March 03, 2009

Puppy love.

Two years ago today, someone new walked into my life.

This new someone was a bit sad, hadn't had a good meal in days (weeks?) and needed a good, hot bath.

While many of you reading may think it's my significant other {chuckle, snort}, it's Maggie our dog.

I originally met Maggie (then known as Doozie) on February 17, 2007. We (the mister and I) were out running errands together -- odd in and of itself, since we usually fly solo on those trips (with good reason, as I quickly remembered this weekend when he dozed off on an antique settee 15 minutes into a thrifting escapade.). I was dropping off donations of "doggie stuffs" at
Liberty Humane Society in Jersey City (an AMAZING shelter in the shadows of the Statue of Liberty. I just hopped over to their web site and spontaneously burst into tears when I read about Henry, who's currently up for adoption.).

As I turned to leave I made eye contact with this black beauty. All seventy pounds of her was tucked in a cage, the only dog in the joint not barking, stretching her paw through the metal bars towards me. Her little cage sign said she was found on Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City on February 15 (hello...my birthday) and that she wasn't available for adoption just yet.

I ran to the car. "Uh...I think you need to come in here. I need to show you something."

The man lit up like a Christmas tree. He grew up with dogs, so this was totally exciting to him. And it was love at first sight. Over the next few days we put ourselves through the "What-Can-But-But" conversations..."What do we do with her if we go away?" "Can we handle the responsibility?" "But we like having no responsibilities!" "But she'll pee and vomit in the apartment!"

When we called back on March 1, not one person had even expressed interest in her (and we know what that means). She was (is) an old lady, at least 7 or 8 at the time from what they could tell, and, "nobody wants an old dog." That was it. We had to have her!

Well, suffice it to say Miss Maggie (formally, Princess Margaret Rose) has never seen it better. Hey...she has a shore house! And even though I found her, I'm totally chopped liver around here. Case in point, Christmas:



I couldn't even get her to look at the camera. She is so. In. Love. (And not with me.)

Maggie has also introduced me to some amazing artists. A couple of months ago, I was over the moon to win a
pet portrait on Aimee's (of Aimee'e Petite Maison) wonderful 4 The Love of Animals blog (this lady loves her four-legged friends, which makes me love her!). The uber-talented artist Tabatha Rhodes chose this photo to work with:


And here's the painting:


It is incredible. As good as this photo of the painting is, I don't think it does it justice. You can commission a reasonably priced pet portrait in her Etsy store...you won't be disappointed.

And speaking of Etsy, Puffer Street Progress is a blog I "met" this past year, in the midst of my own home renovation projects (great blog, if you're unfamiliar). Around the December holidays, she posted about her Custom Pet Creations' Etsy store, and I knew I found the perfect gift for lover boy (mine, and Maggie's.). The ornament is incredible...




...and you can even get it done without the little hanger thing if you'd rather your furry friend hang around (on a shelf, for example) all year.

Can you believe these talented ladies? Please keep them in mind for your pet-themed gift giving needs, and please keep your local shelters in mind, too -- for monetary donations, gifts in kind (they need food, bedding , towels and leashes almost always) and adoption. We really can't imagine our lives without Maggie.

Or our carpets without black hair...Or our floors without paw prints...Or our faces without bad doggy breath in them...Or our cabinets without poop bags...

29 comments:

Joyce said...

Happy Birthday Maggie! I'm so glad you found your way home. Yes I can see who the apple of your eye is!

I gave Kelly her bday the day she came home to us too. I was one of those silly owners I sent out doggy announcements! LOL...

Ms Maggie Pie I hope you get a new toy and LOTS and LOTS of treats and a birthday cake too!

Hugs and kisses to you and Laura xoxo

Local Girl said...

Aww my Betty would love your Maggie - they're the same size!! I'm glad you're another black lab lover :)

Tina said...

What a great post. Thanks for sharing this. It made me smile.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

What a sweet and lucky dog Maggie is! How fortunate she was to find such loving new owners!

My cat Bo was also a rescue cat --he was being given up on Craig's list and my daughter saw him and called me right away to tell me I just had to get him. He's one of my best pals and I couldn't imagine life without him now.

Pets bring so much joy into our lives and whatever we do for them pales in comparison.

I love both the painting and the ornament Laura! I'll check out both bloggers and TSY shops. Thanks!
Hugs, Pat

Kwana said...

Oh Miss Maggie! What a luck dog she is. So beautiful. I can see how in love you are. Sorry you're chopped liver. I know the feeling. That's how my DH is about Jack. Truly his best friend. So funny.

Sibebar: Thanks for the heads up on Fabio's show. I'm sure it will be fun. Love him. Oh did you hear all the Casey flack and how she trashed Carla?

sealaura said...

Happy Birthday to your Maggie. My little Norman is celebrating a bday too. Thanks for sharing about that etsy shop, I will def take a look. The ornament is precious.

j.cro said...

Look how M and Maggie sparkle! I love that!

Jean Martha said...

Maggie's so cute!!! I'm glad she has such an awesome home.

Caren said...

So adorable... both the crafts and Miss Maggie. You know I have serious cases of puppy love/dog love going on with me all the time. I'm a dog lover to the core.

Lorrie said...

A sweet story Laura. Maggie's portrait is just beautiful--a great tribute to a loving addition to your family!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Cute as a bug's ear, Laura! Oh, how I love that sweet dog and your sweet story. Hug him TIGHT for me!

XO,

Sheila... who loves your dog goodies, too! :-)

heidi said...

Thanks for that sweet story... it made my crazy day!
xoh

Blondie's Journal said...

Oh Laura, this was just so happy and sad and then happy... I get a lump in my throat every time I think of all those sad dogs waiting to get adopted. Your Maggie is a doll and I am so happy she found a good home with you guys. And yes, male or female, they all seem to gravitate to the mast-ahhh of the house (unless they are hungry or have to pee).

It sickens me to think that 8-9 months old is OLD. Same holds true for adoption (of children). I tell you Laura, sometimes I want to cry for all the injustices in the world. We can make one little life change (Maggie's) but we can't save the world...

One last negative note while I'm on a roll. My sister~in~law is also a doggie lover. She found out that many pet store chains keep puppies only until they are 15 weeks old and then... Apparently, once they outgrow the cage (and the attention of shoppers) that's it. All loss & no profit.

I saw your last "gifted" post. Love, love all your stuff!! These Etsy shops are amazing, I'm always saying that I will go to some of them and run out of time, but anytime we bloggers find something good we should shout it off the rooftops!!

xoxo
Jane

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Maggie, what an adorable black lab!

She's great!

Sue said...

Happy Birthday Miss Maggie.....from the handsome Mr. Boo...Hey Laura...ofcourse I also had a big black dog. Buster. did you expect anything less...I'm a pushover for big black dogs...

Rue said...

That is such a nice story! Happy Birthday to Maggie!!

And I love the painting! Thanks for passing along the info on these great Etsy shops-- what wonderful goodies for pet lovers! I've got a Miss Kitty, and one day aspire to dog ownership... if Miss Sophie and I can convince the Husband.

julia@lookiloos.com said...

I love pet portraits. I've got a friend who paints pet portraits AND house portraits. Two things I love.

Anonymous said...

oh i loved reading about maggie. not to mention we have the same name!! if you like reading about charley you should read my first post about her
http://www.soeursdujour.com/2008/07/charley-the-chocolate-lab.html

liking you blog, will be back.

Anonymous said...

Laura, your story has me bawling my eyes out. We put our beloved poodle down in Dec. after 15 1/2 years of pure love of this furball. We haven't found another dog yet and we are so lonely without one. In 45 years of marriage we have always had a dog. We are thinking of the end of this year because we are taking a long summer vacation. Every time we see a dog we weaken. You sure touched my heart today.

Maggie is so perfect for you both and you saved her. God bless you for having such a big heart. She is so pretty and I love her painting.

Thanks for your visit and comment on my post yesterday.

Hugs...Jeanne

London Calling said...

Maggie looks like a sweetheart. Thank you for your encouraging words as well. They made my day.

desiree said...

How wonderful for Maggie and you and Mr. Shorehouse! The painting of Maggie is great. I'm always amazed by artists who can take a photo and paint something like that.

Maureen said...

Wow... what a great picture of Maggie... that's one to cherish.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Maggie is just too cute. Several years ago, we had Hunter, who was a black lab, Golden mix. He looked a lot like Maggie. Sigh... Happy birthday to Maggie.
♥, Susan

Anonymous said...

Awee!! What a sweet story! And thank you for the kind words! It was a pleasure to paint Miss Maggie! She's such a beauty!
And that ornament is so cool, I'm gonna have to check out her etsy shop!

Anonymous said...

Great story and what an adorable black lab!

Leciawp said...

This is such a sweet post!! Yay Maggie!

Mika said...

Happy Belated Birthday dear Maggie!

It looks like the painting turned out lovely.I am glad that you got so many fun, personalized, items to celebrate your sweet dog with.

Ms. Tee said...

Oh, sticking her paw out to touch you through the cage? That's almost more than I can bear. :) She's such a sweetie. I'm so glad she found you. Happy b-day, Maggie!

Purple Flowers said...

What a beautiful Maggie girl you have. And I am sure she is forever grateful that you've given her a loved-filled home.