Like all who grieve for their furry friends, it took months to accept that both our Schnauzer’s, Bartles and Jaymes were gone.

We relived the feel of them each time we removed something that had belonged to them; their food, treats, dishes, blankies, toys… all of it had to go. 

And we settled in just the two of us.

It was OK…..for a while but then I got lonely on the days I was off and Lobo was at work.

There was no one to talk to, to take a walk with or to sit out in the yard with.

No little buddies to share the one passenger seat in my car. 

Months went by.

It didn’t get better.  

My days off alone were SO hard.

The face on the fridge was still there.  

Sometimes I’d look at that little face and wonder…..should I pursue?

Was it finally TIME to meet that face?

With this amazing machine in front of me, I researched this breed called WIRE FOX TERRIER.

The biggest message from all I read was that TERRIERS ARE TERRORS! 

But…..the picture…..they’re SO cute!!

Next out of curiosity, I just kinda shopped around using the classifieds in the Sacramento paper which was still a fairly reliable source for people like me who preferred to use the paper.

Nothing showed up for Wire Fox Terriers.

Time went by.

I didn’t get over being lonely on my days off.

Nothing in the paper so I switched to looking on the computer.

There they were but too far away, but oh those faces!

It was now time to kinda let Lobo know that I was looking.

He knew the day would come.

He was good with it.

And then one day…..there it was…..in the paper…..in the classifieds.

“Wire Fox Terriers, AKC, $600-$800, photos avail., will deliver to Sacto area, ready.” And a posted phone number.  I called it!

The woman I spoke with was delightful.  

She told me she had four left. 

I was looking for a little girl.  

We exchanged E-mail edresses and she sent me photos. 

We traded messages back and forth and she sent photos of the cutest little girl puppy.

But…..there was something curious. 

After about a week of photos and messages, I HAD to ask her about the other little one that was always in the background of the little girl’s pictures.  

Who was that? 

Why was he always kind staring right into the camera but in the background?

And such a mischievous look on his face.   

Do you remember WAY back that look Chevy Chase always had on his face on SNL?

Well, this puppy had that look.  I smiled big every time I saw him.

“Oh, he’s a strange one,” she told me.

BINGO, there was my favorite word…..strange!

I asked her to tell me more.

“He’s just different, she said.  

BINGO AGAIN!

“Not like the other puppies.

He has behaviors I’ve never seen.

Real preoccupied with food but has a habit of watching and waiting when little treats are given.

Just a real different little guy.”

“I want him!

That’s the one I want!!”

I showed the photos to Lobo.

Lobo wrote the check and…..he was ours.

She lived in Nevada.

We made a date and met them half-way.

She put him in my arms and I fell in love.