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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>Reflections on our first few months with Snoopy.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So many firsts ….<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>First time we fed him …. and he screamed and attacked Cyrus and my husband and I jumped in between them and pulled them apart and realized that poor Snoopy was so hungry and scared he was trembling.<o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>First time he saw the backyard … oh he was in heaven.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You could just see it on his face.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He inspected every blade of grass and every flower and every tree and every inch of that yard and you could see how much it pleased him.<o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>First (and only) time he went potty in the house.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>BAD DADPERSON!!!!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Who just stood there and stared at Snoopy as he hopped on one foot and then the other by the sliding glass door and asked to be let out.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Snoopy had only been in our home TWO days and had forgotten where the dog door was and needed to go out … it was first thing in the morning and he REALLY had to go and my husband just stood there and looked at him until poor Snoopy couldn’t wait any more and just peed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Poor baby … it has never happened again.<o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>First time he played … really played.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Out in the backyard and I picked up a ball and threw it <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and he pranced over to it and picked it up and brought it back and when I threw it again he HOWLED and charged after it and Cyrus wouldn’t play anymore because he doesn’t like loud noises (he has since become largely immune to the howl) but Snoopy was just SO happy he was howling and bouncing and running and grinning and we realized that Snoopy probably hadn’t played in a very long time.</FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>First time we left both dogs home alone together for the day and came home ... and they were happy and fine.</FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>First time Snoopy stole my daughters underwear and came charging down the hall tossing it into the air and catching it (he still does this if she leaves them on the floor ... GOOD dog!)</FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>First time I posted on the drool …. and so many nice people wrote to welcome us.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And I’m sure so many more laughed hysterically at what we’d gotten ourselves into when we let a pretty face charm us into drastically and forever changing our lives (for the better … albeit crazier).<o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>First time he and Cyrus cuddled.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That took a while.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When we brought Snoopy home he smelled like the dog pound and Cyrus does NOT like that smell (he came from there) and we couldn’t give Snoopy a bath for a week because they had just neutered him that day.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Snoopy REALLY wanted to be friends (or at least not be enemies with the HUGE dog who lived here already) and Cyrus was standoffish to say the least.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Then there was the howling and the food aggression and the sharing of the people ... and Cyrus was nearly 7 … it took a few weeks before we found them laying down together and touching.<o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>First time we all cuddled.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Oh, that was SO sad.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was laying down on the floor with the two dogs and my husband laid down on the floor with us and the four of us were all cuddled up and Snoopy was on his back and I said to him “Snoopy, can you feel the love?”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Well, Snoopy looked at me and he rolled over and he just started to sob!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I’ve never, in my life, heard a dog cry like that … it sounded like a HUMAN SOBBING!!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At first I thought he was hurt somehow and I started to check him out but my husband said “honey, he’s just emotional.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He cried like that for a while.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>After that when we laid down and cuddled him he would melt into our arms … but only for a couple of minutes and then he’d start to moan.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These days he likes to cuddle, he’s a snuggle basset.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Last week I told him it was ok to remember Diane (the name of his momPerson who died a year ago which set the stage for a long period of being passed around and finally ending up homeless before he came to us) and that her memory should be for blessing and that she would be happy to know he was happy and loved now.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He doesn’t need to forget her and we hope he can enjoy her memory now.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Call me crazy but I believe he understood … and he doesn’t get as overwhelmed with his sadness when we cuddle him now.<o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>First time Snoopy went after Cyrus over food and I had my hands full so I just told him to knock it off …. and he actually DID knock it off and everything was fine and I didn’t have to do anything more.<o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri>First time Snoopy had Cyrus at a disadvantage (Cyrus came home from the hospital all doped up) and he reacted by being sweet and supportive and loving and didn’t howl once all night after we gave him his Cyrus back.<o:p></o:p></FONT></P></DIV></div></body></html>