October 30, 1999

November 27, 1999

A woman and her daughter brought Sammy to us. One day they were on their way into their neighborhood when they noticed a stray Chow at the entrance. Later, they saw him again and had heard the weather report to say it was going to be turning very nasty that night. So, not wanting to leave him to bear the elements, they managed to coax him to go with them.

Originally the plan was to just keep Sammy long enough to find him a home. But as time went by, the woman and her daughter became very attached to him. So, they cleaned him up as best they could considering he still wasn't very trusting and made him the newest member of the family. There was only one problem...Sammy apparently had been abused by a man sometime in his life and didn't get along with the man of the house very well.

Finally the day came when it was obvious that Sammy would need to move on to a new home. That was when the lady called our association to ask for help in finding him a home. We made contact, and had her take him in to one of the vets we work with to get his shots and Heartworm (HW) test. The test on the HW came back positive, so we had to have them take him in once again to get an additional blood sample for the vet to send out to a lab for more definitive testing. They brought him to our adoption day after they finished at the vet.

Sammy was very scared and clung to the young lady who he had an obvious attachment to. He was very reluctant to have anyone else handle him. We finally managed to get a collar and harness on him with the help of the young lady. We had no space available in foster care, so they needed to keep him for a while and bring him to the adoption days.

Eventually we got a space for Sammy in one of our foster homes so we could start working with him. It has taken a while, but he is coming around nicely. He now allows strangers who are also male come up to him in the store and talk to him, petting him. Although he is still better with women, he is beginning to realize that not all men are out to hurt him. Sammy's original rescuers and foster family come to the adoption days whenever they can to help us and spend some time with him.

A couple of weeks after the HW test was run again, the vet called back to say the results were a definite positive. So we needed to make arrangements to have treatment done. We finally were able to get Sammy's medical records transferred to our usual vet so we could schedule for the start of HW treatments. Our vet checked the results for HW once again before treating Sammy. He called us recently to tell us that from all indications, and rechecking the results with the vet at the lab where the tests were run, Sammy does not appear to be HW positive after all. That means Sammy will not need to undergo the HW treatments! This was the best news we could possibly have received, as we already have 3 other Chows going through treatments simultaneously.

So far everything seems to be going in Sammy's favor. And it couldn't happen for a nicer lil boy as he is a very loving, sweet fur baby who will follow you everywhere. And when you are seated somewhere, he will lay right there by your feet if not on them.

May 27, 2000

29 July 2000

Sammy, now named Buddha, was adopted and was living in a wonderful home with a mom and a beautiful female Chow mix named Winnie where when they weren't constantly playing, Buddha was begging to be outside on the balcony. His first night, Buddha stayed right next to the chair where his rescuer sat when delivering him to his new home and would go to the door periodically to check for his return. But the next night Buddha slowly made attempts to enter the bedroom where the rest of the family was. Eventually, he went in, made himself at home, and all was well. Buddha loves his new family dearly and had adjusted very well indeed!

Buddha and his family eventually moved to PA where he and his sister Winnie love playing in the snow during winter!

Winnie 29 July 2000

Buddha enjoying couch; Buddha and Winnie napping together

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Winnie, Dad, and Buddha; Winnie, Mom, and Buddha 12-00