Hello, my name is Mandy.  I am a Rottweiler at the rainbow bridge.

10.31.2001 to 12.02.2002

Hello to my friends.  My name is Mandy.  I was a QUEEN during my short stay here on earth.

Here is my story...

I was born on Halloween.  I had a first mommie & daddy, I think.  No, I know I did.   But for some reason, when I was only 6 months old, I ended up in the shelter.  I think I was placed there to be put down, but I don't know for sure.

I am guessing that no one came to adopt me, so my time was up at the shelter.  I was getting ready to be put down when the vet tech took a look into my eyes.  She later told the rescue that I looked at her & said..."please give me another chance."  And she did.

She called a local animal rescue, not the rottie rescue, & they came to pick me up.  They kept me for a few weeks to see if I got along with other doggies & kitties, which I did.

After my testing period, they took me to the local PETSMART, where they held weekly adoptions.  Several people showed interest in my but no one filled out any paperwork.  That was UNTIL my new mommie walked into the store.  She saw me sitting there & asked about me.  They told her that they didn't know why I had been dropped off at the shelter.  They told my mommie that I got along well with other doggies & kitties.  And this was good, because my new home would have kitties.

Later that afternoon, I was taken to my new home for a test.  I passed.  I didn't care that there were kitties there.  I just wanted a new home.  I wanted a new mommie & daddy.

At this time, I was the only doggie in the house.  The other rottie had passed away...that was URSA.  And my mommie & daddy were very sad when that happened.  They needed time to get over the pain of having to say "good-bye" to their Ursa girl.

My new daddy was out of town the day I arrived at their home.  But he was due home that night.  When he came into the house, there I was.  And he didn't care...well, I don't mean that he didn't care about me.  He didn't care that mommie had brought home a new doggie.

My mommie had a daycare at this time.  And I LOVED those kids.  They were so much fun.  I would play with them when they were in the backyard.  I would steal their toys & hide them.  Sometimes, I ate them.  I would play in their playhouse.  And sometimes, you could find me sleeping in the playhouse. 

But when the children went home at night, I got lonely.  I had a loving mommie & daddy that did everything for me...they played with me, they took me for runs/walks.  They loved on me.  But it wasn't the same as having a playmate.

So, after I had been there for awhile, my mommie decided she would find me a friend.  She started calling around.  Alot of people wouldn't let her adopt one of their doggies because I was a Rottweiler.  Like that made a difference.  But they told her that I could hurt another doggie.  Well, she didn't give up.  She found an ad in the paper for a "GOOD HOME" to a 1yr old. doggie.  So she called.  She was told that the lady had to return to work & her doggie didn't like being home alone.  She said that her doggie had been used to her being home for the first year & she got very lonely when she was gone so she was trying to find a home where the person would be home all the time. 

Well, that was MY home.  My mommie was home ALL the time.  So, my mommie set up some playdates to make sure that we would get along.  She had heard that 2 girl doggies never get along.  They can't live in the same house.  Well, that wasn't our case.  I loved my new friend.  I had 4 playdates with my friend before we brought her home.  I shared toys with her...took a nap with her during one of our playdates...I really liked her.

So, my mommie said that we would bring Dakota home.  I was SOOOO happy.  When Dakota came through the front door, I got very excited.  I now would never be lonely again.

I did have some quirks about me.  When it would rain, I would go nuts.  And if the wind was blowing, I would try to go THROUGH the glass doors or the windows.  For some reason, the wind did a number on me.  My mommie would let me outside when the wind would blow so that I didn't try to hurt myself.  I would run the entire length of the yard until the wind stopped.  If the weatherman said it was going to be windy, my mommie would give me some medicine to help me calm down. 

My mommie called the lady at the Rottweiler Rescue...Beverly...& asked her what she could do for me during these times.  Beverly told her to continue to give me the medicine.  She also told mommie that I might have something wrong in my head.  Beverly thought that the way I acted when the wind blew was a little "off normal."  She said to have my doggie trainer watch me during those times.

Dakota & I loved each other.  We would sleep on the couch together.  We would chase squirrels together.  We would play with the kids together.  We ate together.  We did everything together. 

Then, one night, Dakota & I were playing in the backyard.  Our daddy was back there with us.  Mommie was cleaning the kitchen.  All of a sudden, it got really windy.  And something snapped inside my head.  I attacked Dakota.  My mommie came running out of the kitchen & told daddy to help her.  He said..."they are just playing."  And she said..."NO, they are fighthing."  And she was right. 

It took mommie & daddy a long time to get us apart.  One of us bit daddy.  REALLY BADLY.  Both Dakota & I had to go to the ER.  We both had really bad "ouchies."   We both had to have stitches. 

Mommie called Beverly after this fight.  Mommie called our doggie trainer too.  They both came to see us.  And they both told mommie to watch me VERY closely. 

When Dakota & I were in the same room, we had to be on a leash & wear a muzzle.  One time, mommie didn't make me be on a leash & she walked by me with Dakota & I went after Dakota again.  My mommie started to cry.  She didn't know what was wrong with me.

Things didn't get better for me at all.  I tried to attack the kitties.  I NEVER did this.  I loved my kitties.  I started looking at the kids in a funny way.  So, mommie said I couldn't play with the kids anymore. 

I heard mommie tell my trainer that she could see the marble in my head go from side to side.  I didn't know what she was talking about.  I didn't have marbles in my head.  She said that I would be happy one minute & then I would get a very funny look in my eyes & REALLY FOCUS on something.  Beverly & my trainer said they thought I might have a tumor.  Mommie & daddy didn't want to hear that.

I still couldn't be around Dakota by myself.  And Dakota really wanted to be with me.  She forgave me for what I did to her.  But I just couldn't leave her alone. 

Mommie had to take me to the vets to have my wounds checked.  Now, I LOVED going to the vets.  When I walked in the door, I would put my front legs on the desk as if to say..."here I am."  I would always give them smooches.  Well, this day was different.  My doctor came into the room, went to look at one of my ouchies & I tried to attack him.  What was wrong with me???  I would NEVER do this to him.  My mommie started to cry again.

My doctor told her that I couldn't be trusted anymore.  That there was something very wrong with me. 

So my mommie had to call my daddy at work & tell him what happened.  We all knew what had to be done but my mommie just didn't want to do this to me.  She called my trainer & Beverly...they both said the same thing.  There was something wrong.  And I would only get worse.  And possibly hurt one of the kids or myself or Dakota.  And if that happened, then the people from Animal Control would come & take me & that wouldn't be a good thing.

So my mommie had to make a decision...not an easy one for her or daddy. 

On 12.2.2002, my mommie & daddy had to say "good-bye" to me.  I was only 1yr old.   And it was later determined that I DID have a brain tumor & there was nothing that could be done for me.  I couldn't have had surgery or anything. 

My mommie has said that she let me go with my dignity.  She was not willing to allow animal control to come & take me.  She didn't want to try & rehome me because she thought I would end up in a home where I might get hurt...beaten, left outside, chained up...& she said that I didn't have that kind of life with her so she wouldn't let that happen to me.

My mommie & daddy have had guilt about this for many years.  They know they did the right thing FOR me but it still hurts their hearts.

My mommie doesn't think that I will love her when she gets to the bridge BUT I WILL love her.  I will come running to her with my stump wagging. 

So, that's my story.  I am looking forward to making many friends here.

Thank you.
xoxo