Jeanie Clark

Jeanie and Jeanie Clark

A friend of my father's pawned off a scraggly stray chihuahua+? mix on our family when I was in second grade, because he knew once I saw the dog, my Dad couldn't tell me, "no". I have always been a sucker for the runt, the stray, the dog that is so ugly it is cute... I love to be the one to discover a special soul and personality that everyone else wants to toss aside. I rescued my first Yorkie, Logan, 8 years ago. He had a collapsing trachea when I got him. He snorted like a little pig and snored like a bear, but I understood his every grunt, it was like a little language. Though he was only 8 years old, he only lived one more year because if his condition. It was so hard to say goodbye to him, but I knew in my heart that the last year of his life was the best because no one could have loved him more than I did. After he passed, I rescued Yorkies Timmy (4) and Giovanni (12). Timmy was and is my timid Baby Boy. He loves other dogs but is particular about people, and he HATES to be laughed at! Giovanni was my Teeny Tiny Italian Stallion. He was a very handsome gentleman dog, always dignified and had a real swagger in his step. Giovanni was with me for 3 wonderful years. Timmy is curled beside me as I write this. Timmy hates to be alone, so we rescued another Yorkie, Max (11), a month after Giovanni passed. I had wanted a younger dog, as my broken heart was still fresh, but I saw a photo of Max on a rescue site and he stole my heart. He has one ear that is flopped forward and the other sticks straight up. I was done for. Max has made me laugh every day since, he is like a little live teddy bear. The first time I took him to the vet, the doctor himself said that Max was, and I quote, "extraordinarily cute." The last year he has slid steadily into dementia and is down to one tooth, but he is still a happy little guy and will lick your face off. I am going to have to say goodbye to him soon, but again I am at peace through my pain because his happiest days were with me. Some people don't want to rescue older dogs because of the inevitable. But although I wish so much that I could have kept each of my guys forever, one had to pass so that I could help the next one. I don't regret a day of it. My dogs keep me sane. No matter what happens in my life, at the end of the day, a cuddle and a sloppy kiss is a cure-all. Please consider rescuing an older dog today, the rewards for you both are greater than can be put into words.