peace4paws.org
Blackie's Story
That's me in the upper right corner - Blackie! I am the peace 4 paws puppy dog mascot. The first one! On this website I represent all the male dogs that have been used for research and related fields. Harriet, the cute beagle, represents the female dogs. She's real sweet. I love other dogs. But, wait, I would like to tell you my story from the beginning, so read on please, thanks!
Well, for the first few years I had a very happy puppyhood, but then my parents abandoned me to pursue a better life for themselves. They left me behind at a vet clinic. Because I am a big boy, I was perfect for use as a blood donor. I spent four years of my young life in a concrete runner, coming out to donate blood. I think saved some other animals' lives. Doing this did not actually help me any, but, I am a kind sort of guy who really likes to please others, so I was glad to help and brave too they said.
I did get to leave my runner once a day to play with the other blood donors, and sometimes, when one of the really nice vet tech's was there, Gilda, I would just walk around the vet clinic with her. That was fun, because I really like people. One rescuer, Cristina Ovalle, met me when she brought some other dogs to the vet clinic for care. She was worried that I might be really missing family life. She really wanted to help me. For years, she tried many things like putting posters up to try to get me adopted. People walked by my runner for years, but they did not want to adopt me because they thought I was either too big, too black, or as time dragged by, too old. I was sad about that. I really wanted to love and be loved!
Finally, when I was seven years old, Peace4paws.org found out about my life in the vet clinic ! They were convinced that I deserved to live in a loving home with caring parents, brothers, sisters, couches, soft beds, big lawns, and lots of opportunities for special field trips. And the Vet Clinic was caring enough to let me have a chance for a forever home and let me leave institutional life. I really wanted that. And after all that time waiting - I was rescued at last. Somebody finally wanted me as their own boy. I was so happy! I came to New Jersey in a big crate on a plane! Finally, I have a real home, a bed, not that painful concrete floor, and lots of love.
Right from the start peace4paws.org gave me lots of special attention. Lots of people helped me to be re-socializied and re-acclimated to life as a family dog. Amanda Berk evaluated me within weeks after I came off the plane and was convinced that I would be perfect as a family dog. She was right! Last year I started traiining for Canine Good Citizen with that nice dog trainer Amanda Berk. We are still working on that. This year, when I turned nine years old, and to be quite honest, I feel like I am nine months old, because I am so happy now, I actually took agility lessons and learned how to do really cool things, and got lots of treats and hugs in the process. One of my trainers was my good friend, Don, who was also nine years old. He may have had more energy than me! There is a picture of us below this article.
I think out of everything, I like the hugs the best. Oh, and the kisses. But, treats are high on my list as well. My peace4paws.org parents will post more pics of from my story soon. But, thank you everyone for giving me a chance to be a really happy dog! I am so,so happy now. Talk to you soon!
Well, for the first few years I had a very happy puppyhood, but then my parents abandoned me to pursue a better life for themselves. They left me behind at a vet clinic. Because I am a big boy, I was perfect for use as a blood donor. I spent four years of my young life in a concrete runner, coming out to donate blood. I think saved some other animals' lives. Doing this did not actually help me any, but, I am a kind sort of guy who really likes to please others, so I was glad to help and brave too they said.
I did get to leave my runner once a day to play with the other blood donors, and sometimes, when one of the really nice vet tech's was there, Gilda, I would just walk around the vet clinic with her. That was fun, because I really like people. One rescuer, Cristina Ovalle, met me when she brought some other dogs to the vet clinic for care. She was worried that I might be really missing family life. She really wanted to help me. For years, she tried many things like putting posters up to try to get me adopted. People walked by my runner for years, but they did not want to adopt me because they thought I was either too big, too black, or as time dragged by, too old. I was sad about that. I really wanted to love and be loved!
Finally, when I was seven years old, Peace4paws.org found out about my life in the vet clinic ! They were convinced that I deserved to live in a loving home with caring parents, brothers, sisters, couches, soft beds, big lawns, and lots of opportunities for special field trips. And the Vet Clinic was caring enough to let me have a chance for a forever home and let me leave institutional life. I really wanted that. And after all that time waiting - I was rescued at last. Somebody finally wanted me as their own boy. I was so happy! I came to New Jersey in a big crate on a plane! Finally, I have a real home, a bed, not that painful concrete floor, and lots of love.
Right from the start peace4paws.org gave me lots of special attention. Lots of people helped me to be re-socializied and re-acclimated to life as a family dog. Amanda Berk evaluated me within weeks after I came off the plane and was convinced that I would be perfect as a family dog. She was right! Last year I started traiining for Canine Good Citizen with that nice dog trainer Amanda Berk. We are still working on that. This year, when I turned nine years old, and to be quite honest, I feel like I am nine months old, because I am so happy now, I actually took agility lessons and learned how to do really cool things, and got lots of treats and hugs in the process. One of my trainers was my good friend, Don, who was also nine years old. He may have had more energy than me! There is a picture of us below this article.
I think out of everything, I like the hugs the best. Oh, and the kisses. But, treats are high on my list as well. My peace4paws.org parents will post more pics of from my story soon. But, thank you everyone for giving me a chance to be a really happy dog! I am so,so happy now. Talk to you soon!
Blackie and Don are best of friends and cousins too! Blackie and Don are learning about agility on a crisp, sunny day in Fall 2010. This Agility course is super fun for both of them. They are about to try the "ladder" under the supervision of Alice Harris of Furry Tails Connection, LLC at the Pet Lodge in River Vale. Blackie also enjoys the various jumps, but, his favorite is the "tunnel". The treats are great too, but the fun and the love is the best.
