Dear Humane Society Friends

If you remember me at all, you'll remember me as Charlie. I didn't live with you for very long, thank goodness. Oh, wait! Please don't take offense; you run a very fine establishment and I have no complaints at all. It's just that all the critters you take in know that going to a real home is the best thing to wish for. And I was ever so proud to get my blue dot so quickly; I was the envy of all.

I moved into your place in late November 2007: just a scruffy little dog in dire need of a bath and a good brushing and a whole lotta love. Well, I guess that probably describes most of the dogs you meet, so here's my mug shot from when you all first met me.

I don't think I was very nice to you at first. I didn't know what to think! I was so scared and nervous and sad sometimes. But you were patient and kind and I figured out I could trust you, and then I felt safe enough to show you what a sweet pooch I really am! I came in with my two sisters. I still miss my sisters, and I look for them in every dog we meet on our walks. I just love other dogs...

Oh man, speaking of walks, lookit where I get to go a-walking every day!

There are bunnies out there and squirrels and sometimes even bird. Oh, but I do love bird best of all. I would hunt bird if only Mom would let me. But she keeps me on that doggone leash whenever we're outside, so I can only pretend to be hunting.

So anyway, I go by Arlo now. Oh, and my mom wants you to know she made sure I wasn't too awfully attached to the Charlie name before she pulled the ol' switcheroo. So I didn't get at all confused, and I'm all good with the Arlo name. Heck, sometimes it even comes with treats! And I have a little buddy next door named Charlie, and you can imagine how silly it would get if we both had the same name.

Here's a picture of me just from today. As you can see, I still look pretty much the same as I did when you knew me, except I get a few more baths and lots more brushings now. And I smile a lot more now, too. A whole lot more. 

My mom loves my smile, even if it does make it hard for her to keep her stern voice sometimes when she thinks I need it. 

Sometimes I get to wear a jaunty bandanna like this one. Don't I look dashing, though!

It will come as no surprise that one of my jobs is to guard the house and protect my peoples. I'm learning that job pretty darned quickly. Mom says I'm a smart little cookie. I guess that's why she calls me her little snickerdoodle.

Here's my favorite house-guarding spot:

Nope, I'm not stuck. But from here I can watch the front door while I'm keeping track of my peoples when they're upstairs. Here's another cool guarding spot, where I can look outside and see what's goin' on:

And this is my favorite "chillin' with Mom" spot:

Yes, I'm a brave guarding dog, and I bark like crazy whenever someone comes to the door or if there's someone new in the house--until I know for sure they're O.K.  And then I beg 'em for belly rubs. Ooooh, belly rubs... Is there anything better in the whole wide world than belly rubs?

But my most important job is healing my new Mom's heart; and I'm doing that real well too! She was so sad when we first met. See there was this great big sheepdog who used to take care of her, but he's up in doggy heaven now. But I make her laugh a lot, and I make sure she gets up bright and early in the morning, and I take her on three walks a day so she gets her exercise. And when she's just hanging around the house, I like to hop up and snuggle with her. And even when she gets cross with me (like that time when I found her old 45 records and chewed a couple of them up...), I always make her smile.

My new Dad shakes his head and laughs, "How ever can a dog get so spoiled so quickly?!"

Hey, and guess what? I even have a nanny! I don't have a picture of her, but she comes over whenever my folks have to be gone all day working, and she takes me for walks and gives me lovins and treats and stuff. I like when she visits; it's all about me!  Next week she's gonna take me for a "spa day." I don't know exactly what that means, but I know it means I'll get to see my friends at All Creatures: Doc Mary, Nicole, Erin, and all the other nice ladies who coo and make a great fuss over me there... Nanny Mary promises me I'll have ever so much fun and that afterwards I'll be even more handsome than I am now!

You all were so wonderful when I was living there for a little while. The shelter was way, way nicer than where I was living before that, and I know you all really, truly love all the animals that come your way and want what's best for us. And so I thought maybe you all would like to hear from me and know I'm doing just fine and dandy here in my new home.

I will always be grateful for you taking me in like you did, when you did. 

Love & Peace,

Arlo