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guidofatherof5
11-11-2008, 07:58 PM
I thought I would post on behalf of my Old Dog. Her name is Alxis Rose Gilfillan. She is 16 years old. As you can see she is a very important member of our family. She came to me 16 years ago from our local animal shelter. I paid $20 and still have the receipt. At first, I'll be honest I thought I had Satan's Dog. As a puppy she was out of control. Nothing was safe from her. Every night I would return home from work and find something destroyed, turned over or chewed. Putting her in a room while I was at work didn't work as she would chew the bottom of the door or pull the molding off the walls. She was even able to rip solid oak flooring up. I wondered if life would always be like this. Then 1 day shortly after her 1st birthday I arrived home. To my surprize the front door opened without incident. Looking in the livingroom, everything was in its place. Sitting on the floor in the middle of the livingroom was a beautiful well behaved dog It was as if she was saying "Welcome home, I'm your dog"
My guess is the UPS driver must have delivered her brain that day.
Since that day she has earned my love, trust and respect. Everytime one of my children were born she would give them her seal of approval with a lick on their head. She sleeps with them when they're sick. Sits with them when they're sent to there rooms and tells on them when they're doing something wrong.
She is also a Life Saver. One night she directed me to a carbon monixide leak in the basement. Without her I would have died that night since I sleep in the basement. In the morning she gets first kisses and when they get home from school she's the first thing they look for. I don't mind at all.
Since my divorce she has stepped-up in her devotion and care for them. She is also my rock and my best friend. She helps raising 5 kids a whole lot easier. I'm lucky to have her. I hope you enjoy the photos.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/great_alex_cropped_Quick_e-mail_view.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/alex4.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/alex2.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/Alex1.jpg
She's my one in a lifetime dog.

Snake lover 3-25
11-11-2008, 08:05 PM
very cute:D you must love her alot:D

jitami
11-11-2008, 08:06 PM
Awww, these older dogs just melt my heart... give her a snuggle for me...

anji1971
11-11-2008, 08:06 PM
Beautiful story, and a beautiful dog, too. You are very lucky to have her.:)
Although I can relate to the eating everything in sight phase -- we had one of those too when I was a kid. Ate chair legs down to toothpicks, floor mats, even air fresheners. Crazy critters!:D

Aundrea
11-11-2008, 08:55 PM
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww she is soooo pretty!!!!! :D Love the pics and the kids are sooo cute!!! What a GREAT story!!! Thanks for sharing:D

Lulu Bennett
11-11-2008, 09:20 PM
that is such a beautiful story. she is such a cutey too

bio6464
11-11-2008, 10:10 PM
This is why I'm a dog person...she's beautiful. I think I need to go hug my baby (130lbs of female lab).:D

guidofatherof5
11-11-2008, 10:38 PM
As I type she's sleeping with my Molly who's not feeling well. A few years ago after Molly has Tonsil surgery. Alex layed with her for 3 days, only take potty breaks and drinking some water. She is truely amazing in her love for my kids(Her puppies). I have poster size photo's of each of the kids and Alex. We celebrate her birthday the same as one of the kids. Approx.20 attend. All people that Alexs has touched. I take her into my schools and she will walk unleashed down a hall with 300 kids in it. She helped catch 3 burglars that tried to use my backyard as a cut-through. That was a big mistake. She didn't bite them but they knew she would. When they found out I was a Deputy they said she was a good police dog. They never knew she was just a family dog. She's never had any formal obedience training but has a very large vocabulary understanding. I could go on but i'm saving that for the book.

olive oil
11-12-2008, 06:14 AM
I just love old sweet dogs! My Charlie is 7 and he is starting to get his white face already.
Great pictures.

olive oil
11-12-2008, 06:15 AM
Has yours turned more white over the years?

guidofatherof5
11-12-2008, 06:38 AM
Yes, most of the white you see has come with age. Her white stockings were once white no-shows. I will see if I can find an old photo and post it.

reptile3
11-12-2008, 08:43 PM
awwww what a sweet special dog!! I love hearing stories, like these!!
Guido you are soo lucky to have her in you & your kids lives!!!

give her a big hug from me....

Lori P
11-13-2008, 09:47 AM
What a great story. :-) She is a beautiful girl and obviously a very cherished friend. Hug her for me too!!

aSnakeLovinBabe
11-13-2008, 09:50 PM
aweeee.. shes lovely! Dogs really do become a key member of the family and I grew up with a german shepherd named penny that we rescued from a shelter. She was half the weight she should have been, she had no hair on her legs and she was able to recognize a gun by sight and would hide. She turned into a wonderful dog and you could tell how gratful she really was for getting her out of the hellhole. We had to say goodbye to Penny last october and are now blessed with Scooter, a rescued flatcoated retriever (him, his momma and and 10 brothers and sisters were living in an abandoned house when my aunt found them) and are raising another German shepherd, Jasmine.
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/Dogs/002.jpg

guidofatherof5
11-13-2008, 11:03 PM
They do become family. They are unlike any other animal. They love us with no conditions and forgive us just as quick. For the last 2 years my Vet has told me that my Alex is on borrowed time. I Simply informed him the she extended her load a few more years. I hoping to get her to 20. By then I may be able to handle her leaving. Not really, the thought of that brings me to my knees.

olive oil
11-14-2008, 06:10 AM
Beautiful Retriever. I just love the breed.
The little guy looks so happy. Very cute!

Lori P
11-14-2008, 06:26 AM
Oh, Shannon, look at those ears!!!!! Beautiful dogs, both of them. :-)

Guido, I read a quote last night that I adored:

I'm not going to die
I'm going home like a shooting star.

jitami
11-14-2008, 11:48 AM
Shannon, Jasmine is toooooo cute! I've often considered a flat coated retriever. The one and only one I've ever gotten to know was the sweetest dog with the softest temperment... not timid, just so easy to love :)