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submitted by Sandy Ingmanson Westford, MA who had NEOESR's FIRST RESCUE DOG |
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submitted by Sandy Ingmanson Westford, MA who had NEOESR's FIRST RESCUE DOG |
| #1 Charlie: In 1962 when my
husband and I moved to Westford, we were teaching school in Concord, Ma.
Every morning on our way to work we would see Old English Sheepdogs waiting
with the kids at two different school bus stops. Richard had to hold me
in the car as I just wanted to touch the dogs. This was when I started
asking my sister-in-law, who was a dog handler, if there were ever any
"non-show dogs" available. Finally one day she called me to tell
me about a breeder friend who had this male OES who needed a place to stay
for two weeks while she went on vacation. Seems his family no longer
wanted him and neither did the maid, gardner and etc. Well....the friend
turned out to be our very own G/A - and my "s-i-l" was showing her dogs
at that time. The rest is history....I got to touch that dog - he touched
our hearts - and we brought him home home with us for two weeks and he
stayed for 16 more years until he was 17! This was Charlie who is now our
logo dog and OES have been touching my heart ever since that first pat
in 1964.
#2 Cindy: came along in 1979 when we thought that Charlie wouldn't be with us much longer. Because we had just adopted two upright children we decided to ADD one rather than replace one. Charlie surprised us and lived another year and a half. I do not recall Cindy's history before rescue. She lived to be a happy 15 year old...with several cats...one named Cindy! #3 Cleo: was the next bundle of fluff to join us at about 10 years of age. She was blind and truly amazing. She could make her way around the house as long as you didn't move the furniture. She loved to go running in a field on the end of a 30' training lead - but getting there was another story. She would gladly get in the car to go, but her teeth would chatter the whole time until she got out. We were named "Home of The Year" with dear sweet Cleo. I lost her to bloat on November 15, 1992 six months to the day after suddenly losing my husband. #4 was named Sheba (not a name for an OES!) I had already had 3 that came with "C" names.... so she became Chellsey. She was turned into the animal shelter in Falmouth, on Cape Cod by an elderly couple. She was very lethargic and not doing well at all. After several weeks the shelter decided to have her put down. The lady who was taking her to the vet, stopped to do an errand on the way and when she came back to the truck - Sheba was in the driver's seat. She just couldn't take her after that and soon she came into rescue ~ thank goodness- she was 10 + years old when I adopted her and she lived happily and active for another 3 1/2 years. #5 This dog arrived from CT with no name or statistics - just a tatoo in her ear. She had been observed being put out of a car on a dead-end street near a boat ramp in the middle of a very snowy winter. The car drove off and thankfully the lady who saw this went out and brought this cold and frightened baby inside. Despite numerous "DOG FOUND" adds and phone calls to local shelters - no family ever came forth. Another pup comes to rescue! Again my heart went out to this sweetie and Chrystie became a member of my family on February 24,1997. She was thought to be about two years old so I felt that I would have her to love for many years. We went to the picnic that following June where she received her CGC award and we hadn't even been to doggie school. Chrystie was absolutely wonderful until we sadly learned in April of 2002 that she had pancreatic cancer. Our last picnic was that following June and she can be seen in many scenes in the video including a very poignant shot of her during the credit.... "THE END"! We lost our battle with the cancer on July 29, 2002. I was devastated with the loss of my dear girl-best friend- -significant other. I could not stand the emptiness in my home, my arms and my heart. Within days I told Annie I was"ready"...and already had a name picked out! #6 on August 17 Laurel picked
up Daisy- a small intact female who was being turned into rescue because
her caretaker had become very ill. She went to the vet Monday morning for
"you-know-what". I visited her before and after "y-k-w" and just
knew that she had to be my "Charley". On the 4th day after her surgery
Annie said that she was ready to go "home" where she became the proud sister
of 6 cats whom she loves and licks unmercifully. She was very timid and
frightened of everything...not at all socialized. We have been a "hardly-ever-apart"
two-some ever since. We are living every day to the fullest. So far her
titles are: BOG=Beginner Obedence Graduate,
I can hardly believe that it has been nearly 40 years that I have known G/A (that tells you a little bit how OLD we are) and that I have been loving and opening my heart and home to these wonderful creatures. What makes it even more interesting - after we adopted Charlie...I discovered that my mother and uncle had Old English Sheepdogs as pets when they were young. When looking at our square...if you can get close enough, please note that each of the dogs white parts is a different white on white fabric...as each of them has been very different. Each one seemed to get better and easier...or maybe I am just getting better and easier with age! Gotta go....charley TGTBT wants to go out and "play" school.
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