HATS OFF TO ANOTHER VERY SPECIAL VETERINARIAN! In the following, Sue Hildebralld of Davis, CA. shares some of herself and her stories about some very secial Rott N kids. Let me introduce myself and my four-footed family. I have had Rottweilers for 12 years, and Labradors all my life. My dogs are my best friends, my partners, my family. My "girls" and I have had fun and success in competative obedience and tracking. The Babe CDX,TD lives on in my heart, and Omega,UDT thinks we better work on a TDX this year. My Ludwig,CGC, a deaf rescue who never left, pulls a cart with the best of them. And Alex is our "token" chocolate lab - supposedly our hunting dog but she mostly goofs off! I'm fascinated by Schutzhund, and someday will have my Schutzhund dog. (ED: I know I said no titles, but since I am the editor, I can always make an exception when it for an exceptional person). Most of my Rottweiler hours are spent these days doing Rescue. I've done Rescue for about 8 years now. It just keeps getting busier and busier, with all the Rescue folks I know very long on dogs and short on homes. It's a miracle any of us have any hair left, we’re always tearing it out! And so I would like to make this plea to all of you who love our black and mahogany kids. There are so many ways to help Rescue - foster a homeless Rottie, or help walk, feed, and care for a Rottie fostered somewhere else. Donate food, bedding, bowls, crates, funds. Offer to be a taxi shuttle service when Rsscue dogs need to be transported. Help do phone calls. And educate, educate, educate. Both The Rottweiler Quarterly section on Rescue, and ARC are good resources to find out who does Rescue near you. Of course, I'm delighted to help if I can, and love to get mail." (Ed: Let's not forget the Chatter, my phone is always working....well that is if I can keep the bill paid..). Now that she has told you a little about herself, following is only one little story she shared about a special little Rott N Rescue that she recently placed. I know you will enjoy it as much as I have. "As background, Penny came to me as a Rescue at about 6 months of age, the victim of the sub-category of dog-dumpers "two kids, two jobs, no time". She was mischievous, creative, and a lot of fun. We decided she must have been a commedienne in her previous existense and she quickly earned the nick name "Naughty Nora". For a number of reasons, Penny ended up staying for quite a long time, and I started doing "real" obedience with her, as opposed to the basic good citizenship training the Rescues usually get. She was good! Penny was also a dynamite carter - took right to it and was giving kids rides in no time. Since she came with a pedigree and a blue slip, I polled my students for a name fitting a Rescue, and we registered her as Futurebright Lucky Penny. You guessed it - when it came time to place her, I couldn't let her go. Well, now I was in violation of our self imposed "Three Dog Rule", since Penny made four permanent residents. Sigh, I’m always in trouble... Then, about a month ago, Penny met Joe, a 9 year old boy in a wheelchair. Joe was determined to have a Rottweiler as a Service dog. After much soul searching, I said Penny could go to live with Joe for a couple of weeks to see if they truly loved each other. After all, I convinced myself, if Penny can be Joe's best friend and partner, surely that is a more noble call than being my dog... They love her. She is the ultimate entertainer - and here's the part I really want to share. The other night, after everyone was in bed, they thought someone had broken into the living room. When they went to investigate, there was Penny, playing with the touch lamp! The kind that if you touch the base and it goes on or off. Penny was having a ball, making the light go and off!" Sue Hildebrand, 233 Luz Place, Davis, CA., 95616...916 756-8644 Please keep sharing your stories for without you and so many others like you where would our ‘hand-me-down’ Rotties go? We allknow the answer...... thank’s Sue. If I wore a hat it would be off to you!