Saturday, June 5, 2010

THEY FOUND ME!

My forever people finally found me! I am the luckiest and happiest dog ever.
This is how it happened. Right before my vacation, the foster lady and I went to pit bull class like we always do. When we got there, this really nice, fun lady started smiling really big, and she ran over to meet me and the foster lady. I let the nice lady know that I was smart and sweet and cute and funny. She gave me a treat, which was really yummy, and so I showed her my special belly dance. She said I was beautiful. Then we walked over to where a nice mister was sitting and he smiled at me and rubbed my head and then he said I was beautiful. I smiled back and explained how I am smart and funny and sweet, too. Next, the nice people gave me a tennis ball, so I showed them how amazing I am at taking tennis balls apart. They were very impressed and they showed me and the foster lady pictures of different pit bulls that they lived with long before I was born. The nice people told us that they have lived with pit bulls for over 40 years! They said they are something called "retired" so this means that I would never be home alone while they go to work, there would be little girls called "granddaughters" to play with, and I would get to ride around with the nice lady in something called a smartcar. This all sounded like a lot of fun, and just the type of forever home I wanted.

The next day, I went on my vacation. While I was on vacation, Mr. Tim came and asked me to go for a ride in his car with him and Ms. Donna so I could help with something called a home check. He explained that we were going to visit the nice people and make sure their house was up to my high standards. When we got to the nice people's house, there was a sign on the door that said "Welcome to your forever home, Daisy Mae!" We went inside and checked out the house, the beds, the toys and the big back yard. I sat down and smiled at Mr. Tim and Ms. Donna and at the nice people to let them know that I really liked everything. Mr. Tim asked me if I wanted to stay and I smiled and wagged and climbed into the nice mister's lap to give him a kiss so everyone knew - YES I want to stay here! So I moved right in with the nice people who are now my Forever Lady and Forever Mister.
It did take my forever people a little while to find me, but the foster lady always told me it was just taking a while because I am a very special girl, and my forever family would be very special too. I am the happiest lil' mama ever, now I have my very own family.

Lots and lots of kisses,
Miss Daisy Mae

Friday, May 21, 2010

Vacation

I found out yesterday that I'm going on vacation next week! I have never heard the word 'vacation' before, but the foster lady says it means I get to go and spend time with some really nice people and a super wonderful dog called Stella. She even says there is a boy there! I love the small humans called kids.

I have learned that the giant floaty balls called balloons mean that kids are around.
The first time I saw these balloon things, I thought they were a little scary, but then some little girls came outside and gave me kisses, so I learned that balloons mean I get kisses from little girls. I love balloons now, because I really really like kids and the good kisses they give me.
I'm looking forward to getting kisses from the boy on my vacation and meeting Stella and her nice people. The foster lady says my vacation is good practice for when I go home with my forever family, so I can remember to always be a good and polite dog in a new house.

kisses,
Daisy

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Mother's Day

I know I'm a mama, but no one ever gave me a special present or said I was special because I've had puppies. At least not until today. This morning the foster lady said we were going shopping so I could get a special present. She said that because it was mother's day, and I was such a good little mama, I could pick out whatever I wanted. That sounded really good, so I sat nicely and smiled while she got my collar and harness ready.
When we got to the store it was very exciting. There were so many options! At first I thought I wanted a tennis ball, but then I remembered the collection by the front door. Next I thought about getting a squeaky ball, but the foster lady said it was too small for me, which was true. Then, right near the counter I saw what I wanted. I grabbed it and looked at the foster lady to let her know that this was my mother's day present. She talked to the man at the counter and I proudly carried it back to the car.
When we got home, I sat on my new toy to keep it safe from Uba who wanted to pull the arms.
I hope all the other mamas out there got presents as nice as my new toy.

Kisses,
Daisy


Wednesday, May 5, 2010

I'm a Belly Dancer

On of the things I really like to do when I'm having a good day is my very special belly dance. I love to throw myself down on a nice soft carpet and wiggle around on my back.
It feels really nice and very often it makes the people stop what they're doing and come over and rub my belly. I like to finish my belly dance by singing about it and jumping up. Since my surgery the jumping up has been tough, but I'm getting better.

The foster lady has been trying to catch my performance on video, but I haven't let her yet. I have to keep some things private for my forever family to learn about in person. I wonder where those nice people are and why they haven't found me yet.

Kisses,
Miss Daisy

Sunday, April 25, 2010

A Wonderful Present!

Yesterday, on our way to pit bull class the foster lady stopped and went in to a store. When she came back to the car, she had a bag that smelled very interesting and she told me there was a present for me inside. I was very excited to see what it was! After class, we went to lunch with some of our pit bull friends and their people and this strange tall furry puppy, and Mr. Tim and Ms. Donna. On our way to the lunch place, I wasn't in my crate like I usually am in the car, so I thought it was a great opportunity to inspect the very interesting smell and see what my present was. Inside the bag I found TWO of the BEST BALLS IN THE WORLD!!!! I try not to be a greedy dog, so I took one out and I held on to it very tightly.
I carried the wonderful present all the way to the lunch place, and I held on to it the whole time the people were eating lunch. Loretta was very jealous and she whined at me asking for the ball. I held on to my wonderful present and people smiled at me and took my picture. When it was time to go home, I had to let go of the ball, but it was right next to my crate in the car so I could keep a close eye on it.
When we got home the foster lady let me have my present back! I was so happy and I took it into the room with the computer, and finally had the opportunity to get a really close look at the wonderful ball in peace and privacy. I found out that it has this cool white fluffy stuff inside and so I pulled it all out.
It took a lot of work but eventually I got all the fluffy stuff out. It was so much fun! Unfortunately, all that fun meant there was no more ball to play with.
I had a nice drink of water and took a long nap and dreamed about the other present that is waiting for me.

Kisses,
Daisy


Thursday, April 15, 2010

The Rain Inside

Today the foster lady said to me "Daisy, you are pretty stinky and it is time you had a bath". The "bath" thing last happened right before I got my new knee, and it involved the room upstairs with all the rain inside. I let the foster lady know that I really really did not want to go into that rainy room. I was naughty and I ran away from the wet room. Unfortunately I am not at all big (in the body at least, my personality is quite big), so the foster lady picked me up and carried me back to the inside rain.
When we got into the wet room she put me right into the bath tub. It was nice and warm. Then she poured the warm water all over me and she scrubbed me all over with soap that smells like yummy food. It felt really nice and she kept telling me I was a good girl.
When it was all over she wrapped me up in a towel and petted me a lot.
Now I feel all nice and clean and my skin isn't itchy. I have to admit that the bath thing wasn't as bad as I remembered.

When my forever family finds me, I will have to make sure that they give me nice warm baths with cozy towels to get me dry afterwards. Just not too often.

kisses,
Daisy

Saturday, April 3, 2010

I did a Good Job Today

I found a tennis ball today on my walk. I picked it up and carried it all the way home for the collection by the door. The foster lady pointed her camera at me while I was walking, and now I have a movie of me being very helpful. Unfortunately I was a little distracted by the important work and forgot to sit at the corner like I usually do.

I bet my forever family will be really happy to have such a hard working dog!

Kisses,
Daisy

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

I'm Feeling Much Better, Thank You

It's been seven weeks since I got my new knee, and I'm finally starting to feel much better. I'm getting to go for really nice walks twice a day.
I enjoy getting out and seeing all the people and dogs and sniffing all the good smells. I make sure to look very adorable so all the nice people stop to say hello and give me love. Sometimes I even find tennis balls, and I do an important job and I carry them home so the foster people can add them to the collection by the front door.

Next week I get to go and see the nice doctor and vet techs so they can make sure my leg is perfect, and then I think I might get to play with Uba and Lulu again. I can't wait!

Kisses,
Daisy

Saturday, March 20, 2010

This Guy

There's this guy that lives here with me and my best girl friend, Lulu. His name is Uba and he is small and super cool, like me, and he seems pretty smart, for a guy. He is a great wrestler and we had a lot of fun wrestling together before I got my new knee. Since I had my surgery, Uba has been really nice and considerate. When he runs around the house, which he does a LOT, he is very careful not to crash into me. Usually if he wants to get by me, he just jumps right over me!

He even lets me share the very comfortable bed by the heater with him when its cold outside.
Apparently, he is a very famous and important guy. He isn't stuck up or anything, despite being a celebrity. He is really nice to me, and I can't wait until we can wrestle together again.
I hope my forever home comes with someone like this guy Uba, only maybe a little less bouncy.

Kisses,
Daisy

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Observing Class

This weekend I got to go to pit bull class to do something called "observe". This means that I got all the benefits of class with none of the work. I really liked this arrangement.
I got to wear Uba's special backpack harness with a handle so the foster lady could pick me up when I didn't feel like walking and I watched what all the other dogs were doing and enjoyed the warm sun.

I got love from Aberfoil's dad and hung out with Binky's dad, too.

After class everyone came over to tell me how very wonderful and cute I am. It was a really great day.

Kisses,
Daisy

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

My first video

Here is a little video of me when Mr. Tim and Mr. Ken first came to meet me in Oklahoma. As you can see once they got to the fourth kennel and saw me I was very clear with everyone that I am the queen. I bet it was hard for them to decide who got to take me home. I'm glad I'm in California, although I know Mr. Ken is really nice. I really prefer not to get rained on, and Sydney, who comes from Louisiana, says there is much less rain here.

Friday, March 5, 2010

I really AM a Gremlin!

As I have mentioned before, I am the Queen of All Gremlins.  I try to keep my VIP status under wraps for the most part, and pretend to just be a very important dog who happens to look just a little tiny bit like a gremlin.














Sometimes I let them see the glorious magnificence that is Queen Daisy Mae of the Gremlins.  I am a very noble and beautiful gremlin queen, as you can see.



















They are, of course, very impressed by my royal presence.  Who wouldn't be?

Her Royal Highness,
Queen of All Gremlins
Miss Daisy Mae

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

I'm so tired

I was very excited to go for my first walk after my zipper came off. What I didn't realize was how very tired I would be. For some reason it is really really hard to walk for five whole minutes. In my mind, I am ready to go for a long walk, but my body says no way after sniffing just a few things. Then, when we get home, I need to take a long nap.
The foster people say I have to learn how to use my new leg and I have to build my muscles up. All I know is I am tired. I wish they would just carry me everywhere so I could see everything without having to use my legs.

Kisses,
Daisy

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

My Zipper's Gone!

I went to see my nice doctor and vet techs and they were very happy to see me of course and they took the itchy metal staples out of my leg.  They took my zipper off!  Now I am not nearly as itchy and I don't have to wear the donut.  Getting rid of the donut is really a huge relief.  I have to be careful though because if I lick the scar too much I will have to get the donut back on.
I can finally start going for short walks.  When we got home from getting the zipper off, I got to walk to the corner in the rain before we went inside to show Uba and Lulu my new leg.  Then today, I got to walk all the way around the block.  A lot has happened in the neighborhood since I got my new knee.  There were a lot of things to smell!

I got a new collar, too.  It must be specially made for me because it matches my harness and leash and has daisy flowers on it.  I am a lucky dog - a new knee and a new special Daisy collar!  Finally I am being treated like the queen I am.

Kisses,
Daisy

Sunday, February 21, 2010

My First Day in the Big City

I am still on restriction, which is getting kind of boring, but I am enjoying the attention and love I get from everyone. I thought it might be nice to tell you about my first day in my foster home.  I came to California in something called an airplane.  It was really noisy, but also kind of exciting.  I knew my life was only going to get better.  After staying with Mr. Tim and Ms. Donna and all the cool dogs at their house for a few days, I met the nice foster lady.  She said hello and put me in her car and said we were going to her house where I would stay until my forever people found me.  That sounded pretty good to me.  She watched me closely and smiled when she saw I was looking out of the window to see the world.  She took some pictures of me with her phone.
When we got to her house she took me inside and put me in a crate.  This furry guy called William the Cat came and sat on top of the crate and we said hello to each other.  After a little while two dogs came in and sniffed me through the crate, and I sniffed them, and I learned that they were Lulu and Uba.  I learned that Lulu is a really nice dog who understands lots of things and Uba is wild and bouncy and smart.  
After I relaxed for a while, the foster lady put my collar and leash on me and took me out for a walk.  She kept giving me treats and telling me I was a good girl.  I guess she thought I might be nervous about all the new things I was seeing in this place called San Francisco.  No way! Not me!  I was really interested in the weird plants and the things called sprinkler heads and man-hole covers and the sounds and smells all around me.   Our first walk was just a few blocks, but it was so great!  I had no idea there were so many exciting things in this world.  I took a really long time to sniff everything and learn as much as possible.  When we eventually got back to the house the foster lady told me I was a very brave and courageous girl and she was very proud of me. 
I gave her some kisses to let her know I was glad to be in the big city and I was ready for this new adventure.


Daisy

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Time to Think


Since my surgery and this awful donut thing has been around my neck I am on total exercise restriction. This means  I get carried everywhere.  This restriction is OK by me because my leg hurts and these stupid metal staple things are SOOOOOO ITCHY and they won’t let me lick them and pick them out like I want to.

 All this rest is giving me time to think about where I come from.  As you know, not too long ago I belonged to a dog fighter.  My job was to have puppies, and I had lots and lots of puppies.  I was a very good mama and I took good care of all my puppies.  It made me sad and scared when the people came and took them away from me. I explained this to my foster people when I moved in with them.  There were toys here that looked a bit like puppies, so I gathered them all together and made sure they were safe.  When the people took them away from me, I looked and looked until I found them again.  The foster people said that they would keep the toys safe in the high up cabinet so I can learn that I don’t have to worry about being a mama any more.  

I am proud that I was a good mama to my puppies, but it is a relief not to have to worry about keeping puppies safe.  I feel younger and happier than I can remember, even with this ouchy leg.  When I was staying with the nice people at the shelter in Claremore Oklahoma they put a tattoo on my belly that means I won’t have any more puppies.  Now instead of being a mama, my job is to remember to pee outside and to be cute and sweet.  When she lets me out of my crate, the foster lady says to me “come on lil’ mama, lets go outside”, and I wag my tail and let her carry me outside.  Then she tells me I’m a good girl and gives me a treat.  I really like this new job!  
kisses,
Daisy

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Oh, ow! Zzzzzzzzzzzz....

ow, ow, leg urgh....zzzzzzzzzzzz... cone off now...zzzzzzzzz
The foster mom writing today while Daisy enjoys her pain meds:


Sweet little Daisy had surgery yesterday to repair her left knee.  The very wonderful Dr. Schwach of Avenues Pet Hospital performed a tibial tuberosity transposition that will help her left knee cap stay in place.  This is a very complex surgery requiring multiple steps to reposition the knee and create improved knee and joint movement.  Dr. Schwach describes this surgery as more complex and difficult than the more common TPLO surgery that our last foster dog Lolo had.  Although Daisy will never be an athlete, she should no longer experience pain living a normal dog's life.  


Daisy is a very happy dog with a wonderfully positive attitude.   Even when her leg has been hurting she always has a wagging tail and is eager to be busily involved in whatever is going on.  Today she is wagging her tail as she staggers around finding a way to manage walking on three legs with a cone and now a donut on her head.
Poor Daisy.  Good thing she has a sweet nurse watching over her.
Thanks for all the healing thoughts for Miss Daisy as she recuperates.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

My Friend Lulu

When I moved in with my foster family the first dog I met was Lulu.  She is a pit bull too but is much bigger than me and red brindle.  Lulu has been really nice about showing me how things work here in the city.  She helped me understand about going outside to pee (even in the rain!), not stealing other people's food even when it smells yummy, being nice to the cats even when they sneak up on you, and how to convince the people to let you sit on the couch.




















Lulu and I go on nice relaxed walks together in the evening before the foster lady takes wild crazy Uba for his super long fast walk.  She has shown me the good places to sniff in the neighborhood and explained amazing things like busses, stores, and the places that only people can go into that smell like food.














Lulu is also fun to play with because even though she is much bigger than me she gets down to my level and makes sure she doesn't crush me.  She is a really good friend and mentor and we share common interests - eating and comfortable beds.  Thank you Lulu for being my friend.

Kisses,
Daisy

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

I Feel Funny

Today I went to see a nice man called Dr. Schwach.  He looked at me all over and told my foster lady how very special and unique I am.  Then he shaved a spot on my leg and I felt really really sleepy.  While I was sleeping he took pictures of the insides of my legs.  When we got home I was cold and still kind of sleepy, so the foster lady wrapped me up in a blanket and I took a long nap.

My foster people say I will be going to see him again soon and he will make the leg that hurts stop hurting. I'm looking forward to that, although I am not looking forward to this funny sleepy feeling.

Kisses,
Daisy

Friday, January 29, 2010

The Hand-Me-Down Sweater

As you probably guessed, I had to take back the sweater I wanted from the store, and apologize to the lady for being a shop lifter.  Then the people all laughed and said I had sticky paws - I don't get it, my paws were pretty clean!  Anyway, because I don't have my own sweater, when its chilly Uba is nice enough to let me wear one of his sweaters.   Here I am looking cute and cozy in a boy-ish sweater.
I really want one of the fancy sparkly pink ones from the sweater store. The foster lady says if I can show her I am a good girl and I won't chew the sparkles off a pretty sweater, MAYBE she'll talk to the lady at the store and we can see if there is a pretty girly sweater that fits me.  I'm going to concentrate really hard on being a good girl so I can get a fancy sweater.

kisses,
Daisy

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Shopping

One of the nice things I have discovered since I moved to the big city is shopping.  There are two places for shopping that I walk to with my foster family.  The nice people at both of the stores really like my foster brother and sister, and love me of course.  One of the stores has all these buckets of toys and balls to sniff and then Uba and I get to select the best ones and the foster people talk to the nice lady at the counter and we take the stuff home with us.   Lulu always asks for treats while we pick out toys.  The nice lady at the store gave me this super cool thing that is all soft and cuddly and it SQUEAKS!  The foster people say I need to learn something called "self control", so I only get to play with it sometimes.


The other store we go shopping at has lots of clothes to sniff.  The foster lady says it is rude to just grab the sweaters and walk out like I did the first time we went there.   The lady in the sweater store likes to sit down on the floor with me and let me give her all the kisses I want.  I wag my tail a lot when I give kisses.  I guess my kisses are really good because she gave me this really nice thing called a bully stick to take home.  It was delicious!

Thank you very much nice pet store ladies!  I love the nice things and I promise I will make sure the foster lady talks to you at the counter next time I want to take a sweater home.

kisses,
Daisy

Friday, January 22, 2010

Petite Red Head Searching for Love & Commitment

I am a 5 year old 35 pound buckskin female searching for a forever relationship.  I enjoy snuggling, wagging my tail and giving kisses.  I am looking for a family that includes a nice dog companion that I can go for walks with, sniff stuff with and trade chew toys with.  I also enjoy the company of cats and any other type of critter you may want to introduce me to.


Most importantly I am searching for people to share my life with.  I am not a very demanding dog, all I want is a comfy bed, two good meals a day, regular walks, and love.  If you want to let me sit on the couch or sleep on your bed with you, I would like that a lot too.  In return I will give you all my love and devotion.  I will do my best to be a very good girl and make you smile and laugh whenever I can.  I will relax in my crate while you are out and smile and wag my whole body when you come home.  I will also look like a gremlin most of the time and sometimes do an excellent Yoda impersonation.


Are you the family I'm looking for?  If you think you might be, please contact tim@badrap.org

kisses,
Daisy

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

January

I come from Oklahoma, as you know.  This is what January looks like in Oklahoma:



I lived outside in the snow and rain and wind and cold when I lived in Oklahoma.




This is what January looks like in California:

In California I live inside a cozy house with people and beds and blankets and they put these weird things called sweaters on me, and its not even cold.

I have decided that living in a house in California is better than living outside in Oklahoma.  I can't wait for my forever family to find me and show me their house that I can live inside with them.

Kisses,
Daisy

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Toys

I have been learning that some things are called toys and some things are apparently not toys.  Toys means that I can take the things and move them around and do pretty much whatever I want with them.  I am supposed to share the toys with everyone else, but I don't always want to, and the foster people take toys away from me when I won't share.  Things that are toys include the hard chewy things, the orange squeaky thing, the stuffie thing, tennis balls and the things called kongs.

Things that are not toys are towels, blankets, Lulu and Uba's beds, my bed, the cats' beds, sweaters, hats, bath mats, cats, shoes, socks, laundry, tv remotes and lots and lots of other things.  I really do think that some of these things are really toys and the foster people are wrong.  I mean, cat beds are so much fun to play with!

(that's William the Cat's tail messing up the good picture of me)

Note from Daisy's foster mom:  Daisy is learning that she can manipulate her environment.  It is quite a revelation to a dog who has lived on a chain all her life that she has the power to alter her world.  She is acting like a puppy and is trying out everything.  I get to learn patience while she learns boundaries. - Letti

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Hello

Hello, my name is Miss Daisy Mae, but you can call me Daisy.


This is my blog to tell the story of my search for a forever home. I have been looking for a little while, and the foster people thought it would be fun to blog about how wonderful I am. I decided that I can tell my story much better than them, so I distracted the nice foster lady and took over at the computer.

This is the short version of my story:
I moved to California a few months ago after some nice people came and took me to live in their office with them. Since I moved to the big city I have seen all kinds of new things and had quite a few adventures. It is nice here, I have a foster lady and a foster mister to take me for walks and make my breakfast and dinner just right, and I have foster siblings Lulu and Uba to play with and nap with. Thats Lulu on the left and Uba on the right and of course you recognize me in the middle.















I have two cats to talk to when Lulu and Uba are busy (only William wanted his picture taken)
















and a nice cozy house to rest in.















I can't wait to tell you more about my new life in the big city. It is much nicer than my old life on a chain with an oil drum as my only house to raise my puppies in. The only thing missing is my forever family!

Kisses,
Daisy