A Tender Story

My dad sent me this email:


They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie as I looked at him lying in

his pen. the shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly.

I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the

small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when

you pass them on the street.



But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life

here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I

had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said

they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who

had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that

meant. They must've thought I did.



But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie

and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of

which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes, and a sealed letter from his

previous owner.. See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got

home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to

give him to adjust to his

new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe

we were too much alike.



For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis balls - he wouldn't go

anywhere without two stuffed in his mouth) got tossed in with all of my

other unpacked boxes. I guess I didn't really think he'd need all his old

stuff, that I'd get him new things once he

settled in. but it became pretty clear pretty soon that he wasn't going

to.



I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he knew, ones like "sit" and

"stay" and "come" and "heel," and he'd follow

them - when he felt like it. He never really seemed to listen when I called

his name - sure, he'd look in my direction after the fourth of fifth time I

said it, but then he'd just go back to doing whatever. When I'd ask again,

you could almost see him sigh and then grudgingly obey.



This just wasn't going to work. He chewed a couple shoes and some unpacked

boxes. I was a little too stern with him and he resented it, I could tell.

The friction got so bad that I couldn't wait for the two weeks to be up, and

when it was, I was in full-on search mode for my cellphone amid all of my

unpacked stuff. I remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the guest

room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the "damn dog probably hid

it on me."



Finally I found it, but before I could punch up the shelter's number, I also

found his pad and other toys from the shelter.. I tossed the pad in

Reggie's direction and he snuffed it and wagged, some of the most enthusiasm

I'd seen since bringing him home. But

then I called, "Hey, Reggie, you like that? Come here and I'll give you a

treat." Instead, he sort of glanced in my direction - maybe "glared" is

more accurate - and then gave a discontented sigh and flopped down. With

his back to me.



Well, that's not going to do it either, I thought. And I punched the

shelter phone number.



But I hung up when I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten

about that, too. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your

previous owner has any advice.".........

_______________________________________



To Whoever Gets My Dog:

Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the

shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner...

I'm not even happy writing it. If you're reading this, it means I just got

back from my last car ride with my Lab after dropping him off at the

shelter. He knew something was different. I have packed up his pad and

toys before and set them by the back door before a trip, but this time...

it's like he knew something was wrong. And something is wrong... which is

why I have to go to try to make it right.



So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with

him and he with you.



First, he loves tennis balls. the more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's

part squirrel, the way he hordes them. He usually always

has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it

yet. Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after it, so be

careful - really don't do it by any roads. I made that mistake once, and it

almost cost him dearly.



Next, commands. Maybe the shelter staff already told you, but I'll go over

them again: Reggie knows the obvious ones -

"sit," "stay," "come," "heel." He knows hand signals: "back" to turn

around and go back when you put your hand straight up; and "over" if you put

your hand out right or left. "Shake" for shaking water off, and "paw" for a

high-five. He does "down" when he feels like lying down - I bet you could

work on that with him some more. He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and

"treat" like nobody's business.



I trained Reggie with small food treats. Nothing opens his ears like little

pieces of hot dog.



Feeding schedule: twice a day, once about seven in the morning, and again

at six in the evening. Regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the

brand.



He's up on his shots. Call the clinic on 9th Street and update his info with

yours; they'll make sure to send you reminders for when

he's due. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in

the car - I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he

knows.



Finally, give him some time. I've never been married, so it's only been

Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere

with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits

well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be

around people, and me most especially.



Which means that this transition is going to be hard, with him going to live

with someone new.



And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you.....



His name's not Reggie.



I don't know what made me do it, but when I dropped him off at the shelter,

I told them his name was Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and

will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. but I just couldn't bear to

give them his real name. For me to do that, it seemed so final, that

handing him over to the shelter was as good as me admitting that I'd never

see him again. And if I end up coming back, getting him, and tearing up

this letter, it means everything's fine. But if someone else is reading it,

well... well it means that his new owner should know his real name. It'll

help you bond with him. Who knows, maybe you'll even notice a change in his

demeanor if he's been giving you problems.



His real name is Tank. Because that is what I drive.



Again, if you're reading this and you're from the area, maybe my name has

been on the news. I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie"

available for adoption until they received word from my company commander.

See, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank

with... and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to

Iraq, that they make one phone call the shelter... in the "event"... to

tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily,

my colonel is a dog guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He

said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good

on his word.



Well, this letter is getting to downright depressing, even though, frankly,

I'm just writing it for my dog. I couldn't imagine if I was

writing it for a wife and kids and family. but still, Tank has been my

family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my

family.



And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family and that he

will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.



That unconditional love from a dog is what I took with me to Iraq as an

inspiration to do something selfless, to protect innocent people from those

who would do terrible things... and to keep those terrible people from

coming over here. If I had to give up Tank in order to do it, I am glad to

have done so. He was my example of service and of love. I hope I honored

him by my service to my country and comrades.



All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this

letter off at the shelter. I don't think I'll say another

good-bye to Tank, though. I cried too much the first time. Maybe I'll peek

in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.



Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss

goodnight - every night - from me.



Thank you, Paul Mallory

_____________________________________



I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure I had heard

of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even

new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and

posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three

buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.



I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at

the dog.



"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.



The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.



"C'mere boy."



He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He

sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard

in months.



"Tank," I whispered.



His tail swished.



I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered,

his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just

seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my

face into his scruff and hugged him.



"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank

reached up and licked my cheek. "So whatdaya say we play some ball? His

ears perked again. "Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?" Tank tore from my

hands and disappeared in the next room.



And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.

Keep your Dog Warm

With the cooling temperatures, it reminds me that more dog jackets and sweaters are need at Poochieheaven.

Recently, some new dog coats and jackets have been added. Some are great for the fall weather, while other are more appropriate for the cold winter weather.

Buy early to make sure you get the size you need!

Soft Dog Blankets

Duke loves laying on blankets, sometimes more than his bed. I of course, dislike it when he sleeps on my that make it too the floor because of all the dog hair. Thus we have added some new dog blankets, so that every dog can have their own blanket!

The blankets for dogs that we have range from small carrier sized blankets to large bed sized dog blankets. So whatever you needing you will be able to find it!

Don't forget to take a look at our dog beds too!

Does your Dog have Skin Issues?

Many dogs have issues with their skin and hair, whether it is allergies, dry skin, or matted hair. The dog shampoo and condition that we have at Poochieheaven contains ingredients that will help with many common aliments. Below are some explanations on what these ingredients will do to your pet's hair and skin.

Lavender Oil- helps to relax and destress, has healing properties, helps to sooth irritations, helps to brighten coat and reduce tear stains

Eucalyptus Oil- revitalizes, has disinfectant and antiseptic properties

Tea Tree Oil- Has antiseptic and anti fungal properties

Citronella Oil- plant based insect repellent

Peppermint Oil- helps stimulate the lymphatic system, cooling properties help relieve itching and irritation

New Dog Leashes

Some people really enjoy the freedom that dogs get when they are on Flexi leashes. We have added some new designer dog leashes that are also the adjustable leashes so you can control if your dog is right next to you or can explore the area around you.

Flexi leashes are just one of many different kinds of dog leashes available on the market. Please contact us if you have any questions about which one is best for you and your dog.

Dog Wedding Clothes

I had a wedding this past weekend for one of my best friends. She loves her dog as much as I love mine and included him in some pictures before the wedding. He is an adorable black lab mix they rescued and she had him wear a white bow tie. It was very elegant and looked great against his black fur.

I told her she has to send me a picture so I can post.

Congrats Darby!

View all Dog Wedding Attire.

Pet Diary

Another cute email I received.

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary......

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 PM - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 PM - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 PM - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 PM - Milk Bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 PM - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 PM - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 PM - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat 's Daily Diary...

-Day 983 of my captivity...
-My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects..
-They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.
-Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.
-The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.
-In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.
-Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. The buttheads.
-There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.
-Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs. -I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

Personalized Dog T-Shirts

We have recently added a new ADORABLE personalized dog tee shirt. With these shirts you can either have your dog's name or initial. These are custom made when you, so please allow for some time.

Not only do you get to have your dog's name, you can choose the color and the logo design.

These are available for dogs up to 60lbs. These shirts would also look great on cats!

Personalized Dog Shirt

Invisible Toys

I got this email titled Invisible Toys. It has cats in posese that looks like they are doing something, but you just can't see it. I think it is pretty cute!

New Nina Ottosson Dog Toys

Poochieheaven has carried the original wooden Nina Ottosson Dog Toys for a few months and we have recently added the new plastic Nina Ottosson Interactive Dog Toys.

While there is less variety in the plastic toys, they offer you the chance to buy these amazing toys at a reduced price to see if your dogs likes them before investing in the more expensive (and heavier) wooden toys.

Nina Ottosson dog toys are a great way to challenge your dog's mind. They will keep your dog busy while you are trying to get work done and will make your dog think, which is great for a dog that has to spend most of its time indoors.

See all Interactive Dog Toys

Bisket Baskets

Are you looking for an unique gift? Do you need a last minute gift but don't want to go to the store or don't have time to think of a gift?

I have found the option for you! Bisket Baskets has a huge selection of gift baskets for babies, corporate gifts, pets, pet lovers, & much more!

All you need to do is pick the package you want, choose how you want it presented and they will ship it to your recipient. They even shrink wrap it for delivery so that it looks just as great when they received it as it does in the picture!

I know we have all had those moments when you can't think of what you get your loved ones and will walk around the store for hours trying to think of the perfect thing. Now visit Bisket Basket for the perfect gift for any occassion.

$20 off Bessie & Barnie Dog Beds

Are you looking for a high quality dog bed that is made in the USA?

These fabuluos beds are available in three different styles and come in many different colors and patterns.

They are available in a tiny (20" diameter) to huge (60" diameter).

Beautiful beds at a great price!

View all Bessie & Barnie Dog Beds