My name is Choco and I have been adopted by my foster mom Carmel, even though I am 12 years old.  When I was surrendered from my last home...I was not very happy.  I was very much afraid of my last mom's little boy - and I spent most of my time by myself in the rec room in my house.  I would only come upstairs at night to eat my food because I was safe from that little boy who was so loud and scary!  I was happy until my mom had him, but then he got my spot on the bed and I was no longer number one.  My dachsie sister Shatze didn't seem to mind so I even lost her attention - she didn't want to stay downstairs with me all day.  I remember two times that little boy tried to get me and I went flying down the stairs only to lose my footing and topple to the bottom.  I was so scared and humiliated. 

My previous mom felt really bad but didn't know what to do.  I guess she figured I'd come around.  Two years later, older and sadder, my mom decided that I would probably be happier somewhere else.  Especially because she had another little person who was only 6 mos old. 

Into the paper my name went. where CCDR noticed me right away!  Next thing you know there was this kind lady who showed up to visit me and apparently she fell head over heels for me.  God knows why?  I am old, I don't have any hair left except for my feet and ears, and my teeth were rotten to the core!  I must have looked really bad because she whisked me away that very afternoon. 

I was so relieved to see that she didn't have any little people running around screaming.  I was so tired.  At first I was very quiet and one of my new buddies (the young one) was very jealous she took awhile getting to like me.  The oldest girl Bailie seemed to accept me right away.  Which was relief she even brought out each and every one of her toys to show me.  I never like toys or bones or anything like that though. 

My new mom took me to the vet right away to see how I was especially my teeth because  no one could get close to me and my eyes were so goopy from my infected gums that I could barely see.  I was in bad shape.  CCDR was so generous that they allowed my mom to go ahead with the dental surgery, the vet said she has never seen teeth and gums this bad. 

Everything seemed to be going well until they broke my jaw.  These things happen because there is only so much pressure an old man can take!  I had this little yellow button to keep my jaw wired shut for about 8 weeks. When my mom came to pick me up she nearly passed out from sadness at the sight of me.  She almost couldn't drive me home I guess she thought I was too fragile.  Her love for me took over and she brought me home, took the next day off work and babied me back to health.  I have never felt that kind of love before. 

It was really hard to move around and I could barely eat anything.  I had to be so careful to not get that wire hooked on any blankets or stuff.  All the medication I had to take really made me nauseous too I was getting sick all the time, which was worrying my mom. 

I also didn't have any hair so we went shopping for a couple of new t-shirts I fit really well into a 3 mos old baby shirt!  And people think I look so cute!  I especially have to wear them in the sun.  My vet actually took a couple of samples from my skin (at the same time I got my teeth done) so I had three stitches on top of that  eventually healed.  My vet couldn't give any reason for my hair loss except to say that my hair follicles just died.  Oh well, at least I'm healthy! 

My name is Choco and I am a new man.  I rule the house now little Robie plays with me all the time and Bailie watches out for me.  I chase them around the yard sometimes especially now that we have a new foster dog!  Her name is Rosie and she is only 6 mos old! (My mom and friends laugh at me because they say I look like a mini horse running around because I am so stiff I am not flexible at all so I don't look very agile! Ha!)    Man, she thinks I can't keep up with her but I do!  I show her that I'm the boss around here.  And when the food hits the floor I try to take all four bowls but my mom stops me.  She can usually tell by my bark.  When she doesn't look I chase them all away though!  It's like this family has given me a new life and I have so much energy I never knew I had!  CCDR is the best thing that ever happened to me.  I just wish I could repay them for all the money they spent on me have topped $1,100 Canadian.

I'm so glad that my foster mom adopted me she fell so much in love with me that she couldn't part with me.  (I get the feeling I wouldn't have been a chosen one anyway with no hair and only 4 teeth left!)  I have a zillion toys, lots of food, a big yard to play in, three fun sisters to play with, and a mom that would never trade me for anything in the world.  I even play with toys now and actually chew bones with my four teeth!  I never knew they tasted so good! 

At least now my mouth is healthy and I can now give all the kisses I want and I never stop.  I hope I live to be 20...!  I follow my mom everywhere she goes even when she's only one room away.  I really like the mornings she has peanut butter on toast :-) the crumbs are delicious. 

I love to be near her all the time. 

One lucky dog... 

Choco