Happy Birthday, Trudy

After our sweet dog Allie passed in 2001,

a search began that September to adopt another one 

 "just like Allie."

Visits to different pet shelters, and traveling all over the metroplex,

always left us feeling disappointed. 

A lot of time was spent viewing pics online until I (not DH) finally settled on a dog named Rex,

who didn't look anything like Allie, but he was a Schnauzer mix at least.

When we went to check out Rex, Dear Heart said an emphatic no. 

After describing and showing a pic of Allie to the Richardson Humane Society rep,

we left our phone number with her, and went to lunch. 

Just as our food arrived, the phone rang.

It was the RHS lady calling to tell us that,

as we were driving away, a little girl and her Mom had walked up with this cutie.

(I felt sad for the little girl who cried and cried because Mom

wouldn't let her keep the dog that she had named Trudy.)

While she seemed quite docile on the way home and in the house (even somewhat boring), we found out very quickly that Trudy was not boring, she was a people person and a "bolter." A door cracked open meant she needed to run. Many times at the beginning, I had to run like the dickens (usually barefoot) through the neighborhood to catch her, and many times, Dear Heart had to get in the car and drive around until he found her.

Trudy enjoyed several years of being the center of attention until the first grandchild came along. Then another, then two more who actually stayed at our house often and took priority over her. I have to say that Trudy has been a real trooper through all these changes in her life tolerating noises, banging, love pats, kisses, etc.

Trudy has a few little quirks about her, too. She has to take a nap with DH every day. She stands and waits for me to make up her bed each night before she will get in, she will stop and scratch the carpet, then sniff, which always causes me to wonder, hmmmm, what in the world is she thinking or smelling? (Even worse, what has traveled there before?) She always joins me in the kitchen when I am cooking, and then very politely stands at a little distance from the table while we eat knowing a very small bite from each of our plates will be saved for her.

Now, at 14, though her joints are stiff, cataracts cloud her eyes, her hearing may be off just a tad, this dog still can, when inspired, run like the wind.

"Tell me again why there's a limit on treats ...
'cause I don't agree."