Poppy

By Dena Delgado
Southern California Dachshund Rescue

My morning was really one of those stay vividly in memory, because events were so unbelievable, you just never forget. I drove the 20 miles to the Orange County Animal Care facility to see a senior dachshund in kennel number 165. When I got there, I went straight to the kennel to check the little girl out. The little red girl with a white mask was sitting forlornly in the rear of the run, but when I called to her, she ran happily to the bars and licked my fingers and put her paws, with nails way too long, on my hand and looked into my eyes. “Save me, please,” they begged. I told her not to worry, I would get her out of there as soon as I could. She had been there over a week and no one wanted her because she was 10 years old.

I walked to the kennel office and waited in line for what seemed like an hour, though it was only 10 minutes. When I got to the counter, I was told that I could not have the dog as according to their computer, I had taken the limit of dogs out of the shelter and if I had a problem, I could discuss it with the city in which I live. Boy, did I get upset. I did not argue. I just turned on my heel and left the shelter. I got into my car and dialed my friend Rudette, who does small breed rescue. I told her what had happened. She said not to worry, that she’d find a way to get the dog out of the shelter for me. I was so upset by the morning's events, that I had trouble sleeping that night. What if the shelter put the dog to sleep before Rudette could get there? I would have failed the sweet old girl, and she was trusting me to get her out of there.

Rudette was good as her word. The next day when we met, Rudette had my little sweetheart with her. Rudette was a lifesaver, literally, as this little dog was scheduled to be put down the next day due to her age. I looked into the soft brown eyes of this senior doxie and asked her what her name was. The message I got from her was “my name is Poppy, like the flower.” So Poppy came home with me. Once we were home, and Poppy had settled in with my crew who welcomed her like a long lost relative, I picked up the phone and called my friend Celeste. Something told me this was a special dog, and she would want to meet her. I don’t know why I thought of Celeste, as she already had three doxies, but something about Poppy commanded I call.

On the following Saturday, we had our annual Hallowiener Picnic, and we took Poppy with us. Celeste, who had adopted George and Gracie a few months earlier, said she and her family of dachshunds were planning on attending the picnic. (See The Story of George and Gracie on the Happily Ever After Web Page.) Celeste assured me she would not miss the picnic for anything. As things turned out, it was a wonderful day for Poppy.

From Celeste:

Really, this is more "Celeste's Happily Ever After" story rather than Poppy’s.

As you know, my beloved Iggy passed away from congestive heart failure in May 2002. He was 15 and a half years old, and had been ill for about a year. I had had Iggy since he was a puppy, and he was my dearest companion. Iggy and I shared a special bond. And when he died, it left a hole in my heart that even Georgie's goofy antics couldn't fill. As much as I loved my other "fur babies", I didn't have that special bond with them that I had with Iggy. And I didn't think I would ever again have that kind of bond with another dog….. until I met Poppy.

A couple of days before the Halloweiner Picnic, you told me you had another older female who needed a home. I thought, "well, I'm not sure I can handle another dog", but said I'd meet her at the Halloweiner Picnic. And I told you to see if anyone else wanted her first, but that if no one else took her I might. (I think I was kind of hoping that someone else would take her so I wouldn't have to make the decision -- taking in another family member is a big responsibility, and I already had my hands pretty full!)

When I got to the park and got George, Gracie, and Buttercup situated comfortably, I finally got a chance to meet Poppy. At first, she was just so excited to be taken out of the pen that she was a little distracted. Then she looked into my eyes, and it was like we just "bonded" immediately. I spent the whole afternoon holding and petting her and talking to her, trying to convince myself I really could take in just one more... Then I started to notice how much she looked and moved and acted just like Iggy. She seemed to have Iggy's same sweet temperament and easy-going good nature. And she kept gazing deep into my eyes with those beautiful brown eyes of hers. It was as if she was trying to communicate with me. It was exactly the same way Iggy used to "talk" to me. I just fell head-over-heels in love with her. I went over to you and told you "I don't care whether anyone else wants her or not -- *I* want her!"

You said that she needed some additional veterinary care, and that you wanted to keep her for another week. So I gave her a hug and looked into her eyes and explained to her that I would be back to get her in one week, and that she would come and live with us then. (I am convinced that even if they cannot understand the words, they pick up on the intent). Then I put her back in the pen and went to load George, Gracie, and Buttercup into the car.

When I came back to get my blankets and stuff, you said to me, "I think maybe you'd better take her with you now -- she just became frantic when you left her..."

So with a heart full of joy (and my head screaming "do you really know what you are doing?"), I scooped Poppy up out of the pen and loaded her in the car with the other dogs (where she promptly found some food the other dogs had overlooked!) Within minutes, she laid her head down on my knee and went to sleep, and she rode the entire trip back home (almost an hour) laying on my lap -- as if that was exactly where she belonged. She just seemed so happy and relieved to be going home with me.

Georgie thought she was great! (But then, Georgie loves everybody, doesn't he?) Buttercup seemed to recognize that this new dog was a lot like our beloved Iggy, and accepted her right away (as long as she didn't get between Buttercup and the food at mealtime!) Gracie was *terribly* upset, and sulked for a couple of days, but eventually came around. (I went out of my way to give Gracie extra attention and cuddling, but she's just an insecure, needy little girl).

Poppy was a *little* excited when she met the cats, but soon understood they weren't for eating. (Since then, I have even seen her playing with the cats: dropping down on her front paws and wagging her tail excitedly, then leaping up and chasing them around playfully). And Poppy must have been around young children before, because my 3-year-old son didn't even faze her -- Ty would drop toys next to her, and she wouldn't even flinch. (For a while there, I wasn't sure there wasn't something wrong with her hearing. But it turned out her hearing is fine -- she is just so easygoing that almost nothing seems to startle or upset her). And for her part, Poppy just adores everyone. She is just the sweetest, gentlest, most good-natured dog you could imagine (...kind of like Iggy!)

She has fit in so perfectly with our household that it is as if she has always been here. As for me, it is as if I have Iggy back in some form. Poppy is different enough from Iggy that I know (in my head) that it not him. Yet she is so much like Iggy in looks, temperament, and in the way she and I "communicate" that I feel as if Iggy is back in spirit. And that big aching hole in my heart that was shaped like Iggy is almost all gone -- not completely, but Poppy has filled in most of it.

And I can just imagine Iggy at the Rainbow Bridge looking down and smiling because his mommy is not so sad anymore. I'm pretty sure he had a paw in this...

Celeste with her dachshunds: Poppy, Gracie, Georgie, and Buttercup
October 19, 2002

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