12/19/05: Willie and his buddy Wolfie came into foster care last night. We have Willie at our home and Wolfie is at another foster home. I?m going to let Willie tell his story?..

Hi, it?s me Willie! I?m a bit confused, but let me tell you what I know for sure. From what all the humans have been talking about, our parents, who are elderly, could no longer take care of us. So, their granddaughter, God bless her, called this fabulous group known as RAGOM, and they are going to find us a new home. I was hoping to be able to stay with my friend, Wolfie, but that just didn?t work out. Honestly, if it helps us find a new forever home quicker, then I?m all for it!

I am 8 years old and 67 lbs. My foster family says I am a beautiful dark red with wispy feathering. I?m medium size?not as big as the resident dog that lives here. Geeeezz, he?s a big boy :) I went to the vet today and I checked out just about perfect!! The doc says I do need a little surgery this week?something about a neuter job. I thought everything?s been working fine, but RAGOM insists I have it done, so fine. My ears look great, hips are great and they took some blood to do a workup. Something about me being a senior they have to really check me out. My foster mom will get the results soon and I?ll let you know. I?m betting everything is just fine.

The biggest change for me in the past 24 hours has been being inside!! I was an outside dog before, but RAGOM said no-no to that, so I get to be inside with the humans!! Yeah!! When I first arrived here I sat by the porch door wanting to go back outside. However, by the end of the evening, the warm indoors was feeling great!! Foster mom would let us outside to do our business and I came right back in when she called! I?m liking this indoor stuff!! Before the end of the night, I was jumping up on the bed lying next to foster mom and resident dog. When the lights went off, we both slept on the floor next to the bed. Boy, I was tired. I haven?t had much of an appetite yet, but foster mom added some canned food to the dry food and that was yummy! I ate the whole bowl!

There are these funky things in the house called stairs. I?m not sure if I?ve ever walked up and down stairs before. However, the teenagers worked with me today and I think I get how to go up and down now pretty good! Also, the ceramic and tile floors have been a bit tricky, but I?ve mastered those too!! Oh, I almost forgot to tell you?.I got a bath last night. Once foster mom and the teenager lifted me in the tub, I did great! It was scary, but it felt great!! I smell terrific and my fur shines!!

Resident dog, Bogie and I are getting along pretty good. We are both 8 years old, so we like to play but not all the time!! We?d prefer being petted 24/7. We played out in the snow today?I think I saw foster mom inside watching us and laughing. I guess it must have been some kind of sight seeing 2 old guys rolling around in the snow. We did have our first little tiff tonight. I found out, the hard way, that Bogie doesn?t want me taking his favorite toys! How was I supposed to know which toys are his favorite? He really should learn to share better.

Well, I?m looking forward to Christmas?..we are going ?up north?, wherever that is, to visit family and 2 more dogs!! Foster mom says that after Christmas I will be ready for my new FOREVER family. I can?t wait to meet them!!