Sarah is 1-1/2 and all Bouvi but her ears are not cropped.  She LOVES kids and LOVES riding in the car. What is a Bouvier Mix doing in a beardie mix rescue?  Well, read on .. Here is the Story as told by Toni Nyquist

 Well where do we start with Sarah.  With the phone call about the black  Beardie mix with the cropped tail?  Sarah came here from Jamestown by way of  Judy Graves.  And because of her Sandy the shaggy gold Wheaton Terrier  mix also made it to safety.  He was up on his last day and they asked if I  could take him too.  What?  Me say no?

 When Judy arrived with the dogs, Sarah jumped out and Judy said, "Beardie  Mix? - What do you think?".  I saw that shaggy girl and say "Maybe".  But  while brushing her down I thought different and called my sister who had a  Bouvier.  She came by and confirmed it.  Sarah was a Bouvi!

 Sarah generated a lot of interest when her photo was posted but when I  talked about her energy level and her sense of humor most people backed off.  Then Candy called and asked to meet Sarah.  We spent a lot of time talking  about Bouviers and Sarah.  Candy had some allergy concerns but after  brushing Sarah and walking her around the neighborhood, she was in love.  The next step was the whole family.

 The next trip was to introduce the whole family.  When Bill came up to Sarah  she dodged around him.  Then she spotted Candy again and everything was  okay.  "Oh, you belong to HER".  Sarah's first meeting with her children,  Matthew and Megan was fun to watch.  She jumped up and scratched Matthew  and he jumped back.  Then I watched a rather amazing change as Sarah jumped  up again but this time TUCKED her paws down so her toenails did not hit him  at all.  Megan got the official "Sarah Kisses" and giggled along.  They all walked  her  around the neighborhood and it was official.  Sarah had a family.

 We met on Friday to pick up Sarah's "supplies".  Of course Sarah came along  to help.  She was very excited to see her family there.  Candy walked Sarah  through the store and I watched this "baby moose" blossom into a solid  family member.  She kept an eye on her Matthew and Megan while helping to  pick out her own toys.  I was very proud of Sarah who was doing so well  walking with her new family.

 Then a most amazing thing happened as Sarah's family guardian instincts took  over.  There was another dog nearby, a very large Rhodesian Ridgeback.  Sarah had greeted him and then walked away.  Matthew and Megan came by and  the Rhodi growled.  Sarah immediately got in between and pushed her children  up against me, sat down and would not let them move.  At first I could not  figure out what she was doing and thought she might be backing away from the  dog.  But Candy saw exactly what she was doing.  "Look at her, she's  protecting her kids".

 Later when we were leaving the store, I walked Sarah out.  Candy was ahead  of me with the basket of Sarah's supplies.  The clerk was behind us with  Sarah's new kennel/dog house on a rolling cart.  Behind him were Mathew and  Megan.  Sarah kept pulling me to the side and I thought it bothered her that  this noisy rolling cart was right behind her.  Wrong.  We moved to the side  and Sarah didn't even look at the cart as it rolled by.  She watched Matthew  and Megan and pulled back in next to them.  She wanted them in FRONT of her.

 It seems I saw this playful, fun loving, baby Moose grow up before my eyes  that day.  Sarah has seriously taken over her role as guardian and "nanny"  of her new family.  When we loaded the supplies in their Tahoe, Sarah wanted  to load up too.  But she had to stay with me one more week as there was a  pre-planned family vacation.

 Sarah has been rather quiet this week, sticking close to me.  Each morning  we count the days backward and now it is "S" day.  Sarah's day to go home at  last.  Now Friday has come and Sarah has gone.  She was very happy to see  everyone  and walked around a bit to work out a little of her energy.  I got a goodbye  lean from Sarah  and it was time to put her seat belt harness on, "load up" and go.  She has  to learn to  jump up a little higher than she is used to because she now rides in a  Tahoe - in the back  seat with Matthew and Megan. 
 Sarah, you've been with me four five months and I'm gonna miss you.  But I am so happy that you have your own family to play with and take care of -  almost as happy as you are and I saw that look of satisfaction on your fuzzy  face as you drove off in the window seat behind your new dad.  Bye Sarah -  have a good time and come see me once in a while - thanks for passing  through my life on your way to your forever home.

 Toni (already missing the big black hairy monster that liked to jump up and  hit me with those big feet)

 Toni tomorro@mindspring.com