Tipo is our sweet, older gentleman...Chihuahua. He came into our lives as a surrendered little guy of 5 years old. He and his sister were at the Humane Society where we were living in WI. When I called to see if this cute little guy and girl were still available, I was told that the little girl was already adopted. I was a bit disappointed as my plan was to keep them together, but it was not to be.
We hurried over to meet this little guy. I'll never forget the first time we saw him. A member of the Humane Society staff brought him out to us on a leash. He was wearing a plaid bow tie. He walked through the door and sat down right in front of us as though he was inspecting us. At that moment, I knew that he would become a wonderful member of our animal crew. He was small in stature, but big in attitude. A typical Chihuahua I've learned. The bold colored bow tie was perfect for this little (big) guy. It is his signature...still wears one when we go for a walk or for rides on my three-wheel bike. He loves viewing the neighborhood from his basket. If he could jump up in there, he would. When I tell him that we're going for a ride, he jumps around until I lift him into his basket. He takes on his Chihuahua personality as soon as we take off...often times barking at 'whatever'.
In the Meet & Greet Room at the Humane Society, while initially sitting in front of us, he continued to really check us out for a few minutes. He looked from me to my husband, up and down. I thought I would slowly reach down and let him smell me. He smelled my hand and my arm and then allowed me to pick him up. I placed him between my husband and I, so that he could check us both out. He seemed to be relaxed, sniffed us both and he let us both pet him.
He had brought a little stuffed bunny out with him to meet us. After sitting between us for a while, he jumped down and retrieved his little bunny. He jumped back up between us on the couch with his beloved bunny. The staff member told us that he was surrendered with his sister and this stuffed bunny. I felt that it was his touch with his dear sister and to the first five years of his life. He still has that stuffed bunny. But after 8 years, and many washings, it is now just a small square piece of fabric. This precious piece of cotton stays in his bed, and he checks on it daily. He sleeps with us but keeps his toys and bones/treats in his little bed, right next to our bed. We also have a little staircase that he uses to get up onto our bed...saving him having to jump up and down possibly injuring him.
We have had many fluffy family members and most of them were larger breeds. Tipo was our first small dog. We have loved them all, but as we age, a little one is much more in line with what we can handle. He is smaller and lighter to lift and is easier to walk on a leash.
We moved from our hobby farm in WI to UP Michigan. He has been our good boy for about 8 years now...so, he is 13 years old and is doing well. I believe that he and his sister were taken very good care of but had to be surrendered for hopefully, a loving reason - owners possibly aging and/or entering a nursing facility...I like to think that...because he is very healthy, well-mannered and just a love...no signs of abuse or neglect thankfully. He does use the house as his bathroom occasionally...but not enough to be a real problem.
At times I wish that rescued animals could tell you about their past so that you could do your best to help them figure it all out. Help them to deal with their past and let them know that they are now in a safe and loving place. Probably the best thing to do is to start fresh with good food, exercise, lots of play time, a loving, comfortable home. Lots of pets, smiles, snuggling and love all day long. He does not like when someone raises their voice, but I don't think anyone does. He does not run or hide so, I still believe that he was in a normal loving home before he came to us. He is not afraid of fireworks. Does not even flinch...the only reactions I see are, when a dog or animal comes on the television, his ears perk up and he runs to the edge of the bed (where I watch t.v.) and barks...And, when I let him out in the morning, he runs out, thinking that there are squirrels to chase away...which there are most of the time.
UPDATE: Some years later (sometimes I write a blog over a number of years...happens)...Our Sadie dog passed away...Tipo's friend of many years. After a while, we thought a nice way to honor Sadie, our dog, was to go to the local Humane Society in Menominee MI and look at the cats that we previewed on-line. Not really knowing what age or type we were looking for...we just kind of let the cat pick us. I walked around thinking that possibly an older one would be perfect for us and a furever home for the elder cat. My husband was walking around talking to each cat. One of them really talked back to him and he fell in love with her. She was named Sadie and she was 1 yr. 2 months old and she was quite the gabber. Perfect. Giving a loving home to a cat after losing our dear Sadie.
Sadie, the cat, now lives with us...and Tipo. Tipo is now 15 years old and quite gray and kind of grumpy. Sadie is helping to keep him young by just generally teasing him...but is also adding to his grumpiness. She has a habit of following him...if he runs, she runs along next to him...like when we let him in, give him his treat and he runs to his bed. She is right there at the door when he scratches to come in, watches closely as we give him a treat and then runs with him to his little bed...which is mostly hers now.
We came home one day and Tipo was up on one of our chairs and to get closer to us, he jumped to another chair - basically staying off of the ground. We thought it was odd. He is usually on the floor jumping up on the backs of our legs and wagging his tail when we come home. Soon we realized that he was avoiding the little fuzzy alligator on the floor...Sadie. We joked about setting up a monitor to see what actually goes on when we are not at home. I think that generally they both nap quite a bit ..but Sadie does get into her 'zoomie' moods and I think she would like Tipo to play with her...but, he is not up for that kind of play. So, she may play around him in hopes that he will play with her...and he just wants to finish his nap. They work it out though. Tipo does seem glad to see us and, I'm sure hopes that we will keep Sadie busy so that he does not have to deal with her alone.
Life goes on...both of them nap quite a bit. Sadie follows Tipo around a lot...he just ignores her and then she eventually runs off and finds something else to mess with besides Tipo.
She has turned out to be a perfect fit to our home and really to our lives. Mostly, I think she keeps Tipo young by keeping him on his toes. So, basically a win win win....
