BSR Alum Dixie 1264 by Dennis & Charlotte Sullivan
Bio: Dixie was a 10-year-old female Boykin whose family situation changed, leading to her coming into BSR's care. Her needs were primarily for better socialization and training. Ultimately, she was placed as a special needs dog with a retired couple who had the time and experience to work on settling her into their lives and to help her adjust to all the changes around her.
2020 Update! I asked my new Dad if he would write this email to you to tell you thanks for helping me find my new home! It’s FANTASTIC! My new Mom and Dad helped me settle right in the very first day and they loooove me sooo much! I got my own bed in front of the fireplace in the family room and a brand new kennel in the room where Mom and Dad sleep (so I can keep an eye on them while we all go to sleep at night)...and, boy do I sleep well after our activities each day!
We all get up early and Dad and I head outside so I can take care of the necessaries while Mom enjoys her coffee. When Dad and I come back inside, I usually grab one of my new toys and play until it’s time for my breakfast. Can you believe Mom and Dad bought me new toys and even some of the neighbors brought me new toys too! (My favorite is a squirrel that squeaks! WOW!)
Mom heads out to walk with some of her lady friends every morning for about an hour and when she gets home, Dad and I go out for our morning walk together. Dad says I have really improved in walking by his side. I think he tricked me into doing that with yummy treats and a new harness that, when I walk too fast in front of him, the leash turns me around to face him. Oh well, I liked the security of knowing where he is all the time during our walks anyway! AND, I also have a brand new RED RAINCOAT that keeps me mostly dry if it’s rainy, and it has a fleece lining to keep me warm when it’s BRRRR outside.
But, my favorite thing is when we get back home and Dad and I play fetch with my tennis balls. Dad says I’m really, really good at it, too! Sometimes he tells me I’m the Boykin equivalent of Willie Mays (whoever that is) because I can run fast and catch my tennis ball over my shoulder, scoop up the ball on the first hop running away from Dad, or grab it on the fly almost every time!
Dad lets me ride with him on errands, unless he’s got to go somewhere that won’t let me go inside, and then I get girl time with Mom. I especially like to be with Mom in the kitchen while she’s cooking in case she drops some good stuff on the floor! On really nice days Mom and Dad have taken me out to lunch with them, and I try to be on my best behavior and always sit close to Dad (because he’ll slip me a treat several times during lunch if I’m being really good). But, don’t think it’s all a bed of roses; I had gained a little weight before I came to live with them AND THEY PUT ME ON A DIET! I am getting a new brand of food that my doctor recommended and it’s really good, but they only give me a certain amount of it at a time (Dad actually uses a small measuring scoop even though I’ve told him to just pour the food into my bowl until I tell him to stop! I’ve even used my “puppy-dog eyes” on him, but he just won’t listen!!!) I will have to say that I’ve got a lot more energy now and Mom and Dad tell me I’m really boo-tee-full all the time, so I guess this diet thing isn’t all bad.
On most afternoons Dad and I play fetch at least one or two more times and then I take a nap for an hour or so before Mom, Dad and I go for a family walk around the neighborhood. Dad has been helping me learn to be more sociable with other dogs during what he calls “meet and greet” encounters, and I think I’m starting to get the hang of it now (and if I’m rude and slip up sometimes he’s got my back and also that dang harness that turns me back towards him and away from whatever dog I was being rude to...not a position I like to put myself into!)
I know I’m being long-winded but there’s one more thing I’ve just got to tell you...we’ve got a BIG BOAT! I’m so ‘cited to have room to move around the boat and it doesn’t even rock around. I’ve got my own kennel in what is called the "Aft Stateroom" with Mom and Dad! While we haven’t taken a trip yet since I’ve been here, when we do there’s even a little boat called a dinghy that Dad says we can use to go ashore on if we want to do that. Dad says I’ve also got to learn to use a special place on the boat to take care of my necessaries and that he will work with me to learn to do that. Next Spring Dad says that I will be able to swim right off of our dock but that I’ll need to wear my new life jacket until I get used to the surroundings and show him how well I can swim. I’m really looking forward to that!
Well, I could go on and on about the fun things we have been doing but my main reason for having Dad write to you was to let you know I’m doin’ great and you don’t need to worry ‘bout me! I also want to thank you for helping me to find my dream home! I loooove my new Mom and Dad and I wish that all of my Boykin relatives who need to find new homes are as lucky as I have been! Thank you so much!
Love,
Dixie
P.S. Dixie asked that I send you a few pictures. We are the lucky ones to have found Dixie through BSR. Thank you, Jeannine and BSR for your work in connecting Dixie and others like her with very grateful families! Merry Christmas!