Hi Folks

I just wanted to give you the latest news and an update on little "Peanut" , the Chihuahua mix pup that I adopted from C.A.R.E. this last July 3rd.

I had been searching the internet for weeks trying to find a pup that I liked. I had several picked out that day to go look at, and oddly enough, Peanut was not one of them. His picture on the internet did not show his little irresistible face and eyes. I was actually on the way out from the C.A.R.E. facility disappointed that I was going home without a new pup, when spotted Peanut sitting by himself over in the corner.

Two minutes sitting in the cage with him was all it took to know that he was the one. He has turned out to be not only the one, but I really could not have been looking for any little creature more perfect.

We made his first visit to his new vet the same week for a complete physical. All of his tests came back with flying colors. We even did a DNA check on him to find out what he's made of. The tests came back already and show that he had at least 50% Chihuahua DNA, 25% Schipperke DNA, and the final 25% are from mixed breeds in quantities too small to detect.

My first concern and our first hurdle was how he was going to handle the almost hour long ride back home in the car from C.A.R.E. to my home in Englewood. Well, it turns out, he's a car ride fanatic. He loves going for rides, so part of his daily routine at his new home is to go for at least one short car ride everyday.

He also gets to go out walking at least twice a day. Once in the evening and once in the morning while it is cool.

Here's a picture of his walking street in his new neighborhood. This is a big dog walker community so he gets to meet new friends. It's also not unusual to come across a bobcat, gopher turtle, fox, or otter crossing the street early in the morning. All of which he finds fascinating.

Since he as spent so much of his life being able to see out side, I built perch out of pillows on the back of the couch so that while I'm at work he can keep an eye on things.

At first we had a little bit of an issue with separation anxiety, when I would go to work in the mornings, but by making the perch so he can see out has almost cured his worries. He's getting a little better each day which I think is helped by the fact that he can actually go to work with me on the weekends.

The look of anxiety .

He also wasn't quite completely house broken, but by working with him and understanding his wants and signals, we are well on the way to having that problem behind us.

He has turned out to be so gentle, that he is able to go everywhere with me and has made lots of new friends, both humans and other pups. He's very well socialized already.

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for letting me adopt this wonderful little guy and you can be completely assured that he will have the best home and health care any little creature like this deserves.

P.S. Let all the volunteers that were there that day, thank you for me. You can also let them know that since they were all so convincing that his name should stay as "Peanut", that is officially going to be his name. The more I looked at him, the more he looked like a Peanut anyway.

Thank You All!

Forest Crooke