Welcome to Lulu's Mom
Hey we're a "Cat Family"...
Having always been a “cat person” I was very apprehensive when my children wanted a dog. Ahh after several days and one visit to the San Diego Animal Shelter, I was hooked. I agreed to get a dog only if it was a Spaniel. The shelter workers insisted a Spaniel was not a good dog for a family with small children, and wouldn’t even bring one out for us to meet. Instead, they brought out an Australian Sheppard Lab Mix. She looked up at us and said…”I’m your Dog”. She immediately became a family member and we named her Toots.
The Cycle of Life...
Toots lived out her life with us. We had great times. She was a good listener and a loving friend. In June of 2004, we had to allow her to make her transition. I especially was heart broken. I thought never I’d be a “Dog person” but Toots changed that. Everywhere I went I saw great dogs with their families. After several months of feeling like a “Dog Widow” I started to frequent dog adoption web sites looking for the perfect addition to our family.
Shopping at the Shelter...
Once again, I picked several breeds I would consider, Beagle, Lab, Great Dane (my husband said NO WAY) Boxer or Spaniel. There are so many animals waiting for a home. It was hard to choose just one. My girls and I traveled to most of the Pet Shelters in San Diego County, and just couldn’t connect with any of the “inmates”.
Lulu Chooses Us...
One Sunday, my husband suggested we check the same shelter we had adopted Toots from. There were cages and cages of dogs. Some angry, some anxious, and all lonely. We saw row upon row of Pit Bulls. I immediately discounted that breed because of their reputation. The kids and my husband walked among the cages and I, having seen nothing that interested me, went to the cattery. After some time, I went to find my family. They were headed down a long row of Pit Bull mixes. I started toward them and then briefly looked to my left. The dog in that space looked up at me and I could swear to you that she said “Look here, I’m your new dog” I hollered out to the family that I found the dog that belongs with us. Being that she appeared to be a Pit Bull, they had already passed her up, buy she wouldn’t let me go by!
LuLu’s History...
The workers at the shelter went through the long story of this poor animal’s life. Originally found on the street starving, then given up by a military family being transferred out of the country. After a long wait, she was adopted by two different families that returned her to the shelter saying she wasn’t house trained.(she really was!) They wanted us to know, if we took her home there was no bringing her back. She had already been traumatized. We had no intention of ever returning a family member. We named her LuLu right there on the spot and took her home with us. What we had was a very skittish, frightened dog, that had obviously been punished too much and too harshly. Once in the house, I sat down with her, stroking her lovely coat and told her that she didn’t have to worry about being hurt with our family. She would always be protected and loved here. Yikes….now I really knew I had become a Dog Person. Dogs are talking to me and I’m talking back with them and it really didn’t seem silly.
Just Checking...
The day after we brought LuLu home, the Vet from the shelter called just to make sure everything was ok and that “her favorite dog” had found a loving and permanent home. Everyone felt the hole in our hearts being filled, even the cat seemed happier and more active.
An Idea...
LuLu trained with me for the Breast Cancer 3 day 60 mile walk. I always carried water for her and of course waste bags. One day, on the way to completing an 8 mile training walk on a warm day with my best friend, I headed into a convenience store to get a sports drink. "No Dogs are Allowed" in the store so I attached her leash to a stable object where she could still see me. I grabbed my drink and then looked over at LuLu patiently waiting at the door. I’m sure she said: "What are you getting for me?” I covered the store, other than buying a whole bag of dog food; there wasn’t anything I could give her for a healthy treat. ZING….Idea ! What these stores need is a “to go” type of pack for dogs with a few dog treats. The idea expanded to include a waste bag and a dog/people wipe. Before I knew it, I was experimenting with dog biscuit recipes. LuLu has been my taste tester. That was the birth of the LuLu Biscuit and "LuLu’s Mom". There are no fillers or chemicals in our biscuits, in fact all the ingredients come from my own kitchen, and from foods my family eats. The proof is in the taste. Would you feed you dog anything you wouldn’t eat? Go ahead, taste a LuLu Biscuit. It’s not much different than a home baked cookie, just not as sweet!
Today ...
LuLu is my constant companion. As I move from room to room, she adjusts her napping location to be close. When my husband comes home, she gets very animated. She’s no longer just Mama’s Girl. She meets Jim every night at the door with a Thump Thump Thump of her tail, waits until she gets greeted and patted on the head, she has to be first in line ! Now that “Dad’s” home, it’s time to play. LuLu has a box full of toys and she plays with all of them. Her current favorites are a Big Knotted Red Rope for Tug A War and A (formerly) stuffed parrot hand puppet.
It’s a Dog (and cat’s) Life
Many an afternoon, you’ll find LuLu and Scooter (the cat) curled up together on the rug in front of the screen door, blissfully asleep in the warm sun.