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2 CHILDREN + 1 DOG = “TYPICAL” FAMILY 1 CHILD + 2 DOGS = OUR FAMILY THANK YOU, FURRY FRIENDS!
The dogs came first. In October of 2002, I found “Cameron” on Cameron Street in Harrisburg 3 days before we were to adopt a black lab from Furry Friends. Cameron is a pit bull, approximately 2 years old, has a severe heart murmur (5 out of 5) and can’t be neutered, had a previous injury to his left arm which causes him to limp at times, had patches of hair missing from his body, and was possibly on the streets for at least 1 month according to the veterinarian!
After spending a week with
Cameron, giving him lots of love, and food, we fell in love! When people met
him, they said he looked at us as if he was grateful. He followed Tiffany
around the house and slept with her (usually on top of her legs). By December
of 2003, Cameron lost about 80% of the hair on his back. After trying different
foods and adding vitamins to his diet, Cameron’s limp lessened
In February 2004, after babysitting a friend’s dog for a week, we decided that Cameron was happier with a playmate. We called Robin Scherer, as she had helped us when we found Cameron. She thought Cameron needed a female, spayed friend (we didn’t want any extra doggies running around and who knows if Cameron’s heart could take that excitement).
A few days later, Robin called. She had a dog that needed a home, quickly. We set up a play date for Cameron to meet “Lucy,” a 2-year old lab/boxer mix (but we think she’s a lab/German Shepard mix). Furry Friends had rescued Lucy from a shelter in WV. She has a pellet above her right shoulder and above her right leg. By the time we met Lucy, she had been in 4 homes! On the play date, Lucy and Cameron instantaneously became friends; talk about “Furry Friends!” In fact, Cameron has not lost any hair since meeting Lucy!
On June 26, 2004 our son, Dane, was born. Life with a baby was an adjustment for all of us! Cameron left the room when Dane cried for the first 2 months (we didn’t love it either). Lucy made sure Tiffany heard Dane the second he had made a sound; Lucy was quite the little mother.
During Dane’s first year, Cameron and Lucy have developed such different yet amazing relationships with Dane. Dane shows empathy towards Cameron when Cameron won’t walk on our basement floor by patting his head softly and waiting patiently for him. Cameron, in turn, hovers under Dane’s high chair waiting for anything to drop and then cleans off the high chair, scooting it across the floor in the process! Dane often shares his food with Cameron, saying “here Cameron” as he gives him what he doesn’t want.
Lucy has been trying to play ball with Dane since he was 3 months old, dropping it in his lap! Finally, Dane can throw the ball to Lucy and you can see the joy in his eyes when Lucy brings it back to him. Dane looks for Lucy, by panting or saying her name, when he wakes up in the morning and before he goes to bed at night.
In planning Dane’s first birthday party, we decided to thank Furry Friends for making our lives that much happier. Instead of gifts, we asked that the guests bring donations for Furry Friends. The results were amazing (luckily Robin Scherer has a big SVU): over $200 in cash; numerous bags of dog food, treats, and toys; cat treats, toys, and litter; paper towels; leashes; a gift card; etc. Not bad for a 1-year old!
As Dane gets older, we hope he chooses to continue to donate to Furry Friends, but we doubt he could ever give Furry Friends as much as Furry Friends has given to us! Thanks Robin!!! |
and his hair began to grow back. The next winter, Cameron began to lose his
hair again. Vitamins were added to his diet, and this ceased further hair
loss.