Meet Harper!

[makbike]

I once again hosted a ride for the club today in my neck of the woods. This was a new route, very rural and very scenic. As my friend Susan and I swept the ride we encountered a small, undernourished beagle mix on the side of the road. We stopped and Susan shared her crackers with this little dog. My heart sank for this little dog (I have a special place in my heart for beagles). As we left her on the side of the road I found myself telling Susan I would come back for her once we got to our cars. Have I lost my mind I already have two dogs and one of them is dog aggressive. I could not shake this little dog from my mind and when we stopped at the last store stop I was on my phone with my vet's office (best friend is the vet there). They agreed to work us in at the end of the day. We made it back to our cars and I headed home to shower, drop my bike off and drive back in hopes of finding her.

I did find her in the exact spot we had left her. She came racing down to the road to me and well the rest is history. She evidently does not like to ride in the car for she got sick on my back seat - no big deal. She did great at the vets office and everyone was her new friend.

My friendly vet estimates her to be 5 or 6 months old. She is underweight by about 5 lbs. We picked a lot of ticks off her and discovered an old wound on her throat. Her lymph nodes are enlarged. She appears to be a beagle, jack Russell, hound mix and has really long legs. We treated her with Frontline and have started her on an antibiotic. Since I found her on Harp Pike I've named her Harper.

The primarily introductions with my other dogs went well. My blue tick hound, Zorro, appears to be in love with her. Gaston, the dog aggressive Great Dane, did not seem the least bit interested in her so this may just work out for her.

Time will tell but right now I'm feeling pretty darn good. I've been thinking about adding another dog to my household and a beagle at that. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[DDH]

AWWW how sweet. Good for you to take her in. I hope all works out. I'm glad she found you. Sounds like she knew you were going to come back for her. Isn't that strange the way she stayed there and then came running to you.

She is very cute!!!

[Chicken Little]

Ok, YOU are going straight to heaven.
She will be the best dog you ever had.

[KnottedYet]

I am also thrilled that she waited right there for you all that time, and then came running to you!

She is your dog, all right!

[F8th637]

How wonderful! I know that she will be a great addition to your family and there is definitely a special place in heaven for you. ;)

[Zen]

Awww, Harper!

[LBTC]

Thank you, MB! Harper is adorable, and he made it perfectly clear that he claimed you for his keeper. Yay!!! :D

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[melissam]

Makbike,

Thanks for sharing this awesome story! Wishing you & Harper many happy years together!

- Melissa

[Trek420]

Awwwww, how could anyone abandon that face? Their loss, she was meant for you.

We want to see the "after" shots because with a loving home, a doggie pack, and your care she's going to fill out and be a beautiful dog.

[Wahine]

I love these stories on TE. It reminds me of all the good people out there. Thank you.:D:D:D:D

[crazycanuck]

Makbike, you're a wonderful human :D and the doggie will love you forever..

[jesvetmed]

So many good stories lately on TE.

Marcie, she is beautiful and obviously she fell for you!

I hope that all goes well in your household with the dog mates. If her lymph nodes don't go down, ask you vet about tick-borne diseases. Maybe that's what the antibiotics are for... probably. Don't mean to butt in!

Enjoy her and spoil her - -it seems her life so far hasn't been very pampered. Now she can relax and be a dog.

Jes

[teigyr]

Marcie, she is beautiful :D It makes me so happy to hear stories like this. It sounds like she is a pefect fit for the rest of the crew too.

It really sounds like as much as you chose her, she chose you also. It is perfect.

[Trekhawk]

Oh what a wonderful post to read!
It warms my heart to think of her happy and safe at home with you and your other furry friends.:)

[Velobambina]

Sounds like fate brought you to Harper. What eyes! You must post pictures after she's fattened up a bit!! Three dogs is a good number (I have three goldens).

[makbike]

Jes - we have her on doxycyline so hopefully we will prevent any of those nasty tick borne diseases.

Here I was worried about my Dane and his aggression and last night little Harper was the aggressor. My Dane just looked at her and walked away - I'm very proud of him!

[hermitclub]

Your story made me cry tears of joy. I wish you, Harper, and your pack much happiness.

[sundial]

I've been thinking about adding another dog to my household and a beagle at that.

I've always said dogs know when to come into our life at the right time. :) Harper is soooooo cute! Thank you for rescuing this beautiful little girl and she will repay you tenfold with her love and devotion. :)

[aka_kim]

Wonderful story, and Harper is a sweetie! Often the best pets are the ones we didn't really plan for.

[elk]

yup...you got a new dog.....:D great name too.


ps if she's the only girl in the pack...she'll probably be the queen....is she spayed? i suspect not..?
pps are we talking about aggression? or expression?

[jesvetmed]

Makbike: Doxy will do it. EXCELLENT!
She'll be feeling at home in no time, likely ruling the roost from the sound of it! Post us some photos when she's up in weight and feeling better. She's going to be a beauty!

[makbike]

Harper had a great night, slept soundly and comfortably in my bathroom. Never heard a peep out of her. She seems to be housebroke which is a huge bonus in my book.

Harper does seem to be a bit intimidated by my "Thundering Herd." She has soon some signs of aggression, snapping and lip curling, but the other dogs are simply ignoring her. My fat cat, Chip, really seems to intimidate her but then again Chip outweighs her! I think with time and lots of love/attention she will fit in and the little problems will disappear.

I'm going to check on spay prices on Monday. She is not in heat but given her age I would say it won't be long and with a good diet will probably occur in the near future. Hopefully, I can get her in soon for her surgery.

Thanks again for all the kind notes and support. I think I have a friend for life!

[DrBee]

How wonderful! Harper will fill out so fast now that you've taken her in. Good for you! I wish you many years off playing and cuddling! She looks like almost all beagle - has she trailed the cat yet?

[maillotpois]

What a wonderful story!

[sundial]

Mak, just curious but did you have Harper tested for heartworm?

[makbike]

Sundial, that was one of the first tests I requested and it was negative. I'll drop off a stool sample on Monday so we know exactly what is living in Harper's intestines. I know for certain she has tapeworms for I found several proglottids on her stool when I went out to pick it up and deposit it in the trash. The next thing on the list of things to do is to get her "fixed" before she comes into heat. After which I'll begin the vaccine regiment.

[aly]

Ditto what everyone else has said. Thank you for doing such a good deed. I think you and Harper(excellent name) were meant to find each other! Have fun and keep us posted!!

[Trek420]

I just keep picturing you returning to the spot and Harper running to you.

Congratulations on your new best friend. :D You are a good human :p

[Running Mommy]

I have a HUGE heart for dogs!! (you have a dog aggresive dane huh?. I can't picture that being a former dane mom)
What you did is just the best thing ever!!! And like others I'm picturing her waiting for you. I really think that dogs pick US rather than us picking them sometimes. When we were looking at the shelters our little Jack was determined to get our attention. It was totally cute.
They must sense something in us that says "they would make a good family for me".
So happy Harper has a nice new home with people who care about her!
That story brought tears of joy!
Very cool, VERY COOL!!

[Tri Girl]

That's just the best "love" story!!! :D I'm so glad she was there waiting for you when you came back. I guess she knew you'd come back.
She's a beautiful puppy! I'm so glad that you went back to rescue her- you'll be best friends for many years.
I'm sure her aggression is just what she's had to learn to survive on her own in the great big world. How sad for her.

Keep her well and pet her often. :)

[surgtech1956]

She is so pretty. Sounds like she is so lucky to have found you - they know when they're 'home'. It won't be long till she fills out and is part of your thundering herd. I just can't understand how someone can't love animals, especially dogs and cats - DGF and I have 7 cats and 2 dogs - just one big happy FAMILY.:D My lab mix use to get car sick when she was young, we were fine with rides less than 30 minutes(30 minutes was the magic number) - she outgrew it.

[divingbiker]

This is such a sweet story. Post more pictures when she's feeling secure and happy and her belly's been full for a few days/weeks, please.

[Tuckervill]

I love these stories on TE. It reminds me of all the good people out there. Thank you.:D:D:D:D

That's what I was thinking, then I read your post!

There must be a connection between cycling and loving dogs. I love all people who love dogs and cycling! ;)

Karen

[Dogmama]

You've earned many many karma points! Good for you!!! Obviously, you and Harper were supposed to be together. What a sweetie!

[NoNo]

Mega karma points for you, what a generous soul you have! I hope Harper recovers quickly and brings as much joy to you as you have to her.

[sundial]

I know for certain she has tapeworms for I found several proglottids on her stool when I went out to pick it up and deposit it in the trash.

Once she has been de-wormed, her coat will become lustrous and she'll fill out in no time. The heartworm fairy must have protected her as she is lucky to be pretty healthy considering her plight. Good job, Mak!

[smilingcat]

tad late but oh such cute girl. And thank you too for rescuing a wonderful dog.

Isn't it amazing, dogs and cats sense who is going to open up their heart. Several of my cats adopted me just like Harper. It's just amazing she waited for you at the same spot then came bounding over when you went to pick her up. I'm really happy for her. Wish you guys many happy years together.

And yes lots of karma points.
Smilingcat

[teigyr]

I was just thinking about the two of you along with the rest of the gang. How is it going?

[makbike]

All is well here in Shelbyville. Gaston, the Dane, and Zorro are doing well with her. Harper has calmed down too and is no longer snapping at them. Harper went in yesterday to be "fixed" and is now home. She is sleeping at my feet. She does not have much pep in her step at the moment. The young girl across the street is going to take care of her while I'm tackling RaIN this weekend. Harper will be in great hands.