Posted May 22, 2000

Lexie, pictured above with her best friend in the world, Sadie, has come to a most happy ending after a perfectly dreadful former life. Her story is best told in the words of her foster, now adoptive, mother. She finally gave in and accepted that Lexie was was home to stay. Sadie, formerly adopted by the same mother not so very long ago, had clearly conspired with Lexie to make this happen. Please read below.

This "Happy Ending" was not foreseen, but sometimes circumstances alter things. Lexie orchestrated her own future. With help. 

I first laid eyes on Lexie at Tail End Kennels in February, 2000. She was pathetically thin and had skin peeling off her back. There was no fur on her chest or nose, and what little fur she had was falling out. She also had an ear infection. Just like a Phoenix, a new dog was going to rise from the ashes. Lexie and my younger dog, Sadie, immediately began to form a bond that in the end proved impossible to break.

Before I could even begin to search for a permanent home for Lexie, it was necessary to get some weight on her and get some kind of treatment for her skin condition. During her recovery, she and Sadie were always together. And all they did was play, play, PLAY!

Finally, I thought we had found her the perfect home. I waved goodbye, and off she went with her new family. A few days later, the telephone rang. Lexie was not getting along with their dog, and they wanted to bring her back.

I attempted one more placement and drove 200 miles to introduce her to the family that was interested in her. She, however, was not interested in any of them; she snapped at their dog. Under the circumstances, this dog did not invite her to move in with the family. So back up the road we went, and I wondered what I was going to do with her.

It was becoming clear that Lexie had decided that this was the home she wanted, and she was doing whatever she could -- even getting along with my older dog -- to convince me.

Sadie and Lexie have formed a bond that I have never seen before. They truly love each other and now even include Teddy (the older dog in the family) in some of their play. Lexie seemed to know things were changing in her favor; she played with the tennis ball, throwing it up in the air, then throwing her bone up and catching it.

Lexie took her case to the highest court available and pled it successfully. It is clear that these two dogs belong together, and so it will be. She came and claimed our hearts, and now she has been officially welcomed as a member of the family.