Greta, who's eight years old now, joined our family in early April, 2000, and a sweeter dog never lived. The move from Houston, and all it meant, confirmed for her once and for all: we're a pack, and wherever one of us goes, we all go ..

      But it had been clear for some time something was missing. Someone of her own kind to play with. Tight as the three of us had been, she needed more than "people" companionship.

      Enter Jake.

      Jake was staying with Dr. Ogden, a very compassionate vet in nearby Burleson, when we heard about him. (Dr. Ogden is not the vet-with-laser alluded to below)

      Jake was "overflow" from the Animal Control Center, which was full, and he was facing euthanasia. The ladies at the vet's said he was a "jolly" little guy, and we decided to have a look. We liked what we saw, and brought Greta to meet him. She thought he was pretty "jolly," too, and the deal was done.

      The dynamics at the John household changed overnight, and everybody really scrambled for awhile.

      Jake quickly created a place for himself, Greta learned to share and where to draw the line, and both of them have become great pals.

Meanwhile, Greta developed a hematoma in her ear, and that was front page news around our house. The day this picture was made, she'd been scheduled for surgery the following day.

What a difference a day makes! The deed's done, Greta's delighted to be home and Jake is simply ecstatic; his pal is safe and sound!

Sadly, when the bandages came off, the hematoma was apparently "cured," but the ear remained floppy out there at the end. Not good. Nothing we can do to fix it. A suggestion: Move slowly when the veterinarian boasts of a brand-new surgical laser .. ask nicely for some evidence they have some skill in its use.

Happily, the floppy appendage doesn't seem to bother Ms. Greta .. a friend says it actually gives her an "inquisitive" look .. whatever, she is so sweet it hurts ..

[ We Two ] [ Greta & Jake ] [ Before Greta ] [ Friends ] [ Opinions, etcetera ] [ Potpourri ] [ And finally .. ]

Did You Know?

Almost five percent of all the dogs and cats in the US are euthanized each year. Literally, millions of them. A large number are animals left at shelters by owners who simply tired of them.