One Year Anniversary

January 3, 2011 marked Zuzu and Tootie's one year anniversary in their new forever home. Thinking back to how they were that first night, remembering all of their "firsts" with us and the moments they began to trust us, albeit rather slowly and cautiously, it has been a journey filled with frustration and joy...mostly joy. I'm sure they didn't know what to expect as their foster moms dropped them off and left. The only thing familiar to them at the time was each other, and they never let each other out of sight.

They were always together. Eating, sleeping, exploring, it was done as a pair.

Taking walks was an adventure, for us and for them. The world was a new place, this new world far from the puppy mill from which they were rescued. Everything was new and scary. Cars, trucks, the clack of the newspaper box closing, a twig snapping underfoot, every sound was unexpected and startling.

As the weeks passed, Zuzu and Tootie grew more and more relaxed. Spontaneous moments of play would occasionally happen. It was still play between the two of them. We were merely spectators, not participants.

Slowly, they were looking to us for guidance and, I would like to think, protection.

The episodes of hiding in the kennel that was tucked away in the bedroom grew less frequent. They were spending more and more time with us, looking more and more confident and secure.

They even ventured up on the sofa with Wayne, still laying close to each other-or in most cases on each other-quickly picking up the finer points of how to be a dog while forgetting, hopefully, how to be a tagged animal.

An unforeseen change in my employment in early February launched a new and exciting chapter in our lives. We decided to escape the cold, wintry climate of St. Louis and headed south to our second home in the Florida Keys. When Zuzu and Tootie adopted us, we were happy to learn that they love riding in the car. This was a good thing as we embarked on our two-day, 1,200 mile road trip to Sugarloaf Key, Florida.

With the snow and cold far behind us, we reached the palm trees of South Florida.

They settled in quickly at the house discovering the panoramic view of the yard and sound from the lanai.

And they appeared to enjoy lounging at the base of the stairs near the palm tree, basking in the warmth of the Florida sunshine...no snow drifts here.

They may be missing the game of Lafayette Square and Forest Park back in St. Louis, the abundant grey squirrel and ever elusive rabbit, but here in the tropics, they discovered quick little critters, the Cuban Brown Anoles darting in and out of the rocks, up and down the palm trees, and across the walkway. Their quick movements intrigue Zuzu who is always up for a chase.

Tootie, however, left the chasing to her sister lounging instead comfortably in the cool grass and warm breeze.

All was going well until a visit to Marathon Veterinary Hospital for an introduction to Dr. Kristin and a check-up. We were concerned about Zuzu's cough and inability to put on weight. During the visit, Dr. Kristin suggested a heartworm test since her symptoms seemed to point towards such diagnosis. We were relieved on the one hand that the test came back positive, but worried on the other about the course of treatment and outcome. Dr. Kristin explained the process and scheduled Zuzu's overnight stay for her two shots.

Zuzu did fine with the shots. Now, I had to keep her calm and limit her activity for the next six weeks. No running, no playing, no barking, no stress, no excitement. She should be confined to her crate and walked on leash only for brief potty breaks in the yard. Easier said than done...try explaining all of this to Tootie!

Zuzu adjusted quickly to the routine, and Tootie quickly followed. While Wayne was away on business and up in St. Louis tending to our house, I helped Zuzu through the six weeks period following her shots.

The two were never far apart and spent a lot of time in the office with me. Tootie, who never misses an opportunity to lay down, showed her level of comfort and trust sleeping soundly on her back.

Six weeks of lounging around and staying calm.

Easy for these apparent twins figuratively adjoined at the hip. All went well until the springtime thunderstorms began to brew...

Keeping a dog frighten of thunder calm while recovering from heartworm treatment was a challenge. We would find the most confined space, usually the bathtub, and weather the storm. Zuzu and Tootie are doing much better with thunderstorms now. They still get anxious at the first hint of thunder, but instead of climbing into the bathtub, they both curl up in the corner of the kitchen.

The turning point for Zuzu and Tootie, we believe, was their first trip to Marvin Key. A series of mangrove islands bordering the Gulf of Mexico and a strip of sand only exposed during low tide, Marvin Key is the quintessential bit of paradise in the lower Keys, and a canine playground. There, our two girls were able, probably for the first time in their lives, to run unencumbered by fences or leashes. Their only boundary was the water.

Their new friends, Bart and Tyson, showed them how to play, to let loose, and swim at Marvin Key.

Zuzu and Bart quickly became buddies.

It was a totally new experience for Zuzu and Tootie...you could see them begin to relax and the joy appear on their faces as they frolicked and played in the water.

Run, run, and run is what they did, as far as they could go away from us at first before looking back, turning around and running straight back to us with tails wagging. At that moment they acknowledged us as their pack. We were a family.

We made many return trips to Marvin Key. We didn't know if they would like the water let alone the boat. They love the water and they go crazy when we put on our swimsuits. They are the first ones in the boat ready for their ride to Marvin.

It has been a great year for Zuzu and Tootie, and for us. We have learned a lot from them. We can't say that it has been easy or without challenges and frustrations. There were many times we didn't know what they wanted or why they were afraid or nervous. During the first few weeks we had Zuzu and Tootie, we didn't know if we were hurting or helping them. Frustrated, we asked a very good friend what he thought. He said that you shouldn't measure progress in days, you should instead look at their progress in months. That was excellent advice. We pressed on providing them with love and care as well as consistency and structure. After twelve months, Zuzu and Tootie have become happy and healthy members of our pack. And progress continues...