| Tattoo's Story |
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| Adoption Day |
| My name is Tattoo, and I am a German Shepherd Dog. I had a pretty bad puppyhood - from what I can remember. When I was about five weeks old, I was found, tied to a tree. I didn't have any food or water, so I cried as loud as I could, hoping that someone would help me. I must have been pretty sick, because the next thing I knew, I was being taken to the hospital, with a very nice lady. She heard me crying, and took me away from that nasty tree, and got me to the doctor just in time. I might not be here today, if she hadn't heard me cry - boy was I lucky!! I lived at the hospital for a few weeks, until I was strong enough to go back out into the world. They had me hooked up to all kinds of IVs, and gave me xrays. The lady who found me came to see me almost every day. One day, she was playing with me, when another nice lady saw me, and said what a pretty German Shepherd I was. They talked for awhile, and they decided to let me live with the new lady. They named me Casper, because I was so sickly that I looked like a ghost. I got to live with a whole bunch of German Shepherd Dogs - big ones, and little puppies. The place was pretty neat, and they took real good care of me. I was there for awhile - I guess it was hard for them to find someone who wanted a dog like me, with no papers, and no family history. I was a good puppy, even though I didn't have much contact with other people. While I lived at that big place, I had to be neutered. I wasn't quite six months old, when they took away those funny looking things that I used to lick sometimes. I didn't heal as fast as I was supposed to, and got a little infection - maybe I kept trying to lick those things, that weren't there anymore. All I know, is that I didn't feel so good, and they had to keep me quiet for a few days. That's pretty hard to do with a puppy - I just wanted to play with the other guys where I lived. I had no idea that my life was about to take a giant turn - wait till you hear that story! |
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| My New Home |
| I was just starting to get well, after that horrible surgery, when I met another new lady. It was the day after Thanksgiving, in 1998, and she was looking for a dog to adopt. I really didn't know what was going on - just that I liked this new lady. As soon as I was let out of my run, I went nuts - trying to make her notice me. I jumped all over her, and even got a little mud on her jeans. She didn't care - she was hugging me, and telling me what a nice boy I was. I think it was love at first sight for both of us. We played for a little while, then, I had to be put back in my run - I was still supposed to be healing from my surgery. About a week later, on December third, I was picked up by the lady who rescued me from that tree, and she took me for a long drive. I didn't know where she was taking me, and I got car sick all over myself. Wherever I was going, I was sure to make a good impression - ugh! She finally stopped her car, and left me for a few minutes. Before I knew it, there was that lady who came to visit me at that big place with the other dogs. I was so happy to see her, that I forgot about the barf all over my front legs. I jumped right on her, and got her jeans dirty again. I wonder what it is with me and jeans? She didn't care - she was hugging me, and cleaned me up with a nice warm cloth. I got to go around the whole house, and yard, and meet the other dogs. Wow - there are these two little midget things that just run around and bark at me. I heard the other lady say something about Yorkies, but all I knew was that they were little tiny barking, long haired, rats. Then, I got to meet Echo, the crazy Irish Water Spaniel. She was so busy trying to figure out a way to steal something, that she hardly even noticed me. I started to get a little tired, so the two ladies sat down and signed some papers. My new Mom had to put a big blue collar on me, and a tag with the name of the rescue place that saved me. I said goodbye to that other lady, and went right to sleep. |
| How I Got My Name |
| My Mom had to find me a new name - she already had a Casper. I was a dog with no name for a few days. She got a book on dog names, but I guess she couldn't find anything that fit me. She says I'm a big clown, and didn't want to name me something regal, or something too stupid. I was kind of hoping she'd name me "Kohler", after the toilet that I played with my tennis ball in. I guess she didn't hear my idea - as you already know. My Mom didn't like that big, blue collar, so she put a tattoo on my right inner thigh. She is an agent for Tatoo-A-Pet, and sometimes, we get bunches of dogs over for tattoos. I don't know why some of them make such a fuss about it - no biggie! I just layed there, on a nice pad she uses, and my tattoo was done in less than five minutes. She didn't even have to get anyone to help hold me - I was a good boy, and didn't move. Now, I don't have to wear that big fat collar anymore. I wear a pretty new collar that my Mom bought for my Obedience classes. It's some kind of martingale, and is safe to wear all the time. My tags are on it, but she doesn't worry about me being stolen, and, hopefully, I'll never get lost! If I do, my tattoo will help me find my way back to my Mom. Even those little Yorkie things have teeny little tattoos on them - they're really cute! Anyway, I was such a good boy during my tattoo, that my Mom decided that my name should be Tattoo. I think it's kind of a neat name - better than being named after a toilet! |
| A Little Bit About Me |
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| Sticking My Tongue Out At Mom |
| I've been through a whole lot in my short life! After I got a settled in with my new family, I got real sick again. I couldn't keep any food in me, and I could hardly walk. My Mom took me right to the vet, and he found that my incision, from where they took those things off, was really badly infected again. I guess I just couldn't stop licking, so I had to wear this stupid white plastic collar. I couldn't find the toilet - to drink out of, and kept banging that thing on the walls - it was horrible! My Mom finally decided to take it off, and just keep me in my crate for a few days. I had to take some giant pills for my stomach, and some antibiotics for the infection. I was also starting my second bout with Pano, so I had to go on a new diet. My first few months with my new Mom weren't exactly great for her. I tried to be a good dog, after all the vet bills I was tallying up.. I only peed in the house a few times. I'm the first male dog that my Mom has had since she was a kid. I guess that being neutered so early has it's advantages. I still haven't learned to lift my leg, and I don't have to mark everything in sight. I just kind of stand and lean forward, and the pee gets all over my front feet. My Mom says that we need to work on this - I don't see it as a big problem! I know that I do make her mad when I go out on the patio, and pee right in front of the glass doors. I can't help it - when I have to go, I can't make it down the stairs, to the grass. I thought I was helping her hose off the patio - oops! I went through three Obedience Classes, and did very well, considering that my Mom is a "Dork". I didn't know that she's really handicapped, and can't help the way she walks. Now, I try to be extra careful with her, and help her when she starts to fall, or get off balance. I don't jump on her anymore either, so her jeans don't get muddy. I love to sleep with my Mom and those Yorkie things. Desi always lays on my Mom's pillow, and snarls at me, so I keep away from her. But, Shadow is a whole different story! I can play in bed with her for hours, until she gets tired, and crawls under the sheets to go to sleep. We all kind of huddle together, and fall asleep in a big dog pile. Desi is the little kissing monster. After we all fall asleep, she starts crawling around, and sticks her tongue in our noses, and mouths. I pretend like I don't notice her, so she doesn't snap my nose off. I'm letting everybody in on a big secret here! I'm afraid of that little four pound dog! I can play with Shadow a little rough, and she'll tell me when I play too hard for her, but that Desi, doesn't even give me a chance. Oh well - who wants to play with something smaller than their head anyway? She's my Mom's baby too - if I hurt her, I'd be in BIG trouble! I spend my days outside with Echo - the "Psycho Dog". She gets into everything, and gets me in trouble. I don't know where she got her stomach, but I wouldnt mind having one like hers! She can eat anything without getting sick. I look at something the wrong way, and I get the runs. She has taught me to like Mulberry leaves, but they make me very sick. Now, I have to do my business, then come back in the house, until the trees lose all of their leaves. I wish they'd hurry up, these Yorkie things can drive a guy nuts. Don't get me wrong - I love them, but they sure move around fast! And, you should see how many toys they have! I have one lousey Nylabone, and they must have a hundred stuffed, squeeky toys. I mught just steal another one this week - it's about time to gut another one! I also love those black and white guys, who raise their tails and make me stink. I like to chase them around the yard, but I always end up with teary eyes, and stinking like crazy. I've had my share of tomato and vinegar baths. Now, I'm into hunting for gophers - we have tons of them in the yard. I'm very happy just to be laying around with my Mom, while she's on her computer. I can do a "Down Stay" for as long as I'm asked to, so the Yorkie things can be running around, and I won't get up. I wouldn't hurt them anyway, but my Mom's afraid of my big feet, smashing Desi - I guess she's right! I have lots more growing to do, and lots of new stuff to learn. Hopefully, we can start another Obedience Class soon, so I can laugh at my Mom, when she falls on her butt. Not really, I was just kidding! I love my classes, and would even like to be a Service Dog, when I get over my Pano. Time will tell! |
| I'm Special |
| When People see me, they always stop, and ask my Mom where I came from. She points to the sky, and tells them that I was a gift from up there. It's kind of funny, how people are so concerned with what my lineage is, instead of who I am - just Tattoo, the rescued German Shepherd Dog. |
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| I am a Tatoo-A-Pet agent click on the logo (above) For lifesaving info! |
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| Tattoo went to The Bridge 3-5-04 He had "DM" |