Newt

I love Newt's story because it reminds us that the phrase "rescue dog" has a wide variety of real-life applications.  It also underscores the need for us to watch out for our furry friends and be their line of defense when they can't be their own.

You see, Paige first saw Newt when he was just a squiggly little puppy who came into the local pub with his owner one day while she was there.  The owner lived nearby with a few roommates and he didn't have a great reputation. She wished then she could have taken Newt home with her but of course that wasn't a realistic, or for that matter legal, possibility.

A few months later she ran into one of the roommates and inquired how Newt was doing. The guy had nothing good to say, explaining that the puppy was "horrible."" He was destructive, under foot, and not potty trained. He said the owner was sick of him.

Paige took a chance and asked the owner if he wanted to get rid of the dog. Fate was in her favor (and Newt's) and he came to live with a great Mommy that day. First she had to take him to the vet, though, since he had never been to one.  Not to mention he was underweight and dehydrated.

 

As Paige helped Newt adjust to life in a home with love and attention he quickly become potty trained. He also did not destroy anything important or beyond that which a puppy might do. Even when she fed him, which at first was crazy time with Newt knocking her over, he gradually learned proper eating behavior and was eventually able to free feed.

Newt was a lover. He loved everyone who came to visit and everyone who came to expect him on his regular Sunday visits to the Petco cookie bar. 

He loved car rides, and he loved coats!  Paige says the coats seemed to make him grow a bit taller and more confident, and he wore them with pride. 

He actually quite enjoyed wearing clothes, and sat patiently when Paige measured and pinned this Halloween costume a few years ago.

Newt knew when to be a sensitive snuggler and when to get Paige up off the couch and distracted with fun. He helped her through family deaths, a divorce, and many moves until she finally wound up where she is now. 

To reward him, she bought the big lot behind her house, so he would have more room to run. She also brought in a brother, Sampson, whom we'll meet in the future.

In May of 2012 Newt went Over the Rainbow Bridge.  I'm not going to get over-emotional here, even though it's very hard not to, because Newt had a mother who not only saved him from God-knows-what, but then proceeded to make his life amazing. He died of cardiomyopathy in his favorite spot in that big back yard, and made Paige's life the better for his existence. 

Thanks so much to Paige for sharing Newt's beautiful story. RIP Newt, and keep the couch warm for Paige until she gets there. We will share the rest of Paige's story in the future here but in the meantime you can follow her on Instagram @pmaxstrong1.

Do you have a rescue story to share? Email me at pabibliophile@gmail.com and I'll walk you through it. Or pass the word about the blog to someone you think might be interested.  Be sure to follow us on social media as well.

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