My almost 8 yr old baby!

by Kate

(Ohio)

I adopted my Ruby from a wonderful local rescue specializing in puppy mill survivors. When I first saw her, she was with her foster mom at an adoption event at PetSmart and she looked terrified. She had been rescued from a puppy mill the month before and she was still extremely traumatized. I walked over to her and her foster mom and she seemed to perk up a little. I asked if I could hold her and her foster mom agreed but warned me that she was wary of strangers and that she would be very stiff. She handed her to me and Ruby immediately tucked her head under my chin, let out a big sigh and I felt her whole body relax. Her foster mom was amazed and talked me into adopting her (it didn’t take much convincing, I was already in love with her!). I filled out an adoption application and anxiously waited 2 days for everything to be approved so I could go pick her up. That night, she jumped on the couch, curled up in my lap and fell asleep. We’ve been inseparable ever since. It took her a whole year before she started to lick my hand and now, 3.5 years later, nothing can stop her from licking my entire face! She has brought so much happiness to my life and I don’t know how I ever lived without her. She gets along great with her kitty sister too. Her personality has blossomed since I first got her and she makes me laugh daily with her crazy antics. Although she will never be a normal dog who plays with toys and barks at everything (she has only barked a few times since I’ve had her), she is perfect in every way. No matter how bad my day may be, seeing her running full speed to greet me when I come home is the best feeling in the world. Every person that has met her has commented on the very special bond we have. I know she was meant to be mine and I was meant to be hers.