So now I know why the hotels charge a pet fee!

by Shara Houghtaling
(Rahway, NJ)

Mr. MacDoogle Dog (white standard poodle) was rescued from a pet store at almost 6 months. Prior to that, his life was nothing but a cage. He has become a remarkable dog even though he was a PIA in his puppyhood. He still suffers from separation anxiety, therefore, needs to go everywhere with us. Which benefits both of us, he has become my emotional support dog, helping me through a severe chronic illness. He can read my every mood and is there when I need him the most.

Loki (red toy poodle) joined our family this spring as a playmate for "Doogie" and what a challenge! I had no plans of getting another dog till I drove my friend (who WAS looking for another dog) to Florida. We saw an ad in a North Carolina paper for Toy Poodles. We went to look at them and I fell in love with this little red head.

The first night I got him (in North Carolina) he went to jump from one bed to the other and fell and knocked himself out. Vet trip number one. He then managed to travel from North Carolina to Florida and back to New Jersey without any further trouble. The weekend after we got back to NJ he was in our truck with my husband while I was in the store. When he saw me coming towards the truck, he jumped just as I was opening the door and fell about 3 feet, trip number 2 to the Vet. A couple of weeks later as I was changing my medication patches he jumped up and grabbed one and proceeded to run away with it. Within 3 min, he started to act very strange, we managed to get him to the vet within 5 min, at which time he had a heart rate of 12. Normal for a pup his size is over 100. After spending the day in doggie intensive care, he returned home as active as always if not more so. After all these experiences, he was appropriately named Loki (the mischievous God).

Thank goodness we have had no more unexpected trips to the vet, but he is now watched very closely every minute of the day and therefore, as with Doogie, goes everywhere with us. This picture was taken on our cross country road rip (from NJ to California) last month.

Editor's note: What a story! Thank you, Shara. BTW, no picture was attached... Please submit the photo via another submission and I will add it to this story.