With lots of hope ...

So, my name is Sir-Love-A-Lot. Sounds knightly doesn't it? My MPR family gave it to me cauz I'm like a knight in shining armor. My heart is huge, I am corageous, tough looking, but very gentle (kinda like the beast in "The Beauty and the Beast"). I am all of these things even though my armor isn't really that shiny. But although my armor isn't shiny the love that pours from me is. It glows like the sun breaking through a rain cloud (much the same as my life so far).

For me, the rain came early in life. I was running the streets every day trying to find food, stay away from people that wanted to hurt me and keep myself safe from the elements. Then one day, while seeking shelter on a porch, the sun came out. A woman stepped outside and introduced me to MPR and just like the sun pushing the clouds away MPR pushed all my days of gloom away.

They took me to an orphanage where I thrived knowing that I had a warm place to stay and good food everyday. This is where I have been since October 2007, in the orphanage. It's been great for me cause I have learned lots of things while being here. I've learned how to sit, ignore other dogs that I am walking by (I have to walk by other dogs to go outside and play), how to help hold the leash when I am getting ready to go somewhere, how to put my dirty blankets in the dirty laundry, and even how to make my bed (I put my blankets in my bed if you just put them in my kennel).

So if I have learned all of this new stuff why doesn't anyone want me? Where is my forever family?

My favorite nanny keeps telling me to be strong, that my time will come and my forever family is out there. I have to admit that after being here for 15 months now I'm starting to wonder if this is true or not. I've seen about 135 other orphans get adopted but I'm still here. Is my family lost? Did they come to get me then see someone else that would look better in the family photo than I would? I know that I may not be as handsome as a knight but my heart is bigger than any other dog that's here, why doesn't this count for anything? Don't families want someone that is more dedicated to them than anyone could dream of?

I'd do anything for a family of my own, I'd even wear the most ridiculous outfit you can find if it means you'll give me a chance to prove myself. I've been told that maybe I shouldn't love my nanny so much then maybe someone would take me home. Why would I do that? She's the only person that sees beyond my scars and has given me a chance and I figured if I showed other people how obedient I am and loving I am with her they would see first hand how I would be for them. I'd love my forever family even more than my nanny, cause then I would finally have my chance at home life like the other several dozen kids I've seen leave with their families. I'd do anything for my very own forever family, I'd even ride home in the car on my head! AND that's sayn alot since I love car rides. I like to look out the windows and watch me fly through the world rather than sitting in a kennel watching it fly by me.

Just one chance, that's all I'm askin for. Just one.

With lots of hope,

Sir

P.S. - I really like playing tug-o-war.

Hi, my name is Mr. Handsome

Hi, my name is Mr. Handsome. The last few weeks have been like a tornado. Everything has been happenin so fast that my head is just now startin to quit spinnin. I came from a backyard where I lived without much shelter everyday of the year. The person that watched over me - turns out those people are called “owners” - didn't feed me much or often. I thought this was normal, that every dog lived that way and all “owners” were the same. I also thought that I had somethin wrong with me from birth and that's howcome I'm missin so much fur. Turns out I was wrong. Not all dogs live that way, just the unlucky ones. Not all dogs live outside everyday of the year in all kinds of weather. I found out that some dogs have families not just “owners”.

You see, one day while I was trying to stay warm as usual, wonderin how much longer I could last out in the cold like that, with most of my fur gone and my body covered in oozin sores; this angel showed up and put me in a car. Boy let me tell you, the warmth of the car felt real good after bein outside half naked in the middle of winter…. I wanted to give her a ton of kisses but she gently pushed me back and said I had to see the doctor first, to make sure my condition was not “contagious”… She promised me that a time for kisses would come soon. I liked that :-)

We went to another place where lots of pictures were taken of me. I was unsure of my potential as a model but I went with the flow cause I'm a laid back sort of guy. Hey, nothin could be worse than where I came from, right? Besides, I was told the pictures were to show people how terrible I looked so we could find even more people to help me. I also heard that the pictures would be used in court to “prosecute’ my previous "owner". I don’t know what that means but it must be somethin good. I can tell I am with good people now.

So I was taken to a doctor not long after that. The doctor said that I was subjected to neglect (doctors use big words like that) and I have somethin called “mange”. He said he had never seen so many demodex mites in the microscope…. He said that my mange is so bad that I have other infections. It probably doesn't help that I scratch at it too. But on a good note, I don't have bald spots cause of a birth defect! That's great news cause that means my skin is fixable. I WILL look like Brad Pitt one day…

The doctor also mentioned words like “emaciated”, “dehydrated”, “compromised immune system”, and blablabla…. Way too complicated for me… In 2 words; “I’m in bad shape and I need to get better”…

So I was told that MPR is my new foster family that will always be there for me but that the ultimate goal is for me to find my “Forever Family”. I'm told that a Forever Family is just like MPR but smaller and my new forever family will be by my side till the day I die. AND that by me finding a Forever Family it makes room for another dog like myself that needs a family and not just an “owner”. Oh what a dream!!! BUT, I have to get better first and that's why my name is Mr Handsome. Cause everyone that helped me get to my MPR family said that under all the mange, scabs and wounds, I am a handsome boy, which leads to my first nickname Mr. Handsome Pants! My other nickname is Pigpen (like from the Peanuts). I've been told it's cause I smell so bad and there is a green cloud that follows me around. I don't think this is true cause I haven't seen any green cloud.. I keep lookin for it but have never seen it. I tell you what though, I'm gunna get better so I can have me a Forever Family and plenty of kisses.

Right now I'm tired a lot so I can't go to any events. They say it's cause of all the medicine that I am on and my system that is fightin inside to get rid of the mites and infection. I don't mind takin the meds cause they make me feel better. Have you ever been bitten by a fire ant? You know how it hurts, burns and itches all at once? That's how my whole body feels so that is why I have to take the meds. The doctor says all the itchin is cause my skin is healin. This whole gettin healthy bit really does a number on you that's for sure.

Oh man I tell you what, when I get to feelin better and can play I'm gunna do the “Pigpen Hoedown” ( seen here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ4c7E57P8Q ). I'd like to do it now but I can't just yet. Think I can get my temporary foster mom to do it with me? Hee hee hee. Ooooo, I took my very first bath ever the other day! I wasn't sure at first but then when the warm water hit my skin...... oooooo my goodness. It was very soothing. I now take medicated bathes 3 times a week and I can already feel the difference on my skin…. Did I also mention that I have my very own space heater that stays close to my bed to help keep me warm at night? You know since I'm missin some fur and all, my foster mom wants to make sure I am as comfortable as possible…. Can you believe this? Someone actually cares about my comfort and well bein....

All this talk about my comfy bed and soothin warmth is making me tired so I'm gunna go to bed now, I'll give another update soon. I've been told that I have "fans" that are followin my progress ... Fans, for me.... I do feel like Brad Pitt already. ;-)