Over the next couple of weeks, involving several parts, I will be telling you a story about extraordinary people and their journey to put their family back together after losing the love of their life, Zoey their 10 year old Chinese Crested Powderpuff after a long battle with cancer earlier this year. This is a story that covers a lot of the United States,from Michigan, to Missouri, to Maryland and it was all coordinated by a local rescue group right here in Missouri. A lot of the story I will put in Ken & Teri’s own words, because I couldn’t improve on the feeling and love that came through when they told their story to me.
First a little background: Crest-Care ( http://www.crest-care.net/ ) is a wonderful organization that rescues Chinese Crested dogs from puppy mills, auctions, abusive situations, neglect, and other situations. I am aware of this organization through a recent acquaintance with one of its members, Lee McCartney; a woman that is tireless in her efforts to place these dogs in good homes. She was the one that had first told me about Blake and Kane, two dogs that she had fostered for over a year that were soon to be adopted. Blake had been born under their care along with siblings, 3 of which died, and one which has a serious heart condition. Little Kane was rescued from being chained outside in the horrid Michigan weather for 2 years, when a concerned vet tech was able to talk the owner into giving the dog up. These dogs ended up with Lee and her other fosters and became best friends. This is where Teri and Ken Crisp came into the picture. Although Zoey had come to them from a breeder, when I asked Ken why they decided they wanted to rescue this time around he told me that the emphasis on the importance of rescue has increased so much in the last ten years that they never considered anything else this time around. They wanted to be part of the solution. For that alone, I love this couple.
Now in their own words, as told to me by Ken:
In 1999, after finding-out that we were unable to have children, I proposed to Teri that we get a puppy. I had already secretly found a breeder who had Chinese Crested puppies. There was only powderpuff in the litter, the rest were hairless. She stole our hearts. This gorgeous puppy became our beloved Zoey...truly our daughter. . She was essentially totally trained for her entire 10 years, which made her very low maintenance and a whole lotta fun! Zoey interacted with virtually every aspect of our lives. On March 10, 2010, my wife, Teri, and I had to make one of the hardest decisions of our lives. After a diagnosis of cancer and months of treatment the Oncologist said it was going to get real bad for Zoey, real fast. At that point, Teri and I immediately thought about what was best for Zoey. Somehow we found the strength and courage to have our precious little Zoey put to sleep while she was in my arms. We did not want her to suffer anymore. Besides, our little girl’s eyes seemed to be asking us for help. She was telling us it was time. I never wanted to get another dog; I couldn't go through this pain again. Or so I thought.
Three weeks after we lost Zoey, Teri came to me and suggested that we take a really nice vacation somewhere to get our minds off of Zoey. As she was naming different places to go, my mind was fast-forwarding to us coming home from that trip. I then exclaimed to Teri, “Let’s get some dogs and get our lives back! What are we waiting for! When we come back from the trip you’re talking about, you know we’re still going to be missing Zoey. Forget the trip — let’s look for two dogs this time!”
Teri’s face immediately lit-up and she asked if I was serious. When I assured her that I was indeed serious, she didn’t waste a second before she said, “We’re going to get them from a rescue!” I thought that was a great idea and we both also agreed we wanted them to be Chinese Crested Powderpuffs.
Teri began her search right away, staying up late at night, scouring the Internet for a couple of Powderpuffs that needed a good home. That’s where she learned about Crest-Care, a rescue dedicated to finding the best homes possible for the Chinese Crested breed. Teri was so excited when she came to me with a print-out of “Blake”, a Powderpuff puppy who was born at the rescue. He sounded perfect for us. We wanted this little guy! Not wanting to further chance being too late with our request for Blake, I immediately typed an e-mail and sent it to Blake’s foster mother, Lee McCartney. In the e-mail, I poured my heart out about Zoey, telling Lee what happened to her and how much she meant to us. I told her that Blake sounded perfect for us and asked a few more questions about him. Lee responded the very next morning and began her e-mail by first offering condolences on the loss of our Zoey. She then encouraged us to submit adoption papers for Blake.
We were about to learn that it was very fortunate for Blake — and us! — that Lee was his foster mother. She proved to be a very warm, caring and loving “mother” to all of her dogs. She treats every one as if they were her own. She is a very generous person who is also very knowledgeable and will spare nothing when it comes to taking care of her babies.
When we submitted the adoption papers, we indicated that we wanted to adopt Blake (now known as Rudy), then find a suitable playmate for him. Several days later, the Crest-Care rep in our area, Margaret Harvey (Pennsylvania), sent us an e-mail informing us that Blake already had a best buddy at the same foster home (with Lee). His name was Kane (who has since become Ringo). Teri and I didn't hesitate...we both said we'll take them both! It was a no-brainer. We couldn't fathom separating those guys if they were best buds!
Now the papers were submitted. The journey begins.
Please check back in the next couple of days to read the next parts of this amazing story.You will be able to meet Blake and Kane and see how these little dogs traveled across the country to their forever home. How does a couple from Maryland adopt two little dogs from Missouri? You won’t be disappointed. Thanks for reading!
Keepsake16@yahoo.com
Comments
Thanks so much for this Mary...I know the ending and you still left me hanging. LOL Big hugs.
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