TWO OLD LADIES
“Mom, you need another dog!” My daughter Victoria always voices her opinion. My husband, Floyd, had passed away in June and I was still up to my elbows in settling everything that I had to do. I had had a Shih Tzu, Chyna Tu, up until last year when she died of heart failure. She was a tiny and loving companion for twelve years and I did
miss her.
Victoria talked to her brother and sisters and the four of them decided that a dog would be a good Christmas present for me and would get me out of my doldrems, so the search began (so I was told) of the various shelters in the Cleveland area.
At the Parma Animal Shelter, they had a Shih Tzu. She was an older dog that had been mistreated. Victoria said, “Come on Mom, we are going to look for your Christmas present” and off we went. First. to a shelter in Cleveland, that was having a huge drive to find homes for animals. All the dogs were too large for me to handle, but lovely
animals with sad faces and begging for a good home and loving family. My daughter would have adopted her fifth animal (she has a Lab, a Golden, a miniature Poodle and sometimes a miniature terrier belonging to my granddaughter) had her husband not warned me that she was NOT to bring home another animal! 2 cats, fish, a rabbit and 4 dogs was enough!
Victoria was on a mission – so we went on to the Parma Animal Shelter. “Mom, they have a Shih Tzu that needs a home. They also, have some other dogs and cats, so you can choose whatever you think that you could handle! We are all chipping in to get you a present for Christmas. You know how hard it is for us to give you anything, you can let us do this .” Wouldn’t you just know it – they were closed by the time that we arrived. “We will go get something to eat and come back”, Victoria pleaded.
When we at last walked into the shelter, we were told where the dogs were. We immediately visited Chloe. She was in a cage, not very friendly, but looked very sad. She was isolated from the other dogs and cats in a separate room. We were given premission to see her in another room. I loved her immediately. We spent some time with Chloe and were told the bad news. Chloe was blind in one eye and had to have medication put in both eyes twice a day. The medication was rather expensive and the shelter made sure that I knew that up front. I was shown how to administer the medication and questioned if I could fit the additional expense in my budget. We left the Parma shelter after the adoption was finalized and we were told when they would be able to release Chloe to me.
Victoria went all out at Pet Smart to outfit my gift in all that was needed. I was stunned at the expense.
Chloe has changed my life. She is a loving friend who does not want to be separated from me for even a minute. She has become accustomed to sitting next to me while I play games on the computer. She stays with me when I am outside in the garden. She goes with me when I get in the car. Chloe has been shopping with me, sitting in the car looking out the opened window until I get done – more than once for over two hours! I have had a terrible time trying to convince her that she is a dog not a human – that she has her food and I have mine! I always wind up sharing with her my food but I DO NOT eat her food! Chloe totally cooperates when I apply the medicines to her eyes. Chloe is by far the smartest dog that I have ever had. She reads my moods perfectly. She is obedient and has a good memory. Chloe is very devoted to me. She does not bite! She likes most people, small children, other dogs and wants to be friends with everyone.
But, Chloe is an old lady – I was told that she was twelve last year. I will be 85 in a few months — SO YES, WE ARE TWO OLD LADIES HAPPY TOGETHER.
