by Amye Sabin

Created on: June 09, 2009

Our special princess, Daisy, came to us as a rescue dog.

She had been on the streets for approximately 3 months, according to the groomer, and just followed my father's girlfriend & their Lab home one day during a walk. Even through the dirty, clumpy, long straggly hair, we could see she was something special.

My husband had never wanted a dog, but I had several dogs growing up and missed the companionship.

After contacting the pound in several cities & the local vet to see if she had a microchip; without much success to find her owners in 48 hours (the county time frame allowed for owners to claim lost pets), and much begging from our daughter to her daddy, we found ourselves the owner of this messy dog. Immediately after picking her back up from the city pound, we took her to a groomer. Four hours later when we picked our newly named Daisy up, we were amazed at the transformation. We had no idea what type of dog she was, how old, her history, or how she would behave in her new home.

Eventually all these questions were answered (Pure-bread, 2 years old, ?, runs the household) and while we had no idea the problems that Bichon's can accrue, never have we regretted our decision. Even through the outlay of an $800 surgery to remove a massive bladder stone and the recent cataracts that are causing sight problems. The love she shows us through cuddling, her excitement when we come home, the kisses when she wants her belly rubbed or just wants attention, and of course the fun little "Bichon Blitz" that still gets us lauging even four years later.

The constant brushing and grooming has also proved to be a blessing. To just sit quietly in front of the television with our princess in my lap, and gently brush her gives us a bonding experience unlike any other. And like most dogs, she hates the baths & grooming experiences, but afterwards she loves the preening and attention it gives her.

It has been apparent to us from the beginning that she had previously been well taken care of. She'd been fixed, trained, and her personality shows no sign of being abused. And the clincher: She has never barked once. She whines and yelps during grooming, but barking.... never. Like Heather's pup, she geets other dogs with her head & tail high as if she knows she's something special. And she is.

As for hubby, who never wanted a dog? Daisy has her daddy wrapped around her curly tail. The moment he walked into the house, saw her, and got a big sloppy kiss - he was a goner.

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