Our little Daisy

Not that she’ll be little for long, but here is her story.

I guess it was a little over a year ago (or more) that we had been kind of, jokingly, talked about getting a puppy. There seems to be an age, around 6, that a dog in our family seems to get a puppy. Red came along when Nick was about 6, Merlyn came along when Red was about 6, and Snoopy came along when Merlyn was – well, I think he was actually 7. I believe Snoopy will be 6 this year, so, should we really be thinking about this? Gil wanted to make sure everything was good after his transplant, and, at the time, Snoopy was only about 4 or 5, so it wasn’t time yet, but we were definitely thinking about it.  Over the last year a few dogs had crossed out paths as possibilities, but they always found another home, so they were not meant to be. But on October 25^th 2014 one of Gil’s friends posted on Facebook:

To All My Friends: Jeff found this Walker while hunting. She might be 4 months old. Looks like she had been in the woods for a couple of weeks, probably dropped off and left. Trying to find a good home for her and will travel to meet anyone who might give her a good home. She does well with people and other dogs and would make a great family pet. She loves to be inside with the family. She was skin and bones when Jeff brought her home, but is looking better everyday. She is a sweetheart! She gives lots of kisses and loves to have her belly rubbed!

We said yes.

Over the next few days there was a string of conversations and texts leading to her being picked up in Ocala. On Wednesday, Oct. 29^th, Gil drove up while Debbie and her husband drove down and the exchange took place. She was so thin and frail; although we had agreed on naming her Molly, the name Daisy seemed a better fit – she was as frail and delicate as a flower, it’s Debbie’s favorite, and, in the realm of peanuts, Snoopy was adopted from “Daisy Hill Puppy farm” – since we have Snoopy, it’s good to have some reference to a theme there.

She was very timid and anxious as she met the other animals and checked out the house. When she tried playing, she would get scared and run away or lie down, tail tucked. Of course, being a puppy dumped in the woods, malnourished and underfed, she wasn’t exactly housebroken, so we had our work cut out for us. After a vet visit the next day we did find out she was riddled with parasites – tapeworm & hookworm, who knows what may show up in the blood work.

She seems to be gaining more confidence and started playing with Snoopy. She has quickly learned the doggie doors, but has been very cautious about going out on her own (although today, 10/31, she followed Snoopy out on her own). She is becoming very playful, Merlyn doesn’t mind her at all but just tries to stay out of the way, and is getting better every day. She is home.