28. Ah! Oh my goodness. How sweet is she?! This is a great Christmas activity (: So happy for you and Annie. Just adorable!

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  29. Your story about Annie made me tear up! She's got a great home now, she will obviously be well loved and care for.

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  30. AMANDA!! I've been out of town and without internet access since 12/27, so I just now read about your new baby. I swear I thought your "teaser" photo was of a PUPPY! I can't believe Annie is so tiny, yet she's full-grown. What a wonderful thing for her to be picked up by a friend of your in-laws! And what a great Christmas gift for you! I'm sorry that I don't remember that Penny died--did you post about that? 2011 is kind of a blur for me in so many ways; please forgive me for not remembering. But what a darling new addition to your family! I hope Annie will have many happy years with you and your family.

    It seems unbelievable to say good-bye to 2011, but I guess that's where we are. WOW! What a year!

    Love you!

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  31. awwww.. I Looooovvve Annie!! :)

    I cry when I see those commercials too. My hubby brought me home a white kitten a few years ago that needed a home and honestly it was the best gift he has ever given - we both love him dearly!

    Can't wait to see more pictures of Annie! :)

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  32. oh my goodness what an adorable dog!! what a fabulous bonus to your christmas. :) happy new year!

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  33. How absolutely wonderful! Yes, I think it was meant to be. :) What a sweet little face!

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  34. I had no idea you were such an animal-softie! What a sweet story, and she definitely is adorable!

    I'm glad she found such a good home with you and your family!

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  35. As much as I say that I am NEVER getting a dog, I would have brought her home too. How sad that someone just left her. I'm so glad that God sent her to you guys. :)

    And also, I read your Christmas post. It looks like you all had a wonderful day. I loved all the pictures. You all looked wonderful. And if you don't mind me saying so, I didn't realize your husband was such a hottie. ;)

    Happy New Year, friend!

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