notseemlikethesicklydogthatsheactuallywas
forquiteawhile.Shehad18teethextractedand
multiplebaths,treatmentforfleasandticksand
tworoundsoftreatmentsforearinfections.Gone
wastheextremeodorMichaelhadexperienced,as
wastheseverematting,asDaisynowsporteda
sleekshort-hairedlook.
“NodoubtitwashardforMichaeltoleaveher
withus,butweweresoexcitedtobringher
home,tomeetHenryandourvisitingadult-aged
son,andstartthehappytimestogether.We
hopedDaisywouldcometofeelthatshewasan
importantpartofhernewfamily.Uponarrival,
sheandHenrycheckedeachotheroutandboth
seemedcomfortable.Neighborsstoppedoverto
seeDaisyandshewasfriendlyandunafraid.
Despitealimitednumberofteeth,wecouldsee
Michael’sreportwasaccurate—shecouldeat,
andhadagoodappetiterightfromthestart.
“Wehavebeensoluckythatourtimetogether
hasgonesowell!Therewerelotsofinitialvet
visitstocontinuetoaddressthesevereearinfections,with
atleastoneconcernedcalltoMichaelaboutthebacteria
thatwasfoundrightatthebeginning,butthingshaveset-
tleddown.Daisy’searsnolongerneedmedication(keeping
fingerscrossed!),thoughwethinkthatherhearingacuity
hasbeenimpacted.Weneedtospeakinmuchloudertones
forhertohear,andalsohaveaddedgesturestoour‘conver-
sations.’Daisymusthavehadsomelovingcareandinstruc-
tionatsomepointinherlifeassheisaverywell-mannered,
gentlesoul.Sheisreservedwithheraffection,sowhenwe
receivealickonthefaceorhanditmeanssomuch!
“WealwaysenjoyedthatthedescriptionsofPBGVs,
includedthatthey“haveavoiceanduseitfreely.”However,
ittookalongtimebeforeweheardanythingfromDaisy.
Nowshebarksoccasionallyandvocalizesinvarioustonesto
communicateherthoughts.Shewillinglyjumpsuponour
couchtositnexttous,butnotonourlapsasthatseemsto
makehersomewhatuncomfortable.
“DaisyandHenryarecontentedcompanions,asolid
team.Theyeattogether,napatthesametimes(thoughnot
inthesameplaceasbothliketheirdifferentareas),andgo
onwalkstogether.SheandHenrysitbythefrontdoorin
themorningtocueusthat‘Hey,it’stimetogoforawalk!’
Asifwewouldforget!Daisylovestogoonherwalks,
wagginghertail,holdingherheadhigh,bodyalertand
energized,andsniffingeveryinterestingspot.Sheisfriendly
butcautiouswhenmeetingpeopleorotherdogs.Sheenjoys
stayinginthehouseotherwise,eventhoughwealways
encouragehertostayoutsidewhenweareinthebackyard
togetsomemorefreshair!Sheactuallybarkstobeletback
in!Perhapsshelikesthesecurityofbeinginherownhome.
BecauseitisHERownhome.Sheblendedseamlesslyinto
ourfamily.Wecelebrateherbirthdayonthedayweadopted
her,thebestdayinJunefortheHofferfamily,sowethink
sheisnow11.Sheactsmuchlivelierthanthatonherwalks,
sowehopeitisanoverestimate,thoughshedoessleepalot
oftheday.Regardlessofourtimetogether,wearesograteful
tohavehadachancetoloveourDaisy.”
FromMichael:“TheHofferstookDaisyknowingofthe
potentiallong-termhealthissuesthatshemighthave.Itis
amazinghowmanytimesIgetcorrespondencefrompeople
sayingthattheywanttoadoptarescuedPBGVaslongasit
isyoung,perfectlyhealthy,properlytrainedandwillcost
nothingtomaintain.Ittakesveryspecialpeopletoaccept
anailing,agingdogandgivethedogtheloveandpatience
needed.IknowthatDaisywillspendafewgoodyearswith
peoplewhotrulyloveherandIcan'tthankKimandDoug
enough.Theyrepresenteverythingthatisgoodabout
rescuingdogs.DaisyhitthejackpotwhentheHoffersmet
metodothetransferandnowsheissafeandhappy.”From
theHoffers:“Michaelwassofriendly,honestandaccessible,
readytolistenandprovidesupportatanytime.Wealways
felthisstronginterestinhowthingsweregoingandhis
sincereaffectionforDaisyandallofhisPBGVfamily.”
LuckyDaisy!Sheendedupintheperfect
home,surroundedbypeoplewholoveher.
ThankssomuchtoMichaelEdwardsand
especiallytoKimandDougHofferfortheir
contributionstothisarticle.
I
YouCanHelp.
Tomakeadifferenceina
PBGV’slife,visitthePBGVCA’srescuepage:
www.pbgv.org/BreedInfo/rescue.shtmlandconsider
makingadonationtotherescueeffort.Noamount
istoosmallandeverydonationisappreciated.
Ifyou’realuckyownerwhohasrescueda
PBGVandwouldliketoshareyourstoryinSaber
Tails,pleasecontactJoanMannatJMann17307
@aol.com.
SaberTails
IDecember2013
www.pbgv.org
27
HenryandDaisy