Banjo

Whew, did I ever have a week! It all started last Saturday when the "Big Guy" and the "lady" came into HART. I could tell I needed to turn my charm up to "maximum." I did all the tricks that we talked about at night at HART on how to get adopted. I licked the Big Guy's fingers through the cage and when he picked me up, I licked him on the neck and wagged my tail like crazy. I got the Big Guy worked over and quickly started on the "lady." Yep, got her in my grasp as well.

It worked!!! Yippee!! I got adopted and went home with them. I had so much fun. They had this thing in their back yard called a hill. Well I ran down the hill as fast as I could and let me tell you, I should have told my back legs to SLOWWWWWWW down. They passed my front legs and I tumbled. Not planning to do that again. Then at the bottom of this hill I saw the biggest water dish I've ever seen in my life. The Big Guy was with me and he called it a lake. It even had these big flying things in this water dish. Boy, were they noisy. The Big Guy called them geese. They scared me so I just hung out by the Big Guy's feet.

Well, by Sunday I sure had a tummy ache. The Big Guy and the lady held me most of the day. I kissed them all day, too. They took me to the doctor on Monday and then my life changed. I was poked a bunch, they put tubes in me and put me all alone in a cage. I couldn't see the Big Guy and the lady ANYWHERE! Why did they leave me? I stayed in that cage for 5 nights and 6 days. People there were nice and took really good care of me, but I missed the Big Guy and the Lady. They finally unhooked all the gizmos they had poked into me. Well, I had had enough
by Saturday. I'll show them. I had a big breakfast and then I barked and jumped and barked some more. Guess what? My plan worked! The lady came and got me!! And then I saw the Big Guy too.

Now I am back at my new forever home. There are these cool things on the ground by the trees I like to play with. The lady calls them leaves. It is so fun when the wind blows and I can chase them around the yard. One of my most fun tricks to do to the Big Guy is try to walk right on his shoes...drives him crazy, I say.

I went to my new job today with the Big Guy at Lakes Music. He went over my job description with me and even though I'm still too little to read and understand everything, he said my job is to be cute, cuddle, and greet customers. So I'll turn up my old charm meter and be working on that so I don't get in trouble.

Oh, I feel so much better and am so happy. I hope you all find a forever home like mine.

Love,
Banjo

Follow up Note: Banjo was a real fighter and thanks to the heroes, Dr. Reiman and Dr. Eberts and their staff at Lakeland Veterinary Hospital, Banjo survived parvo and is recovering. He will still be on some antibiotics for another week or so, but all looks fantastic. He is still very affectionate and loves to be hugged and cuddled. He cried quite a bit on Saturday when he came home from the hospital and wouldn't let Tim or me out of his sight. He still seems a little weak, but every day we see improvement. He is getting more self assurance but still likes to know where we are. He has a strong appetite, so that is good as well. And....he is really showing interest in chewing like a normal, healthy little puppy.

Cindy Roggenkamp

Parvo is a virus that attacks the lining of the digestive system. It causes dogs and puppies to not be able to absorb nutrients or liquids. Puppies are especially prone to it because they have an immature immune system.

Read about Parvo here.