Hello my name is now Elle

My days were long and lonely. I was very cold. I cannot remember the last time I ate a proper meal. The toilet water was empty and I didn’t know where else to find water. I was scared, But my humans told me to “stay” so I did. I don’t know how long I was alone, There wasn’t any furniture anymore, My humans had taken everything with them. Then one day this female human came into my home. she was very kind and seemed worried. Everything started to happen very fast after that. Another human with white hair came and put me in her car. I was afraid I would be in trouble for leaving. But she seemed to know what she was doing. We arrived at her home and wow she had 50 dogs or more that all looked like me. They were barking happy barks when they saw her so I knew she was nice. She gave me a bed and a big bowl of food and water. I could only eat a few bites because my tummy hurt, but I was happy to know that it was in my bowl and I ate a little bit all night.

A few days later I was walked into this yard with another human. She had two dogs with her. They were very nice dogs. One looked like me and was about my age. I heard them talking and the white haired women said I was an “old gal”. The other woman said that was fine her dogs were “old gals” too. The white haired human huggd the new human and said ” I thought she’d be here for the rest of her life”.

In a few minutes the new human put me on a leash and and walked me to her big truck.. I love trucks! How did she know that? I was nervous though because I could not jump in. I don’t know what happened but when I tried I would fall down.. My back legs could not hold me up. But the new human said “it’s ok pretty girl, I’ll help you up”. I did not feel pretty, but she said I was.
Well, the story gets really happy after that. We went to what I now call home. There were cats and horses and soft beds. I got a fleece jacket so didn’t have to be cold anymore. I only weighed 34 pounds, The humans said I should be 80 pounds. The new human took off these really large cysts off of my face and legs.. she left some because she said that she didn’t want to “tax” me.

I didn’t like to be touched very much, but I trusted my human. Sometimes I would growl, but my human didn’t get scared. She told me it was ok. So I tried really hard to let her pet and clean me. “Psst”, sometimes I still growl, but not very often.. it usually because my body hurts.. I always feel bad though.

I had a lot of trouble walking and it was really hard to go up stairs, but my human was always kind and would help me. Eventually I could run a few steps. My human would take all three of us “old” gals out for walks and each time I got stronger.

The other dog who looked like me use to sleep on “our” humans bed. She got mad sometime if I tried to get up.. Then one day she said it was ok and she let me sleep there with her. That was a very happy day for me. But then my happiness turned very sad, my new friend all of a sudden died. She died right there on the bed, next to our human. Our human was very upset and was screaming and crying and holding Chloe in her arms. It was so sad.. I licked Chloe on her face but it was like she was sleeping. so all night, my human, one of the cats and I slept cirlcing Chloe so she would be safe to cross the rainbow bridge.

That’s when I knew i had to be really strong for my human. Tezi the other “old gal”, was really old and she didn’t see very well and couldn’t hear very well either. I knew I had to get serious with my job and take care of my human.

We were all very quite and sad for many days and weeks. My human cried a lot. I slept with her on the bed and she hugged me and told me what a good girl I was. I didn’t mind when she hugged me in bed. It felt nice. And she seemed to feel better when she could hold me to fall asleep.

Then one day my human and I were in the truck ( yipee!!) and she brings a tiny little baby that looked just like me into the truck! Wow! She let me smell her and she told me that I had to help her take care of her. I was so excited because I love babies!

I have been doing a great job with Joie the baby. I watched over her so nothing would hurt her. I let her eat all the food first and she could have the whole back seat of the truck that was ok.. she is wonderful. She licks my face and plays with me. I have gotten strong and we go on long walks together.
Our human thanks me all the time,She says that she could not have raised her all by herself.

A few months after Chloe left, Tezi told mom ( that’s what I call my human now… cuz of the baby , that’s what she calls her) that she wanted to cross the rainbow bridge and see Chloe again.. We were all so sad, but mom said ok and held her in her arms, as our friend Jody came over to help Tezi cross over. The house seemed sad again, but mom said she was lucky to have me there with her..

Joie is 7 months old now. I let her sleep with me sometimes and we love to play. I have taught her to be a good dog.
She really loves mom so I know when it is my time to cross the rainbow bridge, mom will be ok… cuz you know us “old gals” can’t live forever.