Alice Allen...say that five times fast: Happy 2nd Anniversary Winston!

I couldn't sleep the entire night. It might have been that we had spent the night at Chase's parent's house and it wasn't my bed. Perhaps the Sundrop I drank a little close to bed, but I think the thing that kept me awake too late that night was that I was going to meet my new best friend the next morning.

Chase and I woke up super early to meet a representative from Schnauzer Love Rescue, Inc. in Tupelo, Mississippi. I can't describe the feeling that I had that morning in the rainy, Cracker Barrel parking lot. I remember seeing this sweet little face looking up at me from the red VW Beetle and I was instantly in love. Little did he or I know all the fun we would have together.

We don't really know much about the first 5 years of Winston's life. We know he came from Washburn, Missouri, which is only 20 minutes from where my dad grew up. He came to the Bartlett Animal Shelter in Barlett, Tennessee somewhere around May 10, 2007. He was tied up to the front of the shelter, or as they workers at the shelter called him, a "Door Dump," As sad as it sounds, a wonderful woman who volunteers with SLR by the name of Nita came to his rescue. A few weeks from his rescue from the shelter, he went to live with Miss Dottie, his other foster mom. From there, it was only a matter of weeks until Winston would come to Birmingham with us to live in his "furever" home.

I owe Winston's life to SLR. Without them, he may have been brought back to another terrible experience, euthanization or a life on his own. They help bring spunk back to his personality, restored his trust in humans and got him on the track back to being a normal dog. I cannot express the joy adopting a "rescue" dog has brought to my life. I have been given the job of bringing a scared little dog back to life. True, puppies from a breeder have the cuteness and knowing where they came from, but they'll always get a home. Rescuing gives such a sense of accomplishment, improving another being's life. I urge you, if you're looking to get another pet, seek out a rescue group or your local animal shelter. These animals have such gratitude for you....it's written all over their faces and in their wet kisses!!!

Happy Anniversary Winston...County....Little Man...Dubya, you are the coolest dog ever! Chase and I love you very much!