[Redbird]

As I was looking at my dog today, I relized just how old he is getting. Wiley is a german shepherd mix that we got from the kennel ten years ago, when he was nine months old. He had been found wandering the steets of Chicago, thought to be abused by a bearded man- he was terrified of all men with facial hair. He was fourty pounds underweight, smelled terribly, had kennel cough and fleas. We looked for months for a dog, and on our last visit to the kennel, we found him: a smelly, skinny, sick, lethargic dog. We bought him for fifty dollars, and brought him home, only to have the neighbors laugh at him. They had just bought an Ariedale from a breeder for five HUNDRED dollars. Ignoring them, we gave Wiley a bath, then another, and then yet another... until he smelled somewhat okay. Over the next few years, Wiley filled out, and his coat grew shiny. He was a well-mannered and smart dog. The neighbor's dog, who was $450 more than Wiley, was eccentric, annoying, bratty, and disobedient. Wiley and Maddie (the Ariedale) went to the same exact obedience class, Wiley graduated the top of his class. Maddie flunked. We then later moved out into the country (sorta). We had, and still have, two acres of open land- not fenced. Wiley hasn't stepped out of his yard since the day we brought him here. Over the years, he's grown to be my best friend. I've taught him everything from sit to jump, spin to play dead, crawl to touch. The only thing I haven't been able to teach him is "fetch the newspaper"... because he won't pick up anything that's not his. So, as I watched him today, he still is the same dog that he was when we got him. I was four. But his eyes are getting cloudy, his muzzle is nearly all gray. His ears are tipped with silver, and the brown on his legs is getting lighter. But he still chases his tennis ball all day, walks off-leash past other dogs, and he will stay in the same spot for hours if I ask him to. He's nearly eleven, but he still is my best friend... like no other dog could ever be. This is a dedication to him, the most patient, willing, and trusting dog in the world. Despite his bad first year, he has trusted again. So, this is also a hint to everyone: adopt from the kennel. Any of those dogs could become the best thing ever: Wiley was an agility and obedience champion before he injured his knee. Breeders do not always guarentee you will have a smart, obedient, or even intelligent dog.

Comments are appreciated

[Redbird]

oh yes... forgot to mention (got caught up talking... again.) this was done only with a laptop touchpad- that's it. No mouse, no tablet, no nothing. So now I have a major hand cramp. Oh well. It was worth it.

[Yagari <3]

Wow....pure poetry!"Clap,clap,clap!" That brang tears to my eyes!Beauitiful picture!It should be moved to Interimidate!

[Redbird]

Wow....pure poetry!"Clap,clap,clap!" That brang tears to my eyes!Beauitiful picture!It should be moved to Interimidate!

awww... thank you. He means the world to me, so it's nice to have such a wonderful comment. And you think intermediate...? That makes me even happier. You just made my day. <3

[Yagari <3]

Im glad to!

My sisters dog,Tasha, is a 14 year old Kiesh Hound.My sister and Tasha practicaly grew up togather,she adopted Tasha when she was just a puppy!

[~converseluvs~]

WOW!
That WAS SUCH touching story and picture! I absolutely love it!
You are an intermediate!
I have a tablet and my drawings are HORRIBLE!
yours are REALLY GOOD!
The story really brought tears to me and I really loved the story that I read it over and over again!
VERY WELL DONE!
-converselover

[Airz]

Amazing! Give Wiley a big hug for me! He's awesome! And great pic of him!

I know exactly how you feel - I have my 'puppy' Crystal, she is a 12 year old Dalmation-Black lab mix. They got her before I was born! xD They got her from these very nice people whose dogs had puppies. Their pups were jumping and squeling, very rambuntious - but not Crystal. She was calm and quiet. But when she came home, boy was she crazy! She is still that way, silly and energetic, not to mention fat! xD She look more Dalmation, because you could NEVER EVER guess she was part Lab. She has a perfect diamond shape in black on her forehead, hence her name - Crystal Diamond _______ (last name). Whenever she is taking a nap or something, I'll say "Give the baby a kiss on her diamond!" and do so. WEEEE! Puppies rule! zD

[Scoobs]

You made me want to draw a picture of my dog <3

[Redbird]

WOW!
That WAS SUCH touching story and picture! I absolutely love it!
You are an intermediate!
I have a tablet and my drawings are HORRIBLE!
yours are REALLY GOOD!
The story really brought tears to me and I really loved the story that I read it over and over again!
VERY WELL DONE!
-converselover

Thank you so much!! I really tried to make a good dedication to him... and if you guys think I should be in intermediate, that just makes me happy.... wow.

[animalswhispers]

oh wow, sad yet beautiful. and that should be moved to intermidate, i got my dog from a breeder, but she is a great buddy, the ironic thing was, her name is angel, yet her Halloween costume was a devil