Our beautiful little bichon frise rescue dog. Dandelion was just over 12 years old and nearly 100% blind when she was left with a county-operated shelter. The staff were completely honest about her slim chances of being placed in a suitable home, but they were wrong.
The amazing, wonderful souls from "Bichons and Buddies" (B&B) got involved almost immediately after her arrival at the shelter. B&B (bichonsandbuddies.com) is a wonderful, not-for-profit group that works ceaselessly and tirelessly to place rescued bichons and bichon mixes into loving, permanent homes in the Southern California area (and well beyond, too!). We came across pictures of Dandelion on their site, and I was immediately smitten with her. We went the next day to an adoption event in Culver City, and picked up our little adoptee. She was even more beautiful and sweet than she looked in her pictures. Although she was unable to see, her eyes were so very beautiful and enchanting, much like her precious little soul.
Although we only had her for just a few days, she was given a lifetime's worth of love and affection. She immediately became an integral part of our day-to-day routine and was never any trouble. Nonetheless, she was an older doggy, and the years of arthritis, congestive heart problems and multiple tumors had taken their toll. Our beloved little Dandelion passed away on July 5, 2011. She was, however, safe, warm and completely loved to the very end.
Dearest Dandelion, I love you and miss you so very much. Your beautiful white fur smelled so good and felt so very soft. I miss your bright green ribbon with little white paw prints all over it. I loved the way your sweet tail wagged so furiously when you sensed that momma or I were coming to steal some more "noggin smooches" from you or give you extended tummy or "backy" rubs. You were so very easy to love, and you returned that love tenfold to us.
Little Dandelion Betty was our first rescue pup, and we weren't at all sure what to expect. We knew that she did not have a lot of time left on this earth, but we also knew that we could give her all the love and dignity that she needed. Her presence was nothing less than a continual blessing, even on the days when she wasn't operating at 100 percent. Friends and immediate family practically begged us not to adopt her (or any of B&B's other little dogs, for that matter) as we had lost our 12 year-old bichon, Dolly Clementine Davis, only three short weeks prior to finding Betty. We understood their concerns, but in the end, it just didn't matter; we were more than capable of loving this very special, very remarkable little rescue dog.
Unfortunately, the pain of her loss is, in its own way, every bit as difficult to deal with than the losses of our previous little canine critters, all of whom we'd had for much longer periods of time. Yet, the very real joy that Dandy Dawg brought to us is what I keep coming back to as I grieve for her and all her predecessors in the extended Davis "dawg family."
As we all know, newborn puppies are precious, wonderful things to have in a family, and I hope everyone will have at least one during their lifetimes. However, I would also pray that each of us have at least one older, rescue-type dog in our lifetimes, as well. They bring a joy all their own, whether they're with you for five years or just five days.
We love you so very much, our very special little Miss Dandelion "Betty White" Davis, and we miss you all-the-more for having had you for so little time. G'night, sweet princess...'til we meet again at that Rainbow Bridge.
(And thank you so very much for reading this to the end; Betty & I appreciate it!)
The amazing, wonderful souls from "Bichons and Buddies" (B&B) got involved almost immediately after her arrival at the shelter. B&B (bichonsandbuddies.com) is a wonderful, not-for-profit group that works ceaselessly and tirelessly to place rescued bichons and bichon mixes into loving, permanent homes in the Southern California area (and well beyond, too!). We came across pictures of Dandelion on their site, and I was immediately smitten with her. We went the next day to an adoption event in Culver City, and picked up our little adoptee. She was even more beautiful and sweet than she looked in her pictures. Although she was unable to see, her eyes were so very beautiful and enchanting, much like her precious little soul.
Although we only had her for just a few days, she was given a lifetime's worth of love and affection. She immediately became an integral part of our day-to-day routine and was never any trouble. Nonetheless, she was an older doggy, and the years of arthritis, congestive heart problems and multiple tumors had taken their toll. Our beloved little Dandelion passed away on July 5, 2011. She was, however, safe, warm and completely loved to the very end.
Dearest Dandelion, I love you and miss you so very much. Your beautiful white fur smelled so good and felt so very soft. I miss your bright green ribbon with little white paw prints all over it. I loved the way your sweet tail wagged so furiously when you sensed that momma or I were coming to steal some more "noggin smooches" from you or give you extended tummy or "backy" rubs. You were so very easy to love, and you returned that love tenfold to us.
Little Dandelion Betty was our first rescue pup, and we weren't at all sure what to expect. We knew that she did not have a lot of time left on this earth, but we also knew that we could give her all the love and dignity that she needed. Her presence was nothing less than a continual blessing, even on the days when she wasn't operating at 100 percent. Friends and immediate family practically begged us not to adopt her (or any of B&B's other little dogs, for that matter) as we had lost our 12 year-old bichon, Dolly Clementine Davis, only three short weeks prior to finding Betty. We understood their concerns, but in the end, it just didn't matter; we were more than capable of loving this very special, very remarkable little rescue dog.
Unfortunately, the pain of her loss is, in its own way, every bit as difficult to deal with than the losses of our previous little canine critters, all of whom we'd had for much longer periods of time. Yet, the very real joy that Dandy Dawg brought to us is what I keep coming back to as I grieve for her and all her predecessors in the extended Davis "dawg family."
As we all know, newborn puppies are precious, wonderful things to have in a family, and I hope everyone will have at least one during their lifetimes. However, I would also pray that each of us have at least one older, rescue-type dog in our lifetimes, as well. They bring a joy all their own, whether they're with you for five years or just five days.
We love you so very much, our very special little Miss Dandelion "Betty White" Davis, and we miss you all-the-more for having had you for so little time. G'night, sweet princess...'til we meet again at that Rainbow Bridge.
(And thank you so very much for reading this to the end; Betty & I appreciate it!)
Our beautiful little bichon frise rescue dog. Dandelion was just over 12 years old and nearly 100% blind when she was left with a county-operated shelter. The staff were completely honest about her slim chances of being placed in a suitable home, but they were wrong.
The amazing, wonderful souls from "Bichons and Buddies" (B&B) got involved almost immediately after her arrival at the shelter. B&B (bichonsandbuddies.com) is a wonderful, not-for-profit group that works ceaselessly and tirelessly to place rescued bichons and bichon mixes into loving, permanent homes in the Southern California area (and well beyond, too!). We came across pictures of Dandelion on their site, and I was immediately smitten with her. We went the next day to an adoption event in Culver City, and picked up our little adoptee. She was even more beautiful and sweet than she looked in her pictures. Although she was unable to see, her eyes were so very beautiful and enchanting, much like her precious little soul.
Although we only had her for just a few days, she was given a lifetime's worth of love and affection. She immediately became an integral part of our day-to-day routine and was never any trouble. Nonetheless, she was an older doggy, and the years of arthritis, congestive heart problems and multiple tumors had taken their toll. Our beloved little Dandelion passed away on July 5, 2011. She was, however, safe, warm and completely loved to the very end.
Dearest Dandelion, I love you and miss you so very much. Your beautiful white fur smelled so good and felt so very soft. I miss your bright green ribbon with little white paw prints all over it. I loved the way your sweet tail wagged so furiously when you sensed that momma or I were coming to steal some more "noggin smooches" from you or give you extended tummy or "backy" rubs. You were so very easy to love, and you returned that love tenfold to us.
Little Dandelion Betty was our first rescue pup, and we weren't at all sure what to expect. We knew that she did not have a lot of time left on this earth, but we also knew that we could give her all the love and dignity that she needed. Her presence was nothing less than a continual blessing, even on the days when she wasn't operating at 100 percent. Friends and immediate family practically begged us not to adopt her (or any of B&B's other little dogs, for that matter) as we had lost our 12 year-old bichon, Dolly Clementine Davis, only three short weeks prior to finding Betty. We understood their concerns, but in the end, it just didn't matter; we were more than capable of loving this very special, very remarkable little rescue dog.
Unfortunately, the pain of her loss is, in its own way, every bit as difficult to deal with than the losses of our previous little canine critters, all of whom we'd had for much longer periods of time. Yet, the very real joy that Dandy Dawg brought to us is what I keep coming back to as I grieve for her and all her predecessors in the extended Davis "dawg family."
As we all know, newborn puppies are precious, wonderful things to have in a family, and I hope everyone will have at least one during their lifetimes. However, I would also pray that each of us have at least one older, rescue-type dog in our lifetimes, as well. They bring a joy all their own, whether they're with you for five years or just five days.
We love you so very much, our very special little Miss Dandelion "Betty White" Davis, and we miss you all-the-more for having had you for so little time. G'night, sweet princess...'til we meet again at that Rainbow Bridge.
(And thank you so very much for reading this to the end; Betty & I appreciate it!)
The amazing, wonderful souls from "Bichons and Buddies" (B&B) got involved almost immediately after her arrival at the shelter. B&B (bichonsandbuddies.com) is a wonderful, not-for-profit group that works ceaselessly and tirelessly to place rescued bichons and bichon mixes into loving, permanent homes in the Southern California area (and well beyond, too!). We came across pictures of Dandelion on their site, and I was immediately smitten with her. We went the next day to an adoption event in Culver City, and picked up our little adoptee. She was even more beautiful and sweet than she looked in her pictures. Although she was unable to see, her eyes were so very beautiful and enchanting, much like her precious little soul.
Although we only had her for just a few days, she was given a lifetime's worth of love and affection. She immediately became an integral part of our day-to-day routine and was never any trouble. Nonetheless, she was an older doggy, and the years of arthritis, congestive heart problems and multiple tumors had taken their toll. Our beloved little Dandelion passed away on July 5, 2011. She was, however, safe, warm and completely loved to the very end.
Dearest Dandelion, I love you and miss you so very much. Your beautiful white fur smelled so good and felt so very soft. I miss your bright green ribbon with little white paw prints all over it. I loved the way your sweet tail wagged so furiously when you sensed that momma or I were coming to steal some more "noggin smooches" from you or give you extended tummy or "backy" rubs. You were so very easy to love, and you returned that love tenfold to us.
Little Dandelion Betty was our first rescue pup, and we weren't at all sure what to expect. We knew that she did not have a lot of time left on this earth, but we also knew that we could give her all the love and dignity that she needed. Her presence was nothing less than a continual blessing, even on the days when she wasn't operating at 100 percent. Friends and immediate family practically begged us not to adopt her (or any of B&B's other little dogs, for that matter) as we had lost our 12 year-old bichon, Dolly Clementine Davis, only three short weeks prior to finding Betty. We understood their concerns, but in the end, it just didn't matter; we were more than capable of loving this very special, very remarkable little rescue dog.
Unfortunately, the pain of her loss is, in its own way, every bit as difficult to deal with than the losses of our previous little canine critters, all of whom we'd had for much longer periods of time. Yet, the very real joy that Dandy Dawg brought to us is what I keep coming back to as I grieve for her and all her predecessors in the extended Davis "dawg family."
As we all know, newborn puppies are precious, wonderful things to have in a family, and I hope everyone will have at least one during their lifetimes. However, I would also pray that each of us have at least one older, rescue-type dog in our lifetimes, as well. They bring a joy all their own, whether they're with you for five years or just five days.
We love you so very much, our very special little Miss Dandelion "Betty White" Davis, and we miss you all-the-more for having had you for so little time. G'night, sweet princess...'til we meet again at that Rainbow Bridge.
(And thank you so very much for reading this to the end; Betty & I appreciate it!)
