Paul

Hi Malise & Eileen & Jill- Everything is going so smoothly, I'm wondering if there's another shoe that will drop! Last night, my husband & I were talking about how quiet and calm and friendly "Paul" is, and discussing the dog he traveled with, "Joe Ghost". I was throwing out some new names for him and right after I said how about "Jasper" for a name, Curt said "Casper"! Casper the friendly Poof! So there it is! We've been out into the dog yard several times today where the dogs can run off leash. The path around inside the perimeter near the fencing is hard-packed from all of our walks, but right off the path, it is soft and 18" deep. Casper ran like a puppy down the trail, and like pyrs do, his back two feet lifting off the ground together when running, tail very curly & high, big smile. Then he jumped off the trail and bounded into the deep snow and just frolicked around! He play-bowed with the other dogs, who just stood and looked at him like, "whatEVER", the old grumps they are! Casper has quite the spirit, he's happy, loves all other animals, very friendly & comfortable with people, quite the "perfect" dog! Can't wait to take him skiing & hiking! The vet said he looks good, except for a possible emerging respiratory infection (although there are no outward signs), for which he is treating him with antibiotics to nip it in the bud. The vet said that Casper will probably weigh in at about 90 lbs when he gets to his eventual size. The vet agrees that Casper is about 2 years old. His eating is starting to pick up and he's eating a cup twice a day...the more we get outside and he romps, the hungrier he's getting. Last night he slept like a baby through the night on his dog bed right by my side of the bed. The other dogs sleep with us in the same room on their dog beds and everybody slept well. Casper got up at 7 our time, 8 yours. He's still on Texas time and it was still dark. He and the aussie played a bit then they all went out for their first morning walk in the dog yard. It is so much fun to have puppy energy around again!!!! What a breath of fresh air.I didn't realize how very un-puppy-like the rest of our pack had become over time. All three of them readily accepted Casper, like there was truly a Pyr-sized hole in the pack. must be something about the behavior/demeanor of Pyrs they recognize and are comfortable with. Anyway, a great first 24 hours, and we're all very happy! Thank you all for all you've done to fill our hearts again with a Pyr! Kate

**Pierre Video**

Last month, on my 5-year old daughter’s last day of school, I went to pick her up with Pierre, our beautiful best friend from GPRS. When she saw the two of us roll up, she began to dance around excitedly. After introducing Pierre to her teacher, she said, “Miss Dianne! Pierre is our rescue dog!” Miss Dianne, smiling indulgently, asked her what that meant. Maya very seriously replied, “He rescues us from monsters, and tigers, and burglars!” Oh my! Ahhhh… from the mouth of babes. I have thought about that exclamation from my very wise 5-year old many a time since then. She is so right, you see. How funny now to think that I actually thought at one point I had saved him, when in fact, it was I that was saved. Almost from the very first day, Pierre brought a calm, steady presence into our home. With 3 children ranging in ages from 9 months to 6 years, my husband and I need all the calm we can get! Most people think Pierre is sweet, but reserved—actually everyone does. But with us, there is not a hint of reservation to be seen. For us, Pierre is charming and playful, sweet and extraordinarily gentle. He has an amazing personality and disposition, and believe it or not, sense of humor…I swear sometimes I just know he’s laughing at me—usually when I tell him to stop digging at that tunnel to China under my bushes out back. But nobody else sees that side of him. That is all ours; that precious gift of letting us know how special he thinks only we are. Oh, how I love that dog. Our lives have changed considerably since the addition of Pierre to our family. Before his adoption, I would have smiled, and politely nodded my head if someone had said such a thing, but it’s true. He has opened our eyes to the plight of the countless rescues out there that are so deserving, so exceptional, so ready to love. Had I ever thought that a rescue dog was somehow “damaged goods?” Had I ever assumed that that the “pet overpopulation problem” was little more than a buzz word? Maybe. It seems inconceivable to me now, but I think that maybe I once did just that. My Pierre has blessed us with so many valuable gifts, and perhaps most importantly, the gift of enlightenment. Pierre has changed us in ways we can’t even imagine. He is the dog I dreamed and longed for as a kid. He is more than I could ever have known I wanted in a best friend. He is Old Yeller, Rin Tin Tin, Lassie, and Benji all rolled into one incomparable dog. He is affectionately called our Super-Pyr. He’s not even a mere dog to us anymore—he is family. Truly, what a rescue-hero he is.