SALLEE GOES HOME! 13 JANUARY 2008

Margo Radtke comments: Don & I have been talking about what we need to add for her so she has her things and she feels special. We feel like new parents waiting to pick up the new child, having spent about an hour last night looking at her pictures and talking about her. We kind of know what to expect with the skittishness since Abby was the same way; she was always looking for that hole to hide in but yet peek out. We are looking forward to seeing Sallee blossom the way Abby has and come into her own. We have all the time in the world to help her come into her own and she has a pal to help show her the ropes. We made our pet store run and spent & spent getting her a bed like Abby's & Sam's [the c*t] and her own leash & harnesses for the car. We are getting more excited with each hour. Every time I turned around in the pet store Don was gone with the cart and I had to go searching for him. I said, okay now, no new toys for a bit, we need to wait for a bit, so he picked out new mats for the dogs and bowls for them for the office & kitchen. Next run is for the Innova. A friend of mine who is an AKC Judge & Dog Obedience Trainer joined us this morning and brought a crate for us to have just in case. She said I know you don't believe in them or use them but keep it in the car in case. She said her gift to us will be to train Sallee; we are thrilled as she is always in high demand. We picked up Abby's pictures from The Barkery this morning and told them about Sallee; Kathy the owner said bring her in Monday and we will figure out her grooming schedule and plan things for her tool her first grooming will be on us. She said they do a number of Cairns and know how to pull the hair versus cut, etc., but she said we will see what her shape is and what we will need to do to get her in her best of shape. Everybody is so great. It's like a baby shower. The girls from Saturday morning Nails & Breakfast want to know what she needs and want to see her. I said it will be a bit before she can receive visitors. I'll take pictures and I know Kathy already plans to have her for a photo set-up when she's ready. We absolutely will bring her to MidWest CairnFest 2008. It would be fun & our pleasure. Margo & Don Radtke and Abby the Rescue Westie, from LaGrange, Illinois, made the two-hour trek north to Kenosha to meet and take home Sallee . . . . . . and from the looks of it, the OTHER dogs want to go home with them, too! Margo writes later that day: Just wanted you to know we made it home fine. They got along fine in the car and Sallee was licking my hand, but her shine is to Don. When we came home, we let her get familiar with things, introduced her to Sam the c*t, which went absolutely fine. Then Don said, let's take them out for potty break; he took Abby & Sallee both. Abby looked around, found her spot; Sallee was watching so Don had Sallee check out what Abby had done there. A few minutes later, Sallee went to the same area and went, too, so Don praised & petted her. Then we went in - first potty a success. She then sat on Don's lap for about a half hour while he petted her. He put her down and she has now found her first cubby hole in a corner behind his chair. She has only been through the living room, dining room & kitchen, but we are letting her choose when she wants to take the next step. Another successful Rescue Mission by CRUSA . . . and Shell Lewis' talents in finding just the right adoption match.

Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed, All nicely tucked in my warm new bed. I'd like to open my baggage Lest I forget, There is so much to carry - So much to regret. Hmm . . . Yes there it is, right on the top - Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss, And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame. As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave - I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain. I loved them, the others, the ones who left me, But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me. Will you add to my baggage? Will you help me unpack? Or will you just look at my things And take me right back? Do you have the time to help me unpack? To put away my baggage, To never re-pack? I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see, But I do come with baggage - Will you still want me? -- Evelyn Colbath

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