Max's New Life
By: Max

My mom asked me to give you all a "quick" update on myself. It doesn't seem like it, but it'll be a year since my world changed so much, in just a couple of weeks (August). If you don't remember I had surgery where they took my hip out. Ouch! That hurt, but having the hip hurt a bunch more than what it does now! I'm nearly recovered from that whole ordeal. I was brought into foster care at the end of August last year. I had spent since August 16th at the doctor's office.

There was a little bit of traveling involved with getting me here, about three and a half hours. But, when I got here there was a crate set up for me and treats and all kinds of wonderful things. Mom said I had a few issues that needed to be dealt with before I got to go to my forever home. Well, she stayed home with me and we both worked really hard on those issues. She said they got better. Mom said she wasn't going to get too terribly attached to me, because she was going to be temporary.

Meanwhile, Mom and Dad were looking for a permanent resident, a cocker spaniel. They said they had been looking since April or May. But the right family member just never came along. Mom started going to this place she calls work. Dad started playing a more active roll in my life. He was playing with me more and cuddling with me and all the fun stuff. Mom did those things, but I liked doing it more with Dad. Mom kept me clean and continued to try to play with me.

Mom kept talking to people about me. Telling them about my little "quirks" and stuff like that. Then there was this really nice lady that I went to meet. I didn't like the idea of leaving my new home though. I barked the whole way there, two hours I barked. Once we were there, I settled in really well. But, she decided that she wanted to take someone else to live with her.

Then Mom made a couple of phone calls about me. Then we waited over Thanksgiving. Then that's when things really started to change for me. They moved my crate into the bedroom. I was allowed to get on the furniture, for the first time in my life! Mom started to let Dad take care of my training. I get to sleep with Mom and Dad. Eventually, I started letting Dad brush and bathe me. It was kind of weird at first.

From the point that these changes took place, I knew things were different, so I started changing my habits. I started keeping myself cleaner, I was more confident, and I started listening more.

Even recently, I have been going through some changes. I am less worried about thunderstorms and rain, I am learning how to get even better mobility of my bad leg, and I starting to stand up for myself with my sister! Life is good. I keep waiting to wake up from this dream, but Mom and Dad say that it's a forever deal. I guess I'll have to keep enjoying the good life.