My December 22 Family Member...

This is Hemingway.  He came to live with us on 12/22/15.   Twenty days ago seems like a long time as he is a busy little dog and healthy.  He was not always so.  Two teenage boys found him left for dead in a ditch when he was only a few months old.  They took him to our Humane Society, where the staff is wonderful and loves animals.  They nursed him, gave him vitamin shots, bathed him in iodine baths for the fleas he had, which caused hair loss.  They were able to bring him around to a good stop when I met him.  The manager of the place said to me when I came in to browse, that I did not see all the dogs yet, and he took me to a private room where this little guy was in a nice cage by himself, with a blanket over the top for warmth and a nice blanket to sleep on.  He was peppy and  almost smiling I would say.  I did not even get him out that day because he was still week.  A few days later I went back again, and was able to play with him some.  He came from being weak, almost dead, to healthy, happy and well loved by the staff.  They were almost protective of him and I can understand that.  The next time I came a few days later I took my granddaughter with me to meet him.  I talked with the manager at that time.  As I used to volunteer down there, he knew that this dog would catch my heart.  After losing my Daisy Mae Foxhound last August, I did not think I wanted another dog.  My thought to visiting the HS was it was good therapy for my grieving.  The manager said he knew this little guy had me picked out.  So I filled out the paperwork and had to wait until the following week or even more to bring him home....maybe in the new year I was told.  My thought now is that they were so attached to him, they were not ready to see him go.  But when I came the next week, the manager gave him his third series of puppy shots, said I could take him home, and bring him back in three weeks for his last puppy shots, and that I could take him to the vet for neutering when he got bigger.  I was so happy.   I had already put the funds in my purse just in case he could come home.  I told them I was going to name him Hemingway because he looks a little like Hemingway, and he is little, like Hemingway's home in Paris on the Seine, which I saw when there last fall.  He also was mighty and  could be called Hemi for short, like the strong, tough hemi engines in trucks.  So my Hemingway, who was only 4 pounds, limped a little, and was still smiling I believe, came home with me.  He made his way into many of the families hearts.  My two old doxies, Sophia and Oliver, are melting a little, but tolerate him.  He is healthy, happy, fiesty, and loved, but he also loves us.  He rescued me from so much.  He does not take Daisy Mae Foxhound's place and does not have to.  He has made his own place in my home and in my heart.  Hemingway had no known birth date, so it is July 21, yes, Hemingways's birthday.    Got out and try it, adopt a pet from the shelter.  .  . they will love you forever.