Teddy - A Puppy Mill Rescue

This is Teddy, one of my new pals. He lives in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Somebody bought him from a pet store that got him from a puppy mill but he got sick. So his new dad didn't want him and took him back. He could have died, except a loving young lady and his doctor sat up with him all day and night for 4 days. He's only maybe 8 weeks old and weighs maybe 2 or 3 pounds. He's one of the few lucky ones that get saved.

His new grandma is Nana Allie, who was my Uncle Rudy's foster mom when he lived in Las Vegas. I know Teddy will be ok with her. What a sad way for a young pup to start out in life. I think there should be laws against puppy mills. I asked my Mom to ask Allie or Teddy's new mom to help Teddy do a blog about the horrors of the puppy trafficking, like an expose from the inside. It's just shameful and I think we should all do something about it. My Great-Aunt Susie was born in a home for unwed chihuahuas in Spavinaw, Oklahoma. Someday, I'll get my mom to tell you her story and how she was rescued from a life of dancing topless in a pet store window.

Good night and God Bless ...

Mary-Margaret

Mary-Margaret's Unfortunate Event

I am so good, I tell my mom when I have to go out (most of the time). Tonight, it was getting cold and dark so I wanted to go out before it really got chilly. I checked out the center part of the lawn, and then I ambled back over to the right side of the patio. I thought about whether or not to go in, and then figured, "oh what the heck, I'll make one more round".

I had JUST put my front paws on the lawn when suddenly, out of nowhere and without warning, and....THIS IS SOOOO UNFAIR....the automatic pop-up sprinkler suddenly popped up and sprayed me but good. Eeeeeeek! EEeeeeyeeeewww! Brrrrrrrr! This is another reason why carpet is so much nicer than grass when you are a puppy and it's cold outside. Mom just made some stupid comment about how funny I looked, being all wet. Then, I guess she knew I was pretty mad, so she said "Oh, baby, I'm so sorry!", but it was too late.

When I got into the house, I shook off all the water I could and then I ran upstairs and found her clean underwear and drug it all over the house. Finally, she got down on the floor on her stomach so that her head was lower than mine and we kissed and made up. I know that she didn't mean for that sprinkler to squirt me, but golly gosh gee whiz. I have feelings, too. And it scared me. It really did. But I also don't like it when Mom and I have a tiff, either. I know it wasn't her fault, but she could have acted like she cared a little more.

My Uncle Rudy

I feel so bad. I just love my Uncle Rudy to pieces and I haven't posted a picture of him. I guess it hurt his feelings, because Auntie Colleen finally said something to Mom about it and she suggested I might put one up.

Uncle Rudy is really special to me. He's the one who taught me how to go back down stairs after I'd get all the way up and get stuck. He's very smart and I am his favorite niece, and even if he seems a bit grumpy at times, it's only because he doesn't want me to know what a softie he really is. I do love my Uncle Rudy.

Mary-Margaret and the CFC Courier Bag

My mom has a daily courier service to over 200 people in California and Nevada. Every day I just absolutely get sooo excited when John, our courier, comes by. He even brings the pouch to ME, Mary-Margaret, now. I wait until Mom unzips it and takes out all those big envelopes and flips the card. Then I hop inside and play like it's a fort. Mom says she'll probably have our Bag #E-050 engraved on my tag just in case I forget to hop out before the next bag exchange. This picture is of me when I was just a baby, but I still love that bag. :o)

Same Potting Soil (2 months later)

January 31, 2006 - I told Mom that she needed to put a picture of me the way I look today so you could see the way I've grown. OK, I admit that I'm not tall and I will never be a super-model, but at least I can SEE the top of the table now.

Notice the leash? I am never allowed in the back without it which really annoys me. But, like I said before, Mom has this thing about owls and hawks and she's just totally scared that I'm going to be carried off. Come to think of it, I don't think I'd like that either.

When I was just a baby

This is how big I was at nine weeks. I can remember standing on my tippy-toes to see what planter mix really looked like. Those were the days when I absolutely had to know just everything about EVERYTHING.

Since then, I've learned better. I still have trouble with envelopes at work. My favorite thing still is to pull them out of the wastebasket or from under Mom's desk and to make doilies out of them. If I were in Japan, I would be considered an artist in Kirie or Senshi. But here, in Mom's office, it's just being like a "bad dog".

Good Morning, Everyone!

I apologize for not writing yesterday. It was a crazy day. Mom was all over the place at banks, accountant, market. And then she was busy doing payroll taxes and stuff on the computer that she has to do for "year end". Hmmmph!! I just knew that she didn't want to play and I better stick to my bed unless I wanted to get in trouble. Which isn't a bad idea when I get bored. Today she says she has to get out the "ten ninety-nines" which sounds pretty important and then maybe things will get back to normal.

We check our email in the morning and see who's written to us. Sometimes she gets really into it and takes a long time. I snuggle into her fluffy bathrobe. What's really comfy, if you want to try it with your mom, is to skootch inside the front opening and then stick your head into sleeve. It's very warm and oh-so-nice. I sometimes take another nap that way and could probably sleep all day in there if she didn't want to go make coffee. But the coffee is a really nice smell and when it first starts is when I know I'm getting my breakfast. Mom is so silly. She says "Mary-Margaret, your cereal is ready!", but I know it's really just my kibbles.

Tomorrow I am going back to see Dr. V again. Only this time is sort of a special thing. I'm a big girl, and finally I get my rabies shot. For us pups, it's sort of like a "coming of age" except your shoulders hurt for a bit. But it means we're grown up. Mom was looking at baby pictures of me earlier and got a little misty eyed. The one here is when I was just nine weeks old. See how little I was? She says I grow too fast. At least she knows I'll never get married and leave home. No matter what, I'll always be her baby and I like it that way!

Love, Mary-Margaret

Helping Mom with Chores

Sunday morning and it's work work work. We have a nice relaxing breakfast and then we have to do laundry. Here, I'm helping Mom change the bedsheets. I think next she's putting on "ivory colored 800 count Egyptian cotton". That's what she says, anyway. I don't know except they are really soft and silky, and so very comfy that I don't like to get up in the morning. I help her put the used pillow cases in the laundry basket.

After this, we go to the office and play "catch up", which means she gets on the computer and moves papers around her desk and I get to play with my tennis ball. I bring it to her and she throws it for me, and then she says "Bring it back!" and I do. We can play that for hours.

I learned something yesterday. It's about cheese. I won't go into detail here, but trust me on this. Eating a lot of cheese is really good going in, but coming out is another story entirely. This was a very long and uncomfortable Sunday morning for me. I think maybe I'll ask Mom for those crispy liver flavored crackers that Miss Lynne carries in her pocket instead next time.

Yours truly, Mary-Margaret O'Brien 

A Family Reunion - maybe?

Saturday - January 28, 2006: I just had the best day today. First, Miss Lynne comes over and we have lessons. I guess she didn't believe Mom when she told her I didn't like those "treats" anymore. Well, the first time she tested me on my tricks, I backed my mom up and spit it out Lynne's treat on the floor. She tried again, and I did my tricks just fine, but I DO NOT LIKE that stuff. So Mom gave her a package of string cheese. Like I said before, I will walk to the moon and back for string cheese.

I learned some new stuff today. Like "stay". That's a pretty good one. And "come", which I already knew but I take it a lot more seriously now. Oh, and "place". That one has me hopping onto my towel in exchange for cheese. Actually, I don't even wait for the command. I just go to the towel and wait for the cheese. Like, I am SOOO in charge here. Next time I get to learn "heel".

After Miss Lynne left we drove to Puppy School. Ohhhh...I just LOVE Puppy School. We turned into a parking place and I see a familiar face. Mom thought it was Dizzle, but I think maybe it's my sister from Missouri, another Yorkie just my size. We said "hi" through the car windows, and then kissed on the glass. We both went into the yard together and right away we hit it off. Her name is "Chelsea" and she's my age. Her mom can't remember her birthday, but we both were adopted through Pacific Pets about the same time. Even if she's not my sister, she's probably a distant cousin. I hope she comes back next week.

I met this absolutely cutest little guy named "Moses". He's half Lhasa Apso and half Shih Tzu. He's completely black except for a bit of white on his chin and a white bib. He's full of spunk and we stalk each other and wrestle a lot. One time we were having a wrestling match right next to Kobe and Cooper (the boxer pups). We both took a break at same time and then we started wrestling again. Except when we looked up, I was with Cooper and Moses was with Kobe. Ooops...regroup and switch partners. It was pretty funny. We all had a good laugh over that one.

I'm getting pretty big now. I'll be 5 months old in just three weeks. I've been going to Puppy School ever since November 26th, and I am probably going to graduate soon. I hope that my mom will get some of the other mom's phone numbers so we can have play dates. I sure will miss my friends a lot. I don't even want to think about it right now because it just makes me sad. If I had one thing to tell you, it would be to enjoy being a puppy while you can. It can be the best weeks of your life and you don't even know it until it's almost gone.

Love, Mary-Margaret

Good News About Sparky!

Sparky is home from the hospital and he's sitting on the couch all fluffed up with pillows. His mom is hand feeding him chicken. Boy, that sounds like a great life. If I didn't know how sick he really was, I'd probably pull a stunt like that. Yum!

I forgot to tell you. When I got weighed at the doctor's office, I was 4.4 pounds. That's a whole .2 pounds in one week. I AM GETTING BIGGER!!!

My friend, Sarabi, is depressed because her mom and dad are going on a cruise and leaving her home. She was one pup who really prayed hard for Sparky, so let's all send her some cheer. Chin up, Sarabi. They'll be back before you know it, and if your mom's like mine, maybe she'll bring you a present!

OK...back to the Puppy School news: Dizzle and Sandy sorta hung out for a while and then Sandy came back to ME, Mary-Margaret. I guess he figured out the main difference between me and Dizzle. I am still really good friends with Sandy, but I had an awful lot of fun playing with Rocky and Dizzle both one-on-one. I don't think I want a real boyfriend for while yet. I'd rather just wrestle and play with everybody, and not worry about anyone's feelings.

I have a few new friends, too. There's Bristol (Doberman Pinscher), Ruby (weimaraner), Little Bear (only God knows what he is - I can't even tell if he's a long hair or short hair dog, but he's pretty friendly). My old buddies were there - PeeWee, Boo, Layla, Sara, Mattie and Garrett Anderson. Garrett was still a bit grumpy but I did my very best belly-flip over and over in front of him until finally he was nice to me. There are a lot of pups, and so many people came that the vet helpers have to bring out more folding chairs.

One funny thing I have to tell you. Made me laugh, but I'll bet Dizzle's mom and dad didn't think it was too funny. Boo had to "take care of business" (you know, the private stuff?) and Dizzle just HAD to see what she was doing. Nicole and everyone saw him and yelled "NOOO, Dizzle....NOOOOO". He stuck his head right under Boo's rear end and "splat". Most of us pups had a hard time keeping a straight face it was so funny, but we didn't want to hurt Dizzle's feelings. The good thing was that it happened just as we were all leaving for the day. I'll bet HE had to sit in the back seat.

That's all for now.

Love, Mary-Margaret

Mary-Margaret in her pajamas

January 26, 2006 - Thursday. Mom and me have allergies or something. We slept in this morning, and when I was picked up out of my comfy bed (Thanks, Mom!), I fell back asleep in my mom's arms. Then, I slept on her desk while she checked her email, and then I started to gag. I couldn't help it, but I got pretty sick all over Mom and the floor. Note: Both are wash and wear, so no harm done.

Mom called the doctor and, oh lucky me!! I got to see Dr. V again. The doctor said I'm fine. It was just "one of those things" and I don't have to take any medicine and I can go to Puppy School, but I shouldn't wear my PJ's to school because the other kids might muss them. Or something. Probably they'd all laugh at me, but I think I look cute. Then, Amy and Esperanza took me out of the examination room and I got to visit all the vet techs and helpers in the back. Heck! You'd think they'd never seen a pup in pajamas before the way the giggled and cuddled me.

I wore my pj's all day and pretty much slept most of the time. I only had one client that really needed me, so I hopped into his lap and did my stuff. A few kisses and cuddles and they're good to go. I really have an important job, you know. Official Greeter! That's my title.

I have to go to bed now. I have to get my hair and nails done tomorrow at Miss Patty's Country Kennels. Just wait until she sees how much I've grown. She'll be so surprised.

G'night, everybody.

Love, Mary-Margaret 

Wednesday, January 25th

Today, I wore my polka dot dress to work. I must be getting bigger because it doesn't fall off my shoulder anymore. One of our clients was waiting for us in the parking lot and she played with me a lot. I got to show her something new I learned: How to jump into a lap from standing position! Wow, was she surprised. So was Mom, I think.

We worked really hard this afternoon, and Mom and I didn't even get lunch until maybe 2:30PM. Mom had a spicy chicken burrito from El Pollo Loco. I had kibbles. Judging from the look on Mom's face while she ate the burrito, I was the lucky one.

Sparky Siedow's mom, Vicki, was in San Diego today and she called us on her way home. She and I visited while Mom finished up some stuff on the computer called "affidavits". Then Sparky's mom found some pepperoni in her purse. She has a really HUGE orange purse that has probably everything anybody, including puppies, could ever want. Then she and my mom went out to dinner while I took a nap in my carseat. My mom wasn't too hungry after that late lunch so she just had a hot apple dumpling with vanilla ice cream. I don't think that was a good dinner, but she seems happy about it.

Sparky isn't doing too well today. He's still in the hospital. He won't eat or drink water and his mom says he still can't piddle. I think we all need to say another prayer for Sparky. If we all think good thoughts about Sparky together really hard for the whole night, I just know it will make him better. Gosh, he's only 4 years old. That's pretty young for a dog.

God bless Sparky Siedow!

Love, Mary-Margaret

Tuesday Bluesday & Sparky "Nuesday"

January 24, 2006 - Mom and me have the sneezies. We're both sort of stuffy. She says it's probably allergies. It's really cold outside and very windy. I snore. She snores. We're lucky to get any sleep at all, but our snoring drowns out the noise, I guess. I don't feel much like writing today. Maybe later, but I do have good news to tell you.

Sparky is better. His operation put his poor mom in hock up to her eyeballs, but at least Sparky is going to be fine. All of your prayers helped. I think he's coming home today. I'll let you know after I talk to him.

I wish there was real medical insurance for us puppy people. I have "insurance" but it just covers the basics and gives Mom 5% off any other stuff the vet does for me. I guess it's better than nothing, but there has to be something better so people could make sure us pups get good doctors and real help when we need it. Let me know if you have any ideas, ok?

Say a Prayer for Sparky!

This is my friend Sparky at Christmas time. He was so into the holiday thing, even wearing a Christmas scarf. Yesterday he got really sick and today his Mom is taking him to the doctor. He feels terrible and they don't know what's wrong with him.

My mom told his mom that we'd all pray hard for Sparky to get better really fast. He lives in Glendale, CA. Will you please say a prayer, too?

Love, Mary-Margaret 

An Old Fashioned Spanking

OK. Yesterday I was a "bad dog". I know it, but golly, nothing happened. I'd piddle on the carpet and mom would just look at me out of the corner of her eye and clean it up. I ate cheese and about mid-afternoon I decided it was easier to walk into the white carpeted dining room than to go out in the cold. Again, Mom gets a paper towel and says nothing. She won't even look at me but I see that her teeth are clenched tightly. Yayy to Miss Lynne who says to ignore me because I'm only doing this for attention.

Toward the end of the afternoon, I think I've got a good thing going, so I eyeball my mom and squat again. Except this time, she looks right at me, and comes charging. She picks me up, sticks my nose in my puddle (eeeeyeeeewww!) and thwacks me soundly on my right rear rump. I don't believe it. I mean, Lynne told her she couldn't do that and she actually spanked me anyway. It didn't hurt anything except my feelings, but the whole rest of the day I remembered. I told her when I wanted to go out and I'm absolutely very, very angelic and there are no more puddles.

This morning, I felt like sleeping in, but at 8:30AM Mom picked me up while I was still snoozing, put me on the piddle pad and said "pee pee". So I did. But I didn't open my eyes for a bit. Then we went out and I did some serious stuff, and we came back in and I did my lessons. I might as well tell you that I was absolutely PERFECT, too. I don't think I like having my furry little fanny tanned, and I just hate it when Mom gets mad at me. So much for indoor facilities. It's back to the old "Andy Gump" for me.

Dizzle & Snoopy

I just realized that I talk about Dizzle all the time, and Snoopy, too, but didn't have any pictures of them for you to see.

Dizzle is on the left. He's hard to see because he's in a shadow, but he looks just like me except he has bigger ears. Snoopy is on the right. He was a very sick baby, but all the doctors at Pet Medical Center, and all the people like Miss Letty there, took really good care of him and he got better. He finally went home with Megan who works there and now he comes to class. He's still pretty shy. I am extra specially nice to Snoopy. 

Sunday - January 22, 2006

It's really cold out at night. I'm more for using "piddle pads" when it gets like this. Today, me and Mom slept in until probably 9:30 in the morning. We both coughed some when we woke up, probably because of the air being so icy last night. After breakfast, Mom took me out back on my leash. Yahoo....I DO love that grass. Yikes, though. It looked ok, but it crunched under my feet and my toes turned blue. That's called "frost", Mom says. I decided to say a brief "good morning" to the lawn in my own special way, and then I raced back into the house, dragging Mom on the other end of my leash. She looks so funny in her pink and purple flip-flops and her purple bathrobe flapping away when she's trying to keep up with me.

Mom finally figured out that for absolutely certain I don't like those "treats" that Miss Lynne said to give me. I will do my lessons, but Mom has to use string cheese. I will do just about anything for string cheese. So I will "come", "sit", "down", "stay", "wait" and not even go near the cheese until Mom says "ok". Then I practically inhale it and wait for the next trick. See? It's all about compromise. This way, we both get what we want and everybody is happy, especially me! Gosh, I just absolutely love that cheese. :o)

I have finally gotten Mom to raise the blinds next to our front door so I can see who is coming and going on our street. I can also see that RUDE cat when he tries to take a nap by our bush. So far, though, he just lifts an eyebrow at me and goes back to sleep. We'll see about that. I have moved all my toys to the place under the window, too. The sun comes through and it's a really nice place for a morning siesta. That's Spanish for "nap".

There are some kids in my class who speak Spanish. They are chihuahuas. There's PeeWee, Layla, Snoopy and Garrett Anderson (who are half chihuahua) and my boyfriend, Sandy, but I think he's starting to like Dizzle better than me. Dizzle and I look pretty much the same from our backsides and Sandy started nuzzling up to Dizzle. When Dizzle saw who was being fresh with him, he snapped at Sandy and Sandy snapped back at him. I ran off to play with Bella and Cooper, and next thing you know Dizzle and Sandy were getting pretty chummy. I just don't understand boys at all. I think I'll just stay single.

Have a happy day, everybody.

Love, Mary-Margaret

Garrett Anderson

Garrett Anderson was at my first Puppy Class and I haven't seen him since. But he came to class yesterday. He has a lot to learn. I wanted to play with him, but he just grrr'd and snapped at me. He did the same thing to all the other kids. Maybe he's just in a bad mood or something because he was really nice that first day. He's about my age, I guess, maybe 4 months. My mom is trying to get pictures of everyone, but it's pretty hard when we all move so fast. Sometimes, she thinks she has a really good picture of a bunch of us at the water bowls, but by the time the camera clicks, all she gets are water bowls and no pups. Wheeeeeeeeeee!!!

Bella's Detention

Oh, poor Bella. She and I were really playing nicely, too. OK, maybe she got a bit rough, but I just stand up and pop her one on the nose and she is nice to me again. Not all the kids know that.

In this picture, Bella is getting a serious time-out by her dad. Cooper is taking advantage of the situation and standing on her ear, which isn't nearly as bad as what Dizzle is doing. See Dizzle? He's the little guy in the red sweater hopping up and down on Bella and really making her miserable. You can see his head just behind Cooper's left ear. Tsk. Tsk. Dizzle will get his when Bella gets up. She told me so.

Me and Mrs. Shaima

This is the best part about working with Mom. Mrs. Shaima is one of our clients and whenever we see each other we like to cuddle and give kisses. She came into our office last night with some papers and Mom just happened to have her camera with her. Isn't Mrs. Shaima just the nicest, prettiest person ever?