I HAD JUST LOST MY POODLE THAT I HAD OWNED FOR 18 LONG, WONDERFUL YEARS. MY HUSBAND TOOK ME TO THE POUND TO FIND A DOG THAT NEEDED A LOVING HOME. WE DECIDED ON A LITTLE BLACK MUTT THAT WAS AFRAID OF HER OWN SHADOW. AS WE WERE LEAVING THE POUND , WITH OUR NEW BUDDLE IN HAND, I STOPPED AND AT ONE OF THE CAGES, AND THERE IN THE BACK LYING ON THE CONCRETE WAS THIS LITTLE BLONDE DOG. OUR POUND ONLY KEEPS DOGS THREE DAYS, AND THEN THEY ARE PUT TO SLEEP. I NOTICED THAT HER RIGHT REAR LEG WAS NOT RIGHT. SHE HAD GIVEN UP ON LIFE. FOR WHATEVER REASON, SHE JUST COULDN'T FIGHT ANYMORE. MY HUSBAND SAID, "COME ON, YOUR GOT THE DOG YOU CAME FOR." OF COURSE, I NEVER LISTEN TO HIM ANYWAY, SO PLACED A HOLD ON HER, SO THAT WHEN HER 3 DAYS WERE UP, SHE COULD COME HOME WITH US. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMER THAT FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1983. I RESCUED HER FROM CERTAIN DEATH. SHE WAS SO FRAIL AND THIN. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK HER TO MY VET. HER RIGHT REAR HIP HAD BEEN FRACTURED, PROBABLY FROM A KICK.. PEOPLE CAN BE SO CRUEL! THE HIP HAD FORMED A NEW JOINT SO HER LEG WAS SHORTER THAN THE OTHER. HOWEVER, MY VET. SAID THAT HER BIGGEST PROBLEM AT THIS TIME WAS THAT SHE HAD BEEN STARVED. MONEY WAS NO OBJECT, RESTORING HER TO HEALTH WAS MY FIRST AND FORMOST CONCERN. SO WITH ALL KINDS OF PILLS AND RECEIPES, I TOOK HER HOME TO SAVE HER LIFE. WELL, NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DID AND SHE WAS THE QUEEN OF OUR HOUSE AND ALL HER BROTHERS AND SISTERS RESPECTED HER AS THE ALPHA DOG. POSSIBLY BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN STARVED, SHE WAS ALWAYS COLD. NO MATTER, WE BOUGHT HER SWEATERS AND T-SHIRTS FOR EVERY SEASON. I ALSO COOKED HER A CHICKEN BREAST EVERYDAY OF HER LIFE. I KNEW BETTER THAN TO LET A DAY GO BY WITHOUT HER CHICKEN BREAST FOR DINNER. WHAT A SPOILED ROTTEN LITTLE BRAT SHE BECAME. I HAD HER GROOMED BY THE MOBILE GROOMER EVERY 8 WEEKS. THERE WAS ONLY ONE FEAR THAT SHE COULD NOT OVERCOME NO MATTER HOW MUCH LOVE WE GAVE HER. THAT WAS THE FEAR OF ALL MEN. SHE NEVER REALLY LIKED OTHER PEOPLE, BUT SHE HATED ALL MEN. NOW MY HUSBAND, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS THE LOVE OF HER LIFE. SHE WAS ALWAY SITTING IN HIS LAP WHILE HE WATCHED TV. SHE BROUGHT JOY AND LAUGHTER AND LOVE TO OUR FAMILY. WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF PICTURES OF HER IN ALMOST EVERY OUTFIT SHE OWNED, AND BELIEVE ME AFTER 16 YEARS SHE HAD ALOT. EVERYWHERE WE GO IN OUR HOME, SHE IS ALWAYS THERE. I THINK ABOUT HER EVERYDAY AND WISH SHE WERE HERE WITH ME NOW. SHE SLEPT ON OUR BED EVERY NIGHT, WITHOUT FAIL. I KNOW THAT WE WILL SEE HER AGAIN SOMEDAY, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOVE HER IN OUR HEARTS UNTIL WE MEET HER AGAIN AT THE RAINBOWS BRIDGE. THANKS FOR ALL THE MEMORIES, APRIL LOUISE. SEE YOU SOON.