A rescue tale

Last December our neighbor across the street, Billie, had to have her old Westie put to sleep. It was seldom I didn't see Billie walking Mitzi at least once a day through the neighborhood, and sometimes 3 and 4 times. Billie would sit out in a lawn chair in the shade next to her driveway with Mitzi at her side on most nice summer afternoons. Billie is in her mid 60's, retired and widowed and a nicer person you couldn't find. She has a beautiful covered deck on the back of her home with steps that lead down to a fenced yard.

A few weeks ago we got to talking and she said how she missed Mitzi and the companionship she gave Billie. I suggested a poodle. "Oh no," she said, "poodles are SO expensive, I couldn't afford one, although I love your guys." Truth be told, Billie would have sacrificed anything for Mitzi and I KNEW there was a poodle out there somewhere waiting for Billie.

I contacted Nebraska Poodle Rescue and spoke with Debbie. I had seen a page on their petfinders site with a 5 year old black toy spayed female, but they wanted her to go to a home with her 5 year old cream toy neutered male companion, and I didn't think Billie was up for getting two dogs at once. Debbie asked me if I had seen Mr. Teddy on their site. I had and wanted to hear his story. Apparently Teddy came to his present owner, Irene, from a Texas rescue about a year ago. Teddy is now approximately two years old. Irene was looking to place Teddy because of health issues she came down with recently. After showing Billie Teddy's picture and telling her his story, we called Irene and asked to come meet him last Friday (March 16th). When Irene brought Teddy out he was shaking like a leaf as he sat next to her on the couch. He is a pale cream, roughly 16" or 17" at the withers and about 20 lbs. After about 10 minutes Irene asked Billie to switch places with her. Within a few minutes Teddy had snuggled up to Billie with his head on her knee. Irene told us a couple of other people had visited to look at Teddy. One was a young woman who went to school full time and worked full time. Irene said no. Another couple with three young children came to see Teddy and again, based on his reaction to them, Irene said no. Irene told us she was looking for someone like her, who was home during the day and could give Teddy the love and attention he deserved. Another couple of hours and Teddy was in his crate in the back of my van and Billie and Irene were exchanging hugs and tears on Irene's driveway. When she offered Irene payment for Teddy, Irene told Billie, "No, you are the perfect forever home for him."

It's a week later now and Billie is head over heels in love with a poodle she never thought she could afford. There have been no accidents in the house and when Billie sits down to watch TV or read, Teddy is snuggled next to her leg. Teddy spent the first night quietly in his crate, but on Saturday night as Billie was getting ready to go to bed, he leaped on her bed with a look only a poodle can give, as if to say, "You know I think you made a wee mistake last night, putting me in that box. You didn't REALLY mean to do that, did you? I'm sure you meant for me to sleep right next to you, right?" And that's where he's slept since then. My small part in this whole scenario has given me such a great feeling and I feel it was fate that led Billie to Teddy.