Dear Alexandra,

My mother showed me the check for my care, and I would like you to thank the nice lady for me.

I am very happy here. My mother gives me a lot of love and attention. I have grown quite a lot of hair, but she's still not sure what color I will be. Maybe sable, maybe merle.

I've been out to the barn a couple of times. There are some awfully big dogs out there that mom calls horses. I'm very interested in them, but mom says I mustn't go near them.

I get along well with the other Shelties and the cats. When we are on the bed, the white cat lets me use him as a pillow. I sleep on mom's bed. Mom has an electric blanket, I love that. I can stretch out and be nice and warm. When mom's asleep I cuddle up against her back. I wasn't sure if that was alright, but when she wakes up she smiles and pats me, so I've decided that's okay.

When we go out in the car, I still shake and drool, but I'm getting better. We always come back home, so I'm more relaxed about it.

Mom keeps telling me about something called a horse show. I guess we'll be going to some this summer. I can't wait.Well, it's almost dinner time, so I must go. As soon as I have all my fur, I'll send you a picture.

April 13, 2000

Dear Alexandra,

I am doing fine with my new mom. I have a lot more fur, but she's still not sure what color I'm going to be. Right now I look more sable.

Mom talked to an animal communicator last month. She was a little skeptical, but she does say I've acted completely different since I asked if I was staying with her, and mom told the lady to tell me yes. Mom now tells me I'm acting what she calls terminally silly. I wonder what she means by that? Just because she had to chase me around the yard five times last week before I'd come in?

She loves the way I take tid-bits. I open my mouth and wait until she puts it in. She says I get a little grabby sometimes when I take my Rimadyl that she wraps in margerine because I get scared when she tries to give it to me straight.

The other dogs are beginning to be nice to me. Lady, the big tri-color [sheltie], when we come in from the yard waits for me just inside the door. Mom says she used to do that with Emma who died last December. I guess she's protective of us. Erin, the other tri-color [sheltie], lets me snuggle up against her at night.

Last Saturday we went over to the barn again. A lady who owns one of the big dogs who lives out there was exercising him on a very long leash called a longe line. I was fascinated.

I'm not afraid of meeting people now that I know my home is here. I wag my tail instead of cringing.

I do very well asking to go out to the bathroom. Sometimes I walk around and, other times I look at her and whine. I guess she understands me because she always puts me out in the yard right away.

I'm learning hand signals. I'm very good with stay and come and I think sit is the next one I'm working on.

I guess that's all my news this time. Say hi to everyone for me.

May 27, 2000

Dear Alexandra,

I am very happy now. I wag my tail a lot. When I wake up in the morning, I bounce all over the bed when mom's trying to lift me off, then I bounce all over the bedroom when I hit the floor. Sometimes I even beat my sisters downstairs.

I have lots of fur now. I am sable and white and mom says I'm very pretty. Not that I wasn't before, but now I'm gorgeous.

We went to our first horse show that really hot weekend in May. Mom didn't have to take the truck and trailer, so we had the air-conditioned car, and at the show we sat under a tarp, so I stayed cool. Everybody made a big fuss over me and said what a nice dog I am. I even got used to people stepping over me and I'm usually scared when anyone raises anything over me.

I still don't bark which really surprises mom, but I have learned that if I whine, she knows I have to go out.

We've been going out to the barn a lot more since it got warm. I'm not sure what goes on, but mom keeps going in and out of stalls with a rake. Then she sits on one of the big dogs and rides it around a big fenced-in area. I still don't know why she ties me up and my sisters can run loose, but I guess there must be a good reason.

Mom goes to New Hampshire once a month to teach, and she told me the lady she stays with has invited me next month. Mom's not sure if it would be too much for me, but I'm doing so well on the Rimadyl that I think she's considering it. If she takes me, I'll try not to drool in the car all the way up. But she understands I only do that because I'm scared. I'll let you know if I get to go to New Hampshire.

October 2, 2000

Dear Alexandra,

Mom and I went to our last horse show of the season Sunday. It was cold when we left and mom decided to put my pretty coat on. Guess what? It's too small for me. Mom said something about feeding me every other day until it fits again, but I think she's kidding. At the shows, I'm finally responding to people when they pat me, not all the time but once in awhile. One boy even called me a cool dog.

I have a regular morning routine now. When mom gets up, I start bouncing around on the bed. Then she lifts me down and I gets even sillier. I run around the bedroom and dive at mom. She's discovered she can get me to play by tickling me under the chin. It took me awhile to teach her that. She'd ruffle my fur in several places, but she finally found my silly spot.

I'm doing fine on my half a coated aspirin twice a day. No more wetting accidents since I'm off Rimadyl, and the aspirin works just as well.

I still watch things in the full length mirror in the dining room. Mom gets a big kick out of that. She went on vacation for a week the beginning of September, and when she got back I ignored her for two days. That'll teach her to leave me home.

I have tons of fur now. I'm several shades of gold and quite beautiful if I do say so myself. Mom says when she's not quite so busy we'll give you a call and come visit.

Would write more but it's dinnertime, and I'm starving. Hope to see you soon.

March 14, 2001

Dear Alexandra,

I am so glad winter's almost over. I'm tired of coming in with wet fur, lots of wet fur! And the more miserable the weather, the sillier I am.

I've decided I really love my new mom, so much that I don't want to let her out of my sight. She calls it “separation anxiety” and tries to be sure I always know were she is. Of course I can't hear what she says, but the way she smiles at me and pats me and hugs me... I know I'm loved.

I'm still very timid and easily frightened. Mom thinks I was the victim of long term abuse. She says she admires me so much because at my age I'm a tough dog. I never stand when I can sit or sit when I can lie down. But I can be very puppylike and silly.

Of course I still sleep on the bed, and if mom's been away a lot during the day, I feel love deprived and insist on sleeping stretched out against mom.

I'm getting a lot better with people I don't know. I'm actually interested in coming up to them for a pat. But if anyone makes a quick move, I get frightened and hurry away again.

Mom tells me the show season is starting the first Sunday in May and we'll be going to shows again. I like shows. There are lots of good things to eat, and many people pat me. I think this year I'll probably respond better.

We still hope to get out to see you. We'll call to make sure you're there to admire me.

September 11, 2001

Dear Alexandra,

Sorry I haven't written for so long, but there have been so many changes that I've been so busy.

In February Dad had to go into a nursing home. Mom said he has something called Alzheimers.

At the end of August we moved into something called a double wide mobile home in Coventry. It is very quiet here, and I love that it's all on one floor.

I haven't found a special spot yet. In the old house I picked out a place in front of the gold chair in the living room, but here so far I sleep all over, even though mom put my blanket down right next to the sofa.

We don't have a fenced yard yet, but mom says we will soon. It's been very different walking on a leash. I kind of space out and forget why I'm out there, but mom found out that if she just lets me walk around her in a circle, I remember and go to the bathroom.

I was very nervous the first few days, but I've settled in pretty well now. I miss [not] being able to run in a circle around the house, but I'm starting to act silly again. Mom's really happy about that.

Hopefully we will get a chance to visit sometime soon. Mom says she'll call for directions again.

I guess I'm really pretty now, at least that's what people who meet me say. I have tons of fur, all different shades of gold.

Hope to see you soon.

January 25, 2002

Dear Alexandra,

This afternoon I had to have Bonnie put to sleep. She began to fail the beginning of the week and today she would not eat and could not walk.

I can't thank you enough for letting me make her a part of my life for the past two years. I loved her dearly, and right now there is a huge, empty space in my heart.