One day we got a call that originated in West Virginia. Apparently an SPCA group up there had found some dogs that were owned by a couple who lived on a property that had no running water or electricity. The dogs were being kept outside without any water or food. They were told that if they were to allow the dogs to be confiscated by the SPCA, then they would not be prosecuted for animal cruelty. So, the people let the SPCA take the dogs and that was when we were called.

So, on October 29, 1998 at almost 8 p.m. we met in VA and picked up the dogs. One dog was a cream purebred Chow and the other was a red Chow Shepherd mix. The cream Chow is now named Gretchen and the red mix is named Rosie.

Gretchen is a wonderful little girl who at the tender age of 1 year was already the mother of at least 2 puppies, Poki'i a ka La (her daughter) and Pohaku (her son). We were told initially that the pups were purebred. As we got them with their mom when they were just two weeks old, it was not evident if that was so or not. However, as they got older, it was very obvious that the pups were Chow/Retriever mix. There may have originally been more puppies in the litter, but we will never know.

Gretchen was chained up outdoors with no food or water. She was sacrificing her own bodily fluids to keep her pups alive. When she came to us, Gretchen was terribly underweight...her ribs were sticking out, weighing in at just 32 pounds. Obviously, the puppies did not receive the proper nutrition needed to grow strong, healthy bodies. So there was strike one. But once we got, we made sure that they and their mom received all the proper nutrition they needed.

We took the pups to all of our adoption days so they could be with their mom while we tried to find her a home to go to as soon as they were weaned. Poki'i and her brother grew into beautiful little fur kids with the sweetest of personalities. Both of them were so very much like their mother who would slather you with kisses. And they both loved to give the greatest hugs.

One day one of our adoptive families came in to see the puppies and fell in love with Poki'i. We of course warned them that the two puppies, being mixes, were big time chewers and would probably be so for quite some time. But they were not concerned since they'd already been through that before, so we took the pups over to their home to visit with them and Lokelani who they'd adopted from us a while back when she was but a pup herself. It was decided that they would try each of the pups for a weekend at a time in order to see which one would work best with their family. In the end it was decided that because Poki'i was more of an alpha dog just as Lokelani, it would be best if they adopted Pohaku instead. So, mid January it became just Poki'i with her mom.

In April a lady came in to our adoption day, took one look at our little girl Poki'i, and immediately fell in love. But she was very concerned that Poki'i didn't really take to her as there was a family there that had been there the week before and Poki'i was more interested in playing with the children. I explained that it wasn't that Poki'i didn't not like her, but rather she already was familiar with the family and liked children. So, she stuck around until after the family left and spent some quality time with Poki'i and filled out an application to adopt her.

We took Poki'i to her new mom's home that next week, and she now lives with a house full of cats that she loves and even sleeps with. Her mom spoils her endlessly, and is very good with her. And even when she found out that Poki'i had a serious case of hip dysplasia in both hips with spurs as well, she didn't even bat an eye. She immediately found out what she needed to do nutritionally to aid her in preparation for surgery, and made sure she found an excellent surgeon to take care of her baby girl. She even found herself an extra teaching job for the summer she could take on in order to afford the surgery. She is just the best mom in the world and we cherish her.

And what of Poki'i? She has had her surgery and is doing very well. The surgeon was sure of a full recovery and a full pain free life. Our Poki'i is still the sweetest, happiest little girl who gives the best hugs and kisses, and is excited every time she comes by the store to visit her aunty and uncle!