Driving Miss Daisy

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

We got an email from a wonderful lady named Ellen (are all wonderful, big-hearted women named Ellen?) who works at the San Luis Obispo, CA (along the coast about half way between San Diego and San Francisco) animal shelter. They received a 12 year old unspayed, female pug as an owner surrender. Her owner had her since she was a puppy, but was leaving the state for five months to partake in a mission for her church and could not take her or care for her......What?!?! That's got to be one of the top ten lame excuses for dumping your dog ever! The worst we ever heard was 'The luggage rack on the car is broke, so we have to move the luggage into the car and there is now no room for the dog".

This old gal was named Daisy Lu, Daisy was in fairly good health, but mostly blind....she sees shadows. She is friendly, happy and social....even playful at times. Ellen knew her chances of being adopted from the shelter were slim, so she contacted us hoping we could help Miss Daisy find a place to rest her paws. I'm so thankful for shelter workers like Ellen who still care about the animals.

Thankfully Suzi was wooed by Daisy's picture and agreed to take her in and even better -immediately we had someone come forward to foster her.

In the most wonderful coincidence ever, just a couple weeks ago we were contacted by a woman named Deby who lives in Grover Beach, a suburb of San Luis Obispo, who asked if she could help transport dogs from up her way down south into rescue.

So began a marathon email between Suzi, myself, Ellen, Deby, the foster and Ryan (another wonderful shelter worker who assisted us in expediting our partner paperwork with the shelter).

The shelter spayed Daisy on Thursday and made sure she was ready for the long car trip south. On Friday Deby came and picked her up....and was shocked to recognize her immediately! This pug had lived in her neighborhood! Deby brought her home, bought her a new red collar with roses, fed her some premium food, let her sleep by her side in bed and gave her lots of love....she also told off her neighbors who had dumped her and managed to make them feel guilty enough to give her Daisy's old bed and leash set....

Saturday morning Miss Daisy was loaded into Deby's truck along with her bed, new collar and a little soft pillow for her head and they journeyed two and a half hours south to Calabasas. I also arose early and made the trek two hours north to the same spot. Daisy is the sweetest old girl, happy to meet everyone, giving adoring looks and lots of sweet kisses. We spent some time in the grass area at the McDonalds, letting her potty and stretch her legs and transferring her stuff. Deby cried when she told her goodbye.

Heading south once again Miss Daisy was a perfect girl in the car, napping on my lap or in the seat with her head on her little pillow. The weather was cool and sunny and traffic refreshingly light. Daisy's foster mom does not drive, so I had to take Daisy to the vet and have her checked and meds and instructions given. Then from the vet I was taking her on to her foster mom in Oceanside.

At the vet we had to wait - the vet was in surgery and wouldn't be able to see her for at least 45 minutes, so we loaded up once again and headed to El Pollo Loco for a little late lunch. I had tacos while she enjoyed a chicken tortilla roll.

Back at the vet, she was a big hit with the staff, everyone loved her old lady looks and sweet personality...one of the techs there is even considering adopting her as a companion for herself and her 12 year old daughter. The vet said her eyes were not going to get better. At this point just keeping them well lubricated and comfortable was all we could do, she pronounced her ears, heart, lungs, airways and joints exceptionally great for a dog of her age. Gave her Amigen spray for an itchy spot on her butt, and trimmed her nails, which were so long they caused her toes to curve sideways. She is a little thin, but the vet recommended we keep her that way to give her joints, organs and airway the best chance for long and healthy function.

With a clean bill of health and a bottle of Butt spray we headed back on the road for Miss Daisy's final leg of the journey. It was a short 45 minute drive northwest to Oceanside and the home of her foster mom, Jill. Jill has another pug, a female named.....DAISY! They now have two Daisy's in their garden! The two ladies were very happy to meet one another while the resident chihuahua, watched from a distance. Daisy went right to Jill and her husband and greeted them both with kisses. They admired her sweet face and pretty, new collar and put her bed alongside their Daisy's. When I left she had explored the yard, peed and pooped outside like a good girl and was working on charming the reluctant chi.

All is good in Daisy's world now. No one will ever leave her in her old age because she is inconvenient. She will remain happy, loved and comfortable for the rest of her life, whether she is adopted or stays with Jill. Through a lot of good efforts by a lot of good people, especially the extraordinary shelter staff, this little old lady will probably be loved and cherished more now than she ever was before.

And that's what keeps me driving....



.....have a wonderful life Miss Daisy.

Take care,
Lisa

[shaynapug]

This brought tears!!! I cannot imagine!!!!!!! I just can't!!!

My Kelev is 12 1/2.......losing his sight and his hearing...I'd NEVER let him go!!!!

Bless you and all the rescue angels!

[bumble]

Thank you from those of us who can't do what you do.

[tall grass pugs]

Twelve years, and she hadn't spayed Daisy? Bless the old dog and her many new friends who worked so many miracles. (My grandmother told us years ago that Christ sometimes walked on earth in disguise, as a gardener might wander in his garden. And it was wise to treat everyone animal and human with grace and love least we find ourself being unkind to God.)

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

Yes, never spayed. Deby said three years ago when she moved into the neighborhood. The husband was out walking Daisy (then 9 years old) and asked her if she wanted to breed her male to her for a puppy. She informed him that her male was neutered and suggested his dog was too old to still be breeding.

Take care,
Lisa

[gopuggo]

Ooh she's so cute. Sprung from a shelter and a little bit of Pollo Loco for lunch, not a bad day for her.

Good for you for helping out this senior pug.

[GotPugs]

She's adorable! She's a very lucky little girl for ending up in your hands. I love the seniors.

[CountryPug]

I can't imagine giving up a dog at that age:( Sounds like Daisy has incredible spirit and is very lucky to have found some angels to care for her.

[snort]

[Charlie Baby]

Sad story - but great ending!