Enclosed is a donation in memory of my rescued Cocker Wags aka Wiggle Butt. Allow me to share her story. Wags found me in 2004 during one of my 2-3x/weekly rounds of Pitchford Companion Animal Shelter in Long Beach. I was searching for nearly 9 months for the right dog and also having trepidation that I wouldn’t be a good Mom. I wasn’t focused on any particular breed, until the day my little princess found me. After walking into one of the big, crowded, noisy cottages-there was this one matted and timid really sad looking black and white 2 year old cutie with a huge cherry on her right eye. She was not a beauty on the outside, but she had these beautiful longing eyes and what really captured me was the fact she was the only one in this area with about 20 kennels who didn’t bark for attention, but boy did she scream “pick me” louder than any of them with her eyes! Was she deaf-no, just very quiet, shy, scared and withdrawn. It was love at first sight. The shelter was wonderful, they not only spayed her but also took care of the cherry eye. Although this was the first time I adopted a dog on my own Wags and I taught each other. She had suffered abuse during her pre-adoption days and it took my little girl a full 9 months of love and patience before she decided to trust me. Somewhere between 9-11 months after joining me she decided she’d be the boss (or so she thought), and life blossomed for us both. Over the next 6 years we were inseparable. We went on daily walks, visits to the park, camping trips, car rides. She became the princess of the neighborhood, protector of her surroundings. I loved the fact the only time she barked was when someone came on her property. She had a few quirks as we all do-she never like men in uniforms and during the first few months she’d take any mail delivered to the back yard and shred it (even before she paid the bills)! She didn’t like other dogs and didn’t trust children at all. We lived fine with that by avoiding those situations. She was an amazingly quick learner, doing beautifully at doggie classes-we even tried agility, but it was not her thing. She learned a whole routine of tricks for her treats and boy did she adore her toys, balls, belly rubs, and sleeping with Mom. Her tail wagged so hard all the time I thought she would break her hips-thus her new name of Wags. She loved so many things..chasing squirrels, birds, balls, adventures of all sorts, and especially squeaky stuffed toys (she was known to be a kleptomaniac when it came to stuffed animals-once taking 30 of them one by one off a neighbor’s garage sale blanket and depositing them at our front door) and so many people. Especially Aunt Linda who would visit from Boston, always bringing a new little toy in her luggage. She’d go crazy on the way home from the airport-dying to get into the suitcase knowing full well there was a new surprise awaiting her. Such a curious girl-always wanted to know what was in every bag, box, closet, etc. She loved camping with us-so much so-that last year after going on a camping trip to several Utah parks, she had to be bodily removed from the camper four hours after we returned home. Her other favorites were “Nana and Papa” aka Carl and Janet down the street who spoiled her relentlessly. She loved spending time with them especially since they had 4 hands to rub and scratch her rather than my measly two hands-double the spoil and attention. Back and forth between them she’d go. Papa loved to give her treats and we made a daily visit during our walks to get them. Nana was always seeing she had new toys, treats, and spending our holidays with them was so much fun! Nana always had to make her a little princess plate of her own to eat and of course she had presents of her own which she loved to open. Wags was no dog-she believed she was human, and boy she talked with her eyes, better than many people can do verbally. We always knew what she was saying! My princess suffered from seizures, but with great care from her Vet, Dr. Heit at Rossmoor VCA, we got the seizures under excellent control with daily medicine. Never once did she suffer from an ear infection-maybe since the Vet taught me proper care to avoid them. She initially was scared to death each time I took her to the groomer, but she loved the end result-she much preferred short hair-maybe because she didn’t need to be bathed as much as she really was not a water lover. However, she had such a fabulous and patient grooming staff at Rossmoor Pet, headed by Vickie, she came to enjoy her trips to the salon…trotting in instead of needing to be carried-no longer did she shake like a leaf each time I left her there-and oh did she feel great when it was all done. In August a series of events occurred (her normal sitters-Nana and Papa- recently retired and went on an Alaskan cruise, I was having some work done on my home) and I decided to bring my baby with me on vacation to the Connecticut shore for three weeks. We stayed in a little beach front family cottage in Old Lyme and we had 3 weeks of bliss. Taking LONG 2-3 hour walks on the beach, playing in the tide pools, examining all the nooks and crannies in the rocks, running, running, running, playing ball, and keeping up with the 12 or so family and friends who were coming and going. We had a BLAST! She was always surprising me, and one day when we were all walking on the beach, Wags decided she would SWIM beside us instead of walk! The girl who hated water decided it was great after all-6 years later. She learned to jump the waves, fetch the ball in the water and I would have to fight with her each day to get her off the beach-it was amazing! She loved eating swordfish and lobster and even her new gifts from Aunt Linda-her own beach chair, bathing suit and hat! And all those hands to give her belly rubs, slip her treats, and pamper her as she deserved. Now the heartbreaker, on Tuesday 9/14/2010, 5 days after returning home my four legged soul mate ran out the door. Normally this wasn’t a problem as she never left the yard without me. As timing would have it, a delivery truck-the only one she ever chased, drove up the street, and she ran under the rear wheel-instantly she was gone. I knew it immediately upon picking her up within a second of seeing it happen. The poor delivery man was as upset as I -he too is a dog lover. Although it wasn’t his fault at all, I know he too suffers from the tragedy. Our hearts are broken, my house and bed are empty without her. No longer is my girl there to greet me as though I’ve been gone for years, nor give me something to laugh about each day; those inquisitive eyes closed forever. She turned out be a beauty too-as you can see in the attached “Katie Hepburn” pose. The only way I can go on is to focus on the fabulous times we had, the memories we made. She went out on top and maybe she felt it was time to check things out in doggie heaven and make room for another rescue to find a home. I know the last thing she’d allow is moping, the dog with such a love for life, people, and adventure! She sure brought us all (especially her Mom) so much happiness in our 6 years together. She spoiled me rotten with joy and will always be in my heart! I am enclosing a couple of pix from our last trip together (one week before leaving me). In one she is absolutely out cold after a busy day at the beach-on her new beach chair sporting her new outfit from Aunt Linda. The second one she’s imitating “Katie” Hepburn (who lived on the CT shore), she is regal and serene. Keep up the great work, I hope this donation in Wags’ memory helps and perhaps I’ll find my next 4 legged friend through your great organization! Jennifer P. Long Beach, CA