Dk More Or Les

[tornadosgirl]

A Tribute to Dk More or Les

 

Dear Les

 

I never met you, but I want to let you know how thankful I am for the gift

you gave me. Your daughter, Penny, is a treasure. I believe that you sent

her to me. I did not pick her out at the kennel, it just happened that she

was offered to me, sight unseen, and I agreed to take her home. I could

not have picked a more wonderful dog or a dog who "fits in" as well as she.

Only you, thru God, could have known the situation with our other grey,

Tornado, and worked out the circumstances perfectly.

 

I want to tell everyone the story about that day, four years ago, when you

gave birth. Because of you, and despite your death, we

have this joyous creature in our home.

 

It was September 23rd. A happy day and a very sad day. You gave

birth to a large litter, but only two of your puppies survived. God called you

to the Rainbow Bridge, to watch over your babies who could not stay here

on Earth. I'm sure that everyone who knew you was filled with immense

grief that day. I was, too, when I heard the story two years ago. My grief

did not last, though. I believe that you would not have wanted anyone to

linger over those feelings.

 

Nearly two years later, one Friday morning in September 2005, I called

June to ask her to let us know if any females came in to the adoption

kennel. I was looking for a girl who might be compatible with our Tornado,

our five year old grey. June had met Tornado only briefly, several months

previous. Early afternoon, that same day, she called to let us know there

was a girl for us! June said there was no room at the kennel for her and

since the kennel would be closing, she was hoping I could come get her

within a few hours. I remember thinking, at the time, that the story

sounded like Mary and Joseph when they were told there was "no room at

the Inn".

 

I left work to get home (I was fortunate to have a supervisor who was

sympathetic to my situation). I picked up George and we got to the kennel,

shortly before it closed for the day. All June knew was that the dog was

white and a "nice dog". I remember thinking, I'm sure June thinks all of

them are 'nice dogs'. We met June at the kennel and soon a trainer, Mike,

walked in with a dirty, white, bow-legged dog who had a spot that looked

like a giant penny on her behind. I remained silent. June had said that Mike

had just given the dog a bath. Okay. Right. Her name - DK Forever More.

Mike called her "Laverne". Her sister's name, DK Les is More, was "Shirley".

Shirley was still racing. Laverne just wouldn't ever be a racer.

This dog certainly did not look like a "Laverne". We brought her home. She

sat quietly in the back seat the whole way. I was nervous at this point,

not knowing if Tornado would accept her. I certainly had not. Tornado,

dominant and temperamental, could make things rough for her if he didn't

like her. If someone looked at him the wrong way, he would emit a

menacing growl. He had this idea that his "personal space" extended about

five feet around him. Anyone, human or animal, that entered that space,

saw his teeth. If we mistakenly bumped into him, no matter how gently, he

would growl and dart away. He was definitely a "work in progress".

They met, both muzzled. After a few sniffs, I knew they would be okay

together. He sniffed her a couple times and walked away. She followed him

and he did not complain. She accepted that he was the teacher and she

the student and that the lesson was "How to Be A Retired Greyhound". This

was Part 1 and she passed with flying colors.

 

That night I made spaghetti and meat balls for the human's dinner. I made

garlic bread out of slices of bread. George and I sat down to eat and Penny

showed us how long a neck she has. She started eating off George's plate!

We chuckled, gently pushed her away and resumed eating. She walked a

few steps away and started in again. No matter how many times we pushed

her away, she came back. Tornado sat and just watched. We put her behind

a baby gate and she cried a mournful, lonely cry. I couldn't take it, so I let

her rejoin us and we just put up with her behavior. Then she grabbed two

pieces of garlic bread right off the table and walked away. When I caught

up with her, she hung her head low and looked up at me with her beautiful,

chocolate eyes. I melted and she ate her garlic bread.

 

Two years later, there are so many things I can tell you about DK Forever

More, aka Laverne, aka Penny.

 

-She has taught Tornado that it's okay (most of the time) to sit close, get

bumped a little and be silly. Even kids are okay to be around. Nearly all of

Tornado's "issues" have disappeared, and I believe Penny played a large

role in that. She showed "respect" for him, but not submissiveness. She is

very interesting in that way. She knows when to let him have his way. But

she will stand up to him, demand his respect and get it when he is out of

line!

 

-I've discovered that she has a beautiful white coat with what looks like

chocolate and peanut butter chips under the white. She also has black

spots. She would be good for a math class. The kids could count her spots.

Oh, how she would love that.

 

-And she is NOT bow legged, it just sort of looks that way sometimes from

behind.

 

-She has learned from Tornado how to do a "360" in the yard. And though

she can't (or doesn't care to) run as fast as Tornado, she knows every trick

in the book to get ahead of him as they run thru the yard.

 

-She loves to dig deep holes and I let her (don't tell George). She gets

down deep in the hole then springs out of it, with her teeth bared, when

Tornado approaches. He knows it's all a game, she doesn't have a mean

bone in her body.

 

-When we go for a walk and she notices someone out in their yard, she

tries to walk over to them and her tail wags madly. Surely they came out of

their house to see and pet her? There are no strangers in her world. Everyone

she meets she treats like a long lost loved buddy.

 

-I wake up in the morning to find her head on my shoulder, her nose an

eighth of an inch from my face.

 

-I never had to teach her to sit for a treat. She saw Tornado sit and shake

hands for a treat only three or four times and then started to do it on her

own! She even knew to give the opposite paw and extends it ever so lady-

like.

 

Les, I could go on and on about Penny. We have our silly nicknames for her,

because sometimes she doesn't seem too smart. But she is very wise. She

has a heart of gold. I never thought I could love a dog like I do Tornado.

But I was wrong.

 

I didn't pick her, but she was the perfect addition to our home.

 

I thought she was ugly, but she is actually quite beautiful.

 

I thought she wouldn't "work out", but she worked her way in to my heart,

quickly.

 

Only you could have known where Penny belonged.

 

Thank you for giving me this priceless treasure. She truly is "Forever More". In my heart.

 

 

Dk More or Les (L) - DK Forever More ®

 

Craigie Whistler, Dad, below

 

 

L to R > Midstate, Hi Spade, Wild Win Willy (Mid State is Penny's maternal "grandma")

 

L to R > DK More or Les, DK Bruces Margie, DK Willy's Middy (Penny's mom and two sisters)

Edited September 24, 2007 by tornadosgirl

[grey14me]

Very sweet

[Guest twilliams]

I really enjoyed your tribute. It is amazing how our greys totally capture our hearts!

[Guest hamiesmom]

What a wonderful tribute to a beautiful dog.

[Patsy]

Man, is today a bad allergies day!

[patricia]

What a beautiful tribute. Life takes so many turns and as fate would have it the circle of life continues on and on never ending. Thank you so much for sharing.

[Guest SoulsMom]

Beautiful. I too have a dog that came home with me because the "kennel was full". It does seem at times like they were "picked" for us. Good job, Les.

Edited September 28, 2007 by SoulsMom

[iluvgreys]

A very lovely story. You have a very special girlie... and helper at the Bridge, too.

[Guest JMinAugustaGA]

Yes, they put those greyhound paws around our heart...

[Hawthorn]

I seem to have something in my eye .... what a lovely story

[Guest Carla]

 

Carla

[Batmom]

That is a wonderful sweet story. I'll bet mom is very proud of her little girl ... and very glad you have her.

[Guest Snowy8]

I just boo hooed thru the whole thing...

[RobinM]

She is beautiful and that was very heartfelt. Hugs to you.

 

My Teddy is Craigies son.