Sandi and Patti playing in our back yard

Patti playing in our back yard

Busy Patti!

Patti is doing much better with her house breaking, therefore, she has a lot more freedom. Her newest game is taking ALL the toys out of the basket and throwing them all around. Then I pick them all up so she can do it again. Fool that I am, I've done that four times today. She's happy though and that's all that matters. She got two rides in the car today which she loved. She sits there like a proper little lady and looks out the window. She's learning that she can go in and out the pet door whenever she wants to so she's been buzzing in and out all day. She's a little ball of energy. It's like having a toddler around which is fine. We adore her!

I feel like I've neglected Patti the last few days. We had a death in the family, one of our lady rat girls, Lily. It was a difficult passing and wiped me out, but I will make it up to Patti.

Last night I tried to keep her company by lying in the floor beside her to read. I don't know in what Universe I thought that would work out, but certainly not this one. Before I knew it I had massive jaws and a huge tongue and a big chest standing with one foot on each side of my face, licking it unmercifully and nibbling on my nose and ears. The more I struggled and laughed, the more determined she became. I had to call Frank to pull her off of me. After a while she got it and for brief amounts of time would lie as close to me as possible before getting up and trotting around. Patti has two speeds-stop and full speed ahead. I also convinced that toys, not mommy's arms and hands were to be used to chew on. She's such a puppy! We adore her.

I'm so proud of Patti. She's doing well with her potty training. The only thing is, I'm afraid she thinks that's all outside is for. She races out, goes, then races back inside. She was out of her crate for quite a few hours today (confined to the den) and no accidents. I'm cautiously optimistic. 

We took both dogs on errands with us today. Frank stayed in the car with them while I did a little food shopping and then I stayed in the car with them when he went to Lowes to get bird seed. Patti sat there pretty as you please, watching everyone and everything with such wonder. Everyone smiles at her. Her joy is truly contagious.

I realize this is an odd thing to be excited about but excited I am non the less. When Patti and I went outside this morning after breakfast, for the first time she went pee and poop right away! I started clapping and bouncing up and down telling her what a good girl she was. She gave me this amazed look and bounced over to me thinking:  I don't know what I did to make her so happy but I'm going to figure it out as soon as I can and do it again. We animal lovers get excited about the oddest things, don't we?

Patti's friendship with our rat Benny continues to grow. As soon as Benny gets out for playtime, he goes over to Patti's crate to visit her. She lies down and puts her head between her paws and gets as close to the side of the crate as she can. Benny stands close to the crate and they have a staring match, gossiping, no doubt, about their day. In a few minutes, Benny wanders off and Patti cries. They repeat this scenario several times always with the same outcome--Benny leaving, Patti crying for him to come back. It's a bittersweet thing, but it's touching.

Patti's Homecoming

Patti's homecoming

Still having problems with potty-training

We've resorted to keeping Patti in her crate since we can't trust her not to go outside to potty. I hate to do it since she's been caged for so long, but hopefully we can get her back on track and all will be well. She's a darling girl. She loves everyone but I can tell she's going to be protective. She barks now when someone comes to the door. 

The good news is she's made friends with most of the critters and they are beginning to settle down some. She's made friends with our ferret, Pip, she and Miss Kitty have a truce at least. She stares at the mice and rats in the cage but it's more in wonder than aggression. Last night she and our cat, Drake, were rubbing noses and are well on the way to being buddies. Drake has grown up around dogs and has no real fear of them so this doesn't surprise me. Patti was very gentle with him, nudging him with her nose and rubbing faces together. It was adorable. I was so proud of both of them. She was in her crate last night when the rats came out for playtime. Our rat, Benny, came over and stood by the crate. Patti cocked her head to the side and just stared at him. He put his feet up on the crate; Patti gently stuck her paw against the door. Benny nipped her toe and she pulled it back like he'd hurt her feelings. I fussed at Benny and he went back over, stood up on the crate door and looked at her like he was apologizing. She laid down and he walked away. So is life in our menagerie. 

Patti did well in her crate last night. She's been following me around since she came here which is expected. She's already kind of learned how to use the doggie door. If I stand on the other side and call her, she comes out the doggie door. I have great faith in her. She will have it mastered by the end of the day. 

She's made friends with Pip, our ferret. They touched noses and Pip, being the brat he is, nipped her on the nose a little. Patti just looked at him like why did you do that? Since then, she's been following Pip around and they've even been flirting a little. Pip has obviously accepted her. Whew! That's one hurdle. 

She chases the cats when they run, which I understand. Fortunately, Miss Kitty doesn't run from Patti so she's been able to observe her without chasing which shows me she's not being aggressive, she only wants to play. I'm keeping a very close eye on her of course. 

Unfortunately, she isn't as house trained as I was lead to believe, but it IS the first day and everything is new and I am sure overwhelming so I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt. That's something we can definitely work on. She's so smart and very willing to please so she will learn the rules of the house quickly. I'm not concerned. She seems extremely happy and that's what's important.

Uh oh...Patti just had her first accident. At least she wet in the middle of the kitchen floor. It isn't the first time that's happened here and it won't be the last. I'll ignore this one since she's so excited and everything is new to her, but it's something we need to work on--so much for her being potty trained.

She seems to like the cats, but when they run she chases them. It's obvious she's just trying to play,  but they don't know that right now. We've been through this before as well. Things will settle down soon.

I met Patti aka transporter at the predetermined meeting place about an hour ago. Patti told me that my Patti was a great traveling companion. These are some pictures of her journey courtesy of Patti's cell phone.

 

When we got home, she walked in and immediately started making herself at home. She's full of energy, but is an absolute doll. She's had dinner, explored around, found the water, toy box, and a few of the cats who weren't too sure of her. We walked outside with her and she wandered around a little, but since it was dark, didn't go too far from us. I can't wait to see what she thinks tomorrow in the daylight when she sees our huge backyard and can run and run till her heart's content. Now, she's found the bone I got for her as a welcome home present and is contentedly munching away. Our home feels happier already. 

We got a nice surprise today. Patti's new bed arrived early! I had received a message yesterday that it wouldn't be here until the 16th, but UPS just brought it to us! Now Frank can put it together and I can make my 'Welcome Home Patti' sign and put it on the bed. I'm so happy!

It's official! Patti's transport is all organized and ready to go. I'm to meet her at 9:00-10:00 pm about 10 minutes from home on Saturday night. I don't know how I'll thank all the people who've helped make this happen, but I am eternally grateful. Well...time to make the 'welcome home Patti' signs! Woo Hoo!

I ordered a bed for Patti today, the same size and color as Sandi's. It's way too big for her, but this way she and Sandi can switch if they want to. It's a hammock bed. Sandi loves hers. I'm thinking of getting them both a collar with their name and phone number on it. Tags can get lost so easily. I have to wait till she gets here to measure her neck of course before I can order the collars.

Patti

I am so excited! I can't settle down, can't  concentrate. I understand that the transport it all set up and with any luck Patti will be here in four days! I've been sending her mental images of us, the house, the animals, the yard, etc. She's confused, but would love to believe me. At least she likes my energy. How long have I been communicating with animals, and still I've afraid I'm not getting through clearly to her. As I've often said, it's more difficult with your own...

Introduction

 

 It all started with a desperate e-mail plea for a very special little doggie girl named Patti. Patti had been abandoned several months ago and her fate was uncertain. We were looking for a dog to fill the empty space in our hearts and our lab Sandi's since she's our only dog at the present time.

When I saw Patti's picture, my heart immediately connected with hers. I called my husband over to show him her picture and he said, "She's the one. Email them immediately and tell them we want her." I emailed Green Pets America where Patti was being cared for and explained that we were interested in adopting her.

It seemed like an insurmountable task. We're in Virginia; she is over 10 hours away in Georgia. I believe that whatever happens will be for the highest good for all of us, but I surely hope that means she will soon be with us.

After several emails, calls, and lots of support from people some of whom don't even know us, we're closer to our goal. Hopefully, Patti will be with us by this coming weekend. 

I've been told from everyone who has ever met her that Patti is a very special dog--sweet, humble, gentle and most of all joyful. I've started this blog in order to document Patti's progress and share the love she's brought into all of our lives.