My girls were born on the streets of Saint Martin (or Sint Maarten, depending on where they chose to roam) in the Caribbean. A group named the Animal Rescue League partnered with SXM PAWS to rescue and find loving homes for feral island dogs.
My neighbor at Echo Lake was in the process of adopting Maddox in December 2006. As she watched me fawn over the little black puppy, she convinced me to reach out to Mary Kate McDermott, who had another dog who had been flown to Seattle along with Maddox in an attempt to find them loving forever homes.
Welcome Home Sadie!
Sadie playing at the doggie daycare owned by her foster mom.
Despite consistent meals since her rescue in November 2006, Sadie was still underweight. (Shown here in January 2007 at about 25 lbs.) We overcame her food aggression with lots of practice and consistency.
Shy and nervous at our first introduction. We visited for about 2 hours, and I knew I'd see her again the following weekend.
First morning at her new home.
She picked out this giant bone at our first trip to Petco.
My Caribbean mutt doesn't know what to make of this snowy Seattle morning. (Neither do most Seattleites, for that matter.) I adore this little muppet-fuzz bed head.
Our very first outing... meeting my friend Jeremy at the Seattle Arboretum after a dusting of snow. This MLK weekend was a 'trial' period... but who was I kidding? I was in love. We even had matching hair.
Cold bum.
Playing with our first new toy: shaggy stuffed squeaky moose, which was a gift from my neighbor Meredeth.
An upgraded bed.
Sadie prances around Magnussen dog park in Seattle, WA.
WELCOME HOME MADDOX!
When I met Maddox, she had already been adopted (almost?) by my neighbor. She was quick and clever, and not a great match for my neighbor and her 102-pound dumb-as-a-box-of-hammers bulldog. When the bulldog needed knee surgery and bed rest, Maddox went back to the rescue organization. While I respected the decision, there was no way I could let Maddox become a stranger's pet. I immediately called Mary Kate and told her I wanted to adopt Maddox.
Baby Maddox in her little pink sweatshirt.
Mange had caused hair loss around Maddox's eyes and lips.
Sadie: You must recognize my dominance and surrender that delicious treat.
Maddox: Huh? I can't hear you... I was too busy chewing on this delicious treat.
The origin of our "out of the kitchen" routine.
PLAYDATES
The track at Shoreline Community College was never used, except by local off-leash dogs.
Reading the daily news
Are you standing on the log? I want to stand on the log too.
Zoom ZOOM ZOOOOOM!
Flying through the woods at Shoreview Park, in Shoreline WA.
Muddy paws
Baywatch Sadie
Edmonds Dog Park
Girls after a summer walk around Green Lake.
Sunbathing on the deck of the Echo Lake Condo.
Maddox suffered through 10-minute sudsing to combat her mange. The first time I didn't realize how chilly she would get... and I felt TERRIBLE keeping her there shivering.
After that, I used a space heater to roast the bathroom up to a toasty 85 degrees prior to kicking off her bath.
Kate & girls at the Furry 5k
Laura and Mathilda
Laura doles out treats to Sadie, Chas, Maddox, Mathilda, and Buster.
Girls bask in the afternoon sun shining on the stairwell landing
Maddox is cozy... Sadie seems unimpressed.
Girls at Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, Oregon
In theory, backpacks would give my girls a job and tire them out more on walks. As it turns out, Sadie is so well mannered that when the backpack touched the chair on her way past, she stopped and woulnd’t go any further. My goofy girl.
Waiting patiently to be invited up on the bed.
Sadie and Maddox play chase at the Island Dog Reunion
Happy reunion with Mary Kate
Stockings for my girls on our first Christmas
Sadie has a conversation with Uncle Skip during our visit to Sequim.
