Mike's Gotcha Day - May 14, 1997 - And Mike's Bridge Day

EDITING TO SAY... I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT I POSTED THIS AT 11:30 ON THE 13TH... FOR SOME REASON, JUST NOW, I LOOKED AND DIDN'T SEE IT ON THE BLOG... OH MAN... I SOMEHOW MISSED POSTING THIS ON MIKE'S GOTCHA DAY!!! I'M REALLY UPSET... SOOOOOO NOW... I WILL ADD THE NOTES FOR TODAY ON THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST SO YOU DON'T MISS IT ALL. IT IS NOW MAY 16TH AT 11:45 A.M.



Well tomorrow, May 14th, is Mike's "Gotcha Day". I don't know if I'll have a chance to post tomorrow since I have to be at work really early and don't know how long I'll be there, so I wanted to post this tonight.


Twelve years ago tomorrow, I saw my sweet boy's picture in the local suburban rag newspaper that comes out once a week. They sometimes put pictures in there of dogs that need homes before they take them to the city kennel (for God knows what kind of ending). I was at work when I saw the picture, and at lunch time, I went to the kennel where they keep the dogs. It was love at first sight. I had met the guy who was tending the dogs (scheduled to go to the pound the next day). His name was Dan Nagy. I told Dan I wanted "Puff" (what a name huh?), but I had a 4 year old Grandson (Christopher) and wanted to make sure he was good with kids. So I asked Dan to "PLEASE" don't give him to anyone else until I come back after work with my Grandson. He said he couldn't promise, so get there as soon as I could, plus he was only going to be there until 5:00, and the dogs were going to the pound first thing in the morning.

Thank God my boss and his wife were both dog lovers, and when I came back from lunch they could see I was in love. They let me off work an hour and a half early so I had time to pick Chris up and go to the kennel.

When Chris and I got there, Dan was walking "Puff" and a husky collie mix (ironically named "Mike") on the property, and neither dog was on a leash. Both dogs came running up to us and (of course) it was love at first sight for "Puff" and Christopher too.

As we were petting them, something caught (big) Mike's eye, and he took off across Lorain Road... it's a horribly busy 5 lane road, and little "Puff" took off after him. It was a miracle that they got across without getting hit. We all gasped for air while we watched as both dogs (little and big) managed to zig zag across without getting hit. Dan was worried and said, "If anything happens to those dogs, it'll be my ass." Well... he should never have had them out without being leashed. As we stood there waiting for traffic to slow down so we could cross the street... "Mike" came running back to our side of the street, but little "Puff" was no where to be seen. I got hold of "Mike's" collar and led him to Dan, and I took a leash from him, and Chris and I carefully went across this busy street to see if we could find the little one.

Chris and I looked and looked... called him, "Puff.. here Puff... common boy"... nothing. We walked around the back of the restaurant that was there and through the car lot next door. Nothing. I was getting ready to head back across the street and told Chris, "Sweetie, if we don't find him, maybe we're not suppose to get him." My heart was breaking because I already loved him so much. Then Chris said, "Grandma... I hear him." "Where honey?" "I think from over there." And he pointed to the building toward the back of the property... sure enough, right on the corner of the building and their parking lot, was this adorable little white boy... looking so lost and sad. Chris wanted to run after him, but I stopped him and said, "no, let's just scootch down and call him to us." So that's what we did, and sure enough... "Puff" came running up to us. I can't begin to tell you how relieved I was.

"Puff" was giving both of us kisses all over our faces, and both of us laughed like crazy. We went back to where the car was, and I told Dan... "Definitely... I want him." I asked about his background. Dan told me a couple who was getting a divorce had dropped him off there a couple days earlier. Neither one wanted to keep him. He said (and the vet also said) he was about a year old. He was dirty and smelly... but he happily rode in the back seat with Chris. Oh my God... what a happy day... the best day of my life (right up there with the day my kids were born).

The day was cold, 50 degrees, windy and drizzling but still the happiest day I had had in years. I ended up in the hospital two days later with pneumonia, but he was worth it.

I took Chris home. Michelle went crazy for him. She couldn't wait to give him a bath, so, together, we put him in the tub and gave him his first bath. What joy that was... seriously. He was just so adorable... even totally soaked and looking like a drowned rat... he was already "My Boy"!!!

After we had finished bathing and playing at Michelle's for quite awhile, I took him home. Charlie was sound asleep on the couch. I let "Puff" off the leash, and he immediately ran up to Charlie and woke him up with millions of kisses all over his face. I had to laugh at the shock on Charlie's face. He had no idea I was even getting a dog, and to wake up with those kisses, well... I wish I had a camera.

I knew as soon as I saw him, that this dog was NOT a PUFF!!! He went through a couple of names... Libra (the name of my favorite dog in the past... a white border collie mix, Pugsly... a name Charlie tried, and a couple of others. But then Christopher said... "HIS NAME IS MIKE"!!! Well... Chris said it with such determination, and he looked like a MIKE and walked like a MIKE and acted like a MIKE... HIS NAME WAS MIKE! And it was the best name in the world for the best dog in the world.

I cannot even imagine anyone giving that beautiful boy up and just leaving him at the pound like that... especially knowing that if he didn't find a home, he would have gone to the city dog pound to be put to sleep. Even Joanne, when she came to help him go to the bridge, said, "how could anyone ever have given him up?" ... My answer? "I don't know... but they missed out on 13 beautiful years with the best dog in the world".

I know you can't read the caption in the newspaper that I've put up here, but the part that it reads for my boy reads as follows:

"A real charmer at the North Olmsted Animal Shelter this week. He's a West Highland Terrier named Puff. About one year old, 25 to 30 pounds, housebroken and looking for a wonderful home with people who will love and appreciate his gentle, sweet demeanor."

Well... they were 100% truthful in their description. A Charmer. Gentle. Sweet. And I "think" Mike got the home he was looking for. God knows we loved and appreciated him more than anyone could ever imagine.

The last twelve years with him were so amazing. We were together through everything... good and bad... no matter what was going on, our love was always strong enough to get us through. And when times really got tough, and there was a chance at being homeless... I promised him we'd sleep in the car before I'd let anyone take him from me (since most places at that time wouldn't allow dogs). If they couldn't accept my dog, I wouldn't consider renting there no matter if it was affordable or not. They could have "given" me an apartment, but if Mike couldn't go with me... I didn't go either. Yep, we were a pair we were. I miss him so much. I can't begin to tell you how much.

If I wait another 45 minutes to post this, it will officially be his Gotcha Day, but I really have to get to bed, so this will have to do.

Happy Gotcha Day my love. I Thank God I saw the paper that day. I Thank God Chris was able to hear you next to that building. I Thank God we had twelve wonderful years together. I Thank God you never gave up on me. I Thank God you forgave me when I had to leave you at the vet's hospital. And I Thank God He brought us together and blessed me with your love. You were one of a kind buddy... my buddy, my pal, my friend, my love. I miss you big boy. You were the best.

*****

I can't understand what happened here. When I posted about Mike's Gotcha Day.. I check it and saw that it WAS posted. But now, when I came to post again ... it was gone. (wish they had icons on here... :-( )

Well... today is one month without my boy. It seems like forever, but then again it seems like just yesterday. I honestly don't know how I'm doing with all of this. I know it will take time, but I really don't want to go through it all... I just want him back.

Gidget is doing all right (I think). I know she still misses her brother. She has stopped looking behind the couch for him, but I know she still wishes he was here... she still goes in the bedroom in the morning looking for him. I think she misses him most when she wants to play tug... I play tug with her, but I'm sure my growls are nothing to her in comparison to Mike's "vicious" growls. And there's no-one to jump on his back or head and dare him to chase her. I could tell she's pretty lonely at times.

Please say a prayer for my brother's dog, Mikey. He's a golden-doodle. He stopped eating on Tuesday and started bleeding from the rectum on Thursday and had been very lethargic. They took him to the vet for x-rays, but nothing was showing that looked wrong. They sent him home, and he got worse on Friday so back to the vet's. They kept him, and now we're still waiting to hear what's going on with him.

This is going to be short... I've got to go give Miss Gidget some attention. She doesn't realize that I'm posting, and she doesn't really care... all she cares about is playing right now.

Again, thank you all for keeping up with everything here. I "truly" appreciate your friendship and love each and every one of you.

Love & Blessings,
Joanna, (Angel) Mike & Little Miss Gidget