Happy Beginnings and Follow up:  
Massimo, Robby and Holly

Robbie came to live with Tess, my then 9 yr old white female boxer, & myself right before Christmas 2001. We had lost our 1st NBR guy, Massimo, the month before, 2 days after Thanksgiving, & missed him badly, so Robbie kept us busy & occupied for the holiday. He still keeps me busy, & now he occupies my heart. 

The plan was to foster him, but when I found out his blindness wasn't able to be fixed, that helped my decision to keep him in what had become familiar surroundings to him. His crate became my kitchen island-never have enough counter space, right? Robbie is a great sleeper, but when he is up, he goes full steam ahead-my furniture rearranging days are behind me now. I'm forced to not leave things lying around, at least not on the floor. His hearing & sense of smell are unsurpassed, making it difficult for me to sneak a snack-he sniffs out my morning paper, & carries it inside (at least he's not reading it first). 

He doesn't like car rides, or stairs, & is sometimes nervous around Holly, our new addition to the family, & 3rd NBR dog-she came to us in October 2002, with a cleft palate that has since been repaired. She wanted to be alpha dog, & took a few months to settle in-she still shows an attitude once in a while, esp around mealtime, but is so darn cute when she gallops around the yard & up the deck-I could swear she's smiling-her everyday face is a bit angry looking, maybe a reflection of her previous 9-10 yrs living with a cleft palate?? but looks do deceive-she clings to me at home, loves to go for walks & car rides, loves stuffed animals (as do Tess & Robbie), but mostly loves, I think, living in a home,being loved-she sometimes wakes up barking, I hope her nightmares go away with time. 

#1 Boxer, Tess, deserves the credit for allowing me to "rescue" a few other souls, that, in turn, have rescued me from self-centeredness. 

I have a preference for the geriatric ones, the guys many others are reluctant to get attached to, for fear of losing them- I consider my job to be making the last years, even if there are few left, be filled with comfort & love-the dogs do the same for me, & more, that can't be put on paper......