It happened like this…Not all “Rescues” are those who are physically taken or bought to remove them from situations of physical abuse or neglect.  Sometimes life situations change and the primary objective becomes that of finding a good loving home where a Poodle will have plenty of attention and proper care.  We received an email from a Poodle owner friend who had asked a few months earlier if we would be interested in providing a “Forever Home” for a red standard after they had been retired from breeding.  We had just recently bought “Miss Ebby” (Ebony JetStar) out of an undesirable situation, but said we would be interested and hoped that sometime in the next couple of years we would be able to obtain another standard.  Not two years, not one year, but about five months later we received this email:

         

          “Would you be interested in a Red Male Poodle

            that is a little over a year old???  He is house

            trained, but you would need to fix him.  He is

            truly sweet and loving and such a good boy.

            Let me know.”

 

A Poodle owner in Florida had become too ill to care for her animals, so our Poodle friend in Arizona had taken some of her Poodles to care for until she was able to get back to caring for them herself.  After several months and continued illness she told our Poodle friend in Arizona that she would not be able to take the Poodles back and to place them for her. 

 

One of the puppies was registered as “Te-Awa’s Cranberry Delight,” but called “McGyver.”  He was shown in a puppy match at five months old and took first in his class and then took a group 3.  He enjoyed showing and was a hit with all.  At first, our friend had thought she would use him to breed into her line as he was very large, beautiful red with a very laid back and sweet personality.  Then it was noticed that he sometimes ran funny, so they took him in and had x-rays taken, but they only showed a slipping hock.  Our friend did not want to take a chance of introducing something into her line that could be passed on to pups.  “McGyver” had been debarked—still able to bark, but had a little, soft puppy bark.

 

On Friday, 17 November 2000, we went to SeaTac to meet “McGyver’s” flight from Arizona.  It was love at first sight when they let him out of the crate.   Everyone in the Air Freight Section had to come over and see the huge, red standard Poodle.  After much “ooing” and “ahhing” we got in the car and put his crate in the trunk.  When we arrived home we let him out to do his business and then introduced the other poos to him, one at a time so he wouldn’t get overwhelmed.  Everyone patiently waited their turn at being introduced and exchanging sniffs until “Miss Ebby” pulled herself out of her collar so she could get to him.  There was a lot of tail wagging and butt sniffing, but not one growl out of anyone.  He has accepted “Blue” as the older (by seven years) alpha, male dog.  They frequently nap, butt to butt or with “McGyver’s” head nestled on “Blue’s” ample rump.

 

We scheduled “McGyver” for his neutering surgery and he came through with flying colors.  I bought the big bonnet to place on him to keep him from licking his stitches, but it was so big I couldn’t get him in the car.  So, I took it off and he never did wear it.  I only had to tell him “No” once, and he never licked his stitches again.  What a desire to please!  He is my red shadow and never lets me out of his sight.