My Life Adventure

In the book, I am telling the story of my life, which starts with me being found in a garbage dump after being abandoned by my first owners. My story ends with euthanasia and death on February 5, 1996, in Boulder, Colorado. I was 18 years old at death, which was a long time to live for a dog like me!

Before you read "My Story," I want to tell you that all pets would enjoy having a story written about their life of memories shared with their owners. Stories are a living testimony to the cherished values that families hold dear, and the place animals have in that family. The portrait of a life story about a special pet will be loved and treasured forever.

"FROM DOGGIE HEAVEN"

My name is "Raggedy Anne" and I have wandered far away from home. I have found a place very bright and beautiful called "Doggie Heaven." I am resting here in the bright light that looks like the colors of a rainbow. It is always daytime and there is no night or darkness here. Now that I have found this wonderful place, I am a happy dog, and I want to tell you about the adventures and experiences that I had while I was on earth.

People described me as an apricot Poodle and Cocker Spaniel mix. I think that maybe my Daddy was a Standard Poodle, and my Mommy a Cocker Spaniel. My size was like that of a medium standard Poodle, and I was a female dog.

I never had any puppies of my own. Early in life, I had an operation to have my ovaries removed. The medical term for this procedure is 'spayed.' That operation was very painful, but I recovered well. " Now I wonder, what it would have been like to be a 'Mama' with some cute little fuzzy pups."

People called me a 'good dog' because of my even temperament. I seldom barked at anyone unless they came on our property. One of my unusual traits was smiling, showing my teeth, and laughing at the same time. I liked to be with people who were kind, loving, and gentle. My Grandpa and Grandma always spoke to me with a kind voice and treated me with respect and kindness.

When the weather was very hot outside, they provided a cool place for me to stay. I didn't know how to turn on the faucet to get water, but I was able to get a fresh drink when I was thirsty because there was always a pan filled with water available for me. Although I had a fur coat, I was always glad to be inside when the weather was cold and wet. I felt sorry for dogs that were left outside when the temperature dropped below zero.

I was born somewhere in Colorado, but my first year of life has vanished from my memory. Someone didn't want me and dumped me beside the road in the mountains near Genesee. I didn't understand what was happening to me, and my owners didn't come back. Being frightened and very hungry, I lived in a garbage dump where I found some scraps of food. I was afraid that I would never see a person who would want me. That lonely feeling made me cry every day, and I was afraid of the dark at night. The howling wolves frightened me, and I thought I could hear them coming toward me. The nights were long, and there wasn't a warm place to sleep. I lay awake shivering all night long, wanting to die.

One day a lady came by and saw me eating from a garbage can. I was so happy to see her that I tried to show my affection by wagging my tail. The tears were streaming down my face. This kind lady tried to coax me into her car because she wanted to take me with her; however, I was too weak to jump into her car. She lifted me into the car and put me beside her on the front seat. I was shaking, trembling, and began to feel sick. It was a horrible feeling, afraid of being tossed out of the car and being left alone again.

While riding in the car, she tried to love me although I was an ugly, skinny dog. Looking like a skeleton made me ashamed to have anyone see me. My ribs and bones were sticking out of my body. I wanted to run and hide from everyone. When we got to her house, I saw many dogs waiting for a bath and haircut. What a surprise! I discovered that the lady earned her money working as a dog groomer. Then I wondered if she would try to give me a bath and haircut. She waited a day until I settled down, and then sure enough she slowly and gently bathed me. That felt so good, and I no longer smelled like garbage. My scent was like a heavenly bottle of perfume that made me feel like a special lady.

She then trimmed my hair and changed my looks from a ragged dog to a real poodle dog. I suppose that is why I got the name of "Raggedy Anne." Then the lady gave me my first taste of real dog food. It was a wonderful feeling to have a full tummy and to smell so good. That night I got to sleep in a very soft and warm bed.

This kind lady had a friend named Carol. She made a phone call to Carol to tell her that she had found a special dog for her. The next day, Carol came to see me and decided to take me home with her. I dreaded another car ride because the motion of riding made me very sick. When we finally arrived at her beautiful home, we were sitting high on top of the mountain in Genesee.

"How could a dog like me be so lucky"? I felt like I had died and gone to "Doggie Heaven" in Genesee. Carol's four children: Scott, Noell, Dawn, and Somer all loved me so very much. They felt so sorry for me and were happy to have an ugly dog. They knew that I would gain some weight and look like a real dog again. Then I wondered if their love would last and if I really wanted to be with people again.

My fear caused me to wonder if they might hit me, or throw me out of a car like my first owner did. That was a horrible experience, and I will never forget the man who dumped me beside the road and then drove off and left me to die. He pushed me out of the car door, and I rolled into a ditch. He didn't even wait to see if I was all right. When he drove away, I had a hard time crawling up the hill to the road. This road led me to the garbage dump. My body was very sore and bruised. "I don't understand how people can be so mean to their pets." Now I hoped my worries would be over because I was having a good life at my new home. The dog treats were so 'tasty,' and I loved the food. There was a special bed to snuggle up and sleep in. I had a big area to walk in so I could get my exercise. I felt like a 'Queen,' living in a castle on top of the mountain.