Today is Dora's B-Day, 2 years old. We got Dora at a pet shop inside a mall in VA. I know... she probably came from a puppy mill, but I have never purchased a dog before, when I was growing up my mom was a cat lady, and the dogs were either show-ups from the street or a doberman pincher that almost ate me alive. I try to buy from a breeder on line with no success. I want it to see the dog in person and pick the one that fit what I was looking for, make some kind of connection. I was just looking, the dogs inside their little cages and the very first one to catch my eye was Dora, she was trying to lay down on a toy trying to keep her tiny paws from going into the holes on her floor and she looks very cold and sick.
I stood there looking at her and the sales lady approach me and very enthusiastically ask me if I will like to see a Yorkie. I ask her what was wrong with this puppy? she looks like something is wrong, and she said, Oh, no, she is just sleepy... let me show you this other one, "her sister". At this place they put you in this cubicle type of deal so that you can interact with the puppy and they don't run away, I guess that if given the chance they will. The sales person is looking at her commission and I'm the perfect catch of the day, don't know anything about dogs, compassionate, and willing to hold the dog for a few minutes. They brought dog #1, she was like a squirrel, very cute, full of energy, she just ran in circles & couldn't get a hold of her...
the lady took her away and I ask her to show me the other one, the sad looking one. She pass me Dora and I set her on the floor and she just look up at me, stretch herself flat on the floor on her belly and crawl to my feet...
I pick her up, and she was shaking and I can feel all her bones as I touch her back, under all that pretty hair she was all bones...It was winter and I put her inside my jacket to keep her warm and she just lay there and stop shaking. A woman walks by and says "for that kind of money you can buy a Lab", my husband is standing watching and of course expecting me to snap out of the tender moment and give the dog back and say thanks, but "we are just looking", because that's what I told him to lure him inside the store. He is probably thinking "for that kind of money I can buy a hunting rifle"... Dora was at the moment 10 weeks old & a little over 3 lbs., I have already decided when I first saw her that she was going home today, I was going to rescue her from that dungeon & I was going to pay that woman whatever she ask just to get her out of there. There was silence in the car driving back to the house, Dora was still inside my jacket sleeping, the first word broke the ice, the silence, and the no eye contact tactic, "so", my husband said...what are you going to name her? I have the name picked for her already, her name is "Dora"...Dora was a big doll that belong to my daughter even that she was 22 years old, she got it one Xmas when she was young and always loved all the Dora the explorer stuff, she even looks like Dora when she was 4. My daughter died in a very horrible car accident back on 2006 in Fl., as a passenger going to Tampa in Alligator Alley by marker 95. There is a marker with her name on it right by the spot were it happen. I have her doll Dora. I believe that when you are a mom and your child is taken away so sudden, your motherly instinct don't go away, but it has to be canalized somehow, Dora has been a great companion to me, I rescue her and she rescue me. Today is her B-day and we are going to go get her a treat, a "Squirrel on a stick" from a local pet bakery. Sorry for this long story, I was just going to celebrate Dora's b-day and I ended up writing some kind of testimonial. Dora is healthy now, her 1st visit to the vet revealed an ear infection, respiratory infection, urine infection, and kennel cough. She really need it help that day we met for the 1st time.