DOGGIE PROTECTIVE SERVICES

Sassy - adopted

• June 22, 2008

  Hi, Teresa!

  I just wanted to give you and Sassy's foster family a one week update. All is well, she's settling in, she seems to like Simon a lot, and is respectful of his space...and his stuff (all except food).

  Sassy, like almost every other Schnauzer I have ever known has the "food stealing gene." Simon is a very slow eater, and this works to his detriment, because both Sassy and Travis will finish their own feed, and then head for Simon's bowl. And he -- gentleman that he is -- lets them! Travis didn't leave until Wednesday, so I think Sassy really didn't know who was who and/or who was going and who was staying.

  Sassy and Simon peacefully co-exist, and there's been no growling, obvious jealously, turf wars or anything like that. This morning they were each sleeping on their own beds, and they were as close as you could get without actually being "butt to butt." I think that will come soon. They are very much alike in temperament.

  This week, we'll go to the dog park. I didn't do it last week, because it's been 100+ degrees and it was too hot for all of us. I haven't sent pictures, because my new cell phone does not have a camera -- and I am apparently the last human being on earth who doesn't have a digital camera. I'll try to correct that this week, or have someone who does have one take a few shots of the two of them together. They look adorable. Anyway, that's it for now. She's fine, and she's a perfect fit. I think she's happy, and all my friends seem to think she knows I'm her new Mom. They say she cries when I leave the room.

  I plan to take her to my vet this week to get her tested for Heartworm. That's a biggie up here, but she needs to get tested before any meds are prescribed.

  I will try to keep in touch. Thanks again, for sending her my way. It was meant to be.

  ~Tammy~

• July 7, 2008

  She officially knows I'm "Mom" and is now bonded to me like Velcro. At first I had to pick her up and put her on the couch or bed so she'd know it was OK to join me. Now, she's there first. She and Simon are getting along fine, and I occasionally find them peacefully sleeping together on the same pillow -- butt to butt! Travis is back now for a few days, and they're also interacting well. All of them are similar in temperament.

  Sassy is due for her first grooming on July 16. My groomer comes to me and does the dogs in her van which she parks in my driveway. She's so busy now I wasn't able to get an appointment until the 16th. I'm sure Sassy is hot with all that hair, but at least my house has AC. Sassy is also very good about letting me brush her and clean out the gunk in her eyes. Her appetite is great, and I try to keep the meals as healthy and interesting as possible. She likes the dog park, and is slated to go to doggie daycare for the first time next week.

  My brand new Nikon digital camera just arrived from Amazon.com a few minutes ago. So as soon as I figure out how to use it, I'll send you some photos via email. Hope all is well in the southland.

  Best Regards,

  ~Tammy~

• July 26, 2008

  Hi, Teresa!

  Sorry I haven't written sooner, but I've been really busy, and I was learning how to use my new digital camera. I'm still not very good at it, but at least you can see that Sassy is alive and well (and I truly believe she's happy, too)!

  I tried to get a shot of Sassy, Simon and Travis the last time Travis was up here for the weekend, but nothing doing. They were like three "perpetual motion" machines. I'm sending one or two of Sassy cuddling up with Simon.

  They are like two peas in a pod, and they are rarely apart from each other. I think he's in love as his nose is permanently welded "you know where." She doesn't seem to mind, but sometimes I think she just sits down to get rid of him. He's like a new dog. No more couch potato. They play with each other nonstop, and everybody sleeps in the bed with me.

  Simon has taught Sassy to look out the back door and bark at birds or the occasional cat that saunters along the top rail of the back fence. Travis has taught her how to raid the dirty clothes hamper and bring all the "unmentionables" downstairs and scatter them throughout the living room -- for maximum embarrassment. She also made "confetti" out of a couple of real estate magazines early on. I think she feels right at home these days.

  She had her first haircut with my groomer last week, and Sandra totally fell in love with her. She said she was very easy to do, and there's never a problem brushing her or cleaning the gunk out of her eyes. She went to daycare Thursday for the first time, and was somewhat shy and timid, but the owners said she held her own.

  Sassy is sweet and affectionate, and eager to please. I can't believe how much I love her in such a short time. Everybody that's met her thinks she's adorable, so she has quite a fan club here in Sonoma. Can't believe it's six weeks. It seems as if she's always been in the family, since the adjustment for everybody was so easy.

  Now let's see if I can actually attach the photos -- and you can open them. Please let me know if you get them OK.

  Hope all is well with you. You and your organization brought a lot of light into my life with Sassy. I love her beyond belief. Thank you again.

  Best Regards,

  ~Tammy~

• March 28, 2009

  Hi, Teresa!

  I guess it's been about one year since you rescued Sassy from the jaws of death. I got a reminder to have her shots updated, so that's how I know the approximate time when Doggie Protective Services had her treated.

  Anyway, she is fine. Getting more comfortable and secure all the time...and I think she's moving up from Princess to Empress. She actually had the audacity to steal a french fry off my plate a couple of weeks ago (while I was sitting there eating, I might add). And this was after she had been fed her dinner AND hand fed a french fry so I could enjoy my dinner in peace. It was actually kind of cute...and no, I didn't take it away from her. I figured if she went to the trouble to steal it... she should enjoy it.

  She continues to refuse to go out in the rain (just like Simon and Travis). And she has also picked up Travis' trick of rubbing one side of his body along the back of my couch (to dry himself off) and then turning around and coming back the other way to dry his other side. This, of course, is usually after they don't go out in the rain. They just looked out the door and saw it. It's actually hilarious to watch...since they never got wet!

  While getting her shots and check-up, Sassy also needed some dentistry. So yesterday she and Simon "had the works." Unfortunately she had 6 extractions...and I had a "cashectomy" of $1165.23 for both of them combined. They're fine. She's a little loopy from the meds today, but it didn't diminish her appetite one little bit.

  She has become quite "flirty" and is always jumping up on the laps on my more handsome male friends. It's actually fun to watch a grown man melt...especially the ones who supposedly "don't like prissy little dogs."

  No news other than that. It's finally stopped raining up here (that's winter in Sonoma) so maybe people will come out now and start buying some homes.

  We're getting ready for Easter. Sassy and Simon have matching grosgrain collars (pink and blue respectively) with cute little white bunny rabbits all over them. Yes, I am sick.

  Hope all is well with you and your organization. Please give my best to Tera. And love and thanks to all from Sassy.

  Tammy, Sassy and Simon

• Hi, Teresa!

  Can you believe it? Sassy and I have been together for a whole year! The official day was Sunday, June 14 and to celebrate I went to San Francisco and took her and Simon to the beach with Travis. Here's a photo. Unfortunately it's a little dark, but I think you can recognize her. Left to right: Sassy, Simon and Travis. Actually Simon is the most difficult to shoot because he's black, and it's hard to get any "definition" when you photograph him.

  The three of them just spent a week together and they truly seem to love each other. Sassy alternates between sleeping with Simon and Travis when Travis is here. And then they all sometimes sleep with me. I guess I'll have to buy a bigger bed one of these days, because Travis has taught everybody how to stretch _out lengthwise (on the diagonal) in order to take up maximum bed space.

  Instead of getting Sassy another celebratory toy or bed or treat (which she certainly doesn't need) I thought I'd give a donation to DPS in her honor. And then I saw "Bandit" and fell in love. So I'm going to give a donation toward his medical costs. Poor little thing. My heart broke when I heard you had to amputate his leg.

  Bandit looks exactly like Travis did when he was a baby. Is he a parti-colored Schnauzer? How is he doing? Do you think he'll recover OK? Please let me know.

  Hope all is well. I love your website and was thrilled to see Sassy on it!

  ~ Tammy ~

• September 15, 2009

  Hi, Teresa!

  It was great seeing Tera and Donna on Saturday (and best of all) having them see Sassy! They seemed thrilled to see her, and they both said she's looks great. It's hard for me to tell, because I see her every day. I do know she's fattened up a bit since I first got her.

  My friends enjoyed meeting and talking with Tera and--as expected--they wanted to scoop up everybody and take them home. Frankly, I thought if that little Brussels Griffon I saw on your website was there I might have fallen in love myself. That's another of my favorite breeds. My friends are on a plane back to Tel Aviv early this afternoon, but they continually talk about returning to the Bay Area. If they do, I know we'd be working on animal rescue together.

  Following the Petsmart reunion we picked up Frank and Travis in SF and then all of us went to Fort Funston which is a huge, beautiful park area where dogs (and people) can take wonderful walks while safely overlooking the ocean. I even let Sassy off leash for a little while and she seemed to be in heaven. Stuck very close to all of us, and would run ahead a tiny bit then look back to make sure her folks were there. She really is adorable. She sticks to me like a barnacle.

  Your organization has a nice set-up in Petsmart. Looked better and more defined than in Petco where I got Sassy. I hope you do well there. If you were a little bit closer I'd actually like to work with you, but the hike from Sonoma is a little far for me to go. But let me know if you ever get to Marin County or Sonoma or Napa.

  That's it for now. Will send photos when I have some really good ones. It's hard to get three dogs in place. I have lots with Sassy and Simon but want to get a few with Travis, too!

  Please keep in touch.

  ~Tammy~

• November 29, 2011

  Hi Teresa!

  As you can see, Sassy and Simon have a very rough life here in Sonoma! Happy Holidays.

  Tammy, Sassy & Simon Owens

• June 12, 2012

  Hi, Teresa!

  Can you believe it...Sassy will be in our little family FOUR YEARS on Thursday! Guess that means Yappy Anniversary to us!

  Senior citizen? I don't think so. She's the most energetic one in the family. I love her more and more as time passes. She has brought us all so much joy.

  Thank you for putting Sassy in my arms and my heart. The photo of her below was taken a few weeks ago.

  Love from us all!

  Sassy, Simon and Tammy