Diary Of A Dog
“by” Roxy Pelham, as told to Teresa M. Pelham
Story by Teresa Pelham
In this issue, we are pleased to highlight a new children’s book by one of Seasons Magazine’s frequent contributors, writer Teresa M. Pelham. Her self-published book, Roxy’s Forever Home, released this year, relates the story of her family’s rescue of a little brown dog that journeyed from the streets of Tennessee to the Pelhams’ home in Connecticut. Roxy’s Forever Home is available at www.roxysforeverhome.com. A portion of the proceeds from the book’s sale will go to animal rescue heroes who saved the life of this animal and who continue to help others. –Editor
August 2010
Mama hasn’t eaten in a long time, and my brothers and sisters and I are starving, too. Mama looks for food in garbage cans but it’s not enough to feed all of us. We are scared. And confused. We’re just little puppies. Why doesn’t anyone want us?
September 2010
I have been rescued. I am living on a big farm with lots of dogs and really nice people. But I am very sick. I need medicine and food to help me get better. The people here are taking good care of me.
October 2010
I am feeling so much better and so much stronger now. The lady who rescued me said I can eat on my own, and I even got to play outside with the other dogs. But soon I am headed north to find a family to adopt me. They say there are too many dogs here in the South. They say I am one of the lucky ones.
November 2010
I fell asleep on a truck in Tennessee and woke up in Connecticut. I have a foster family now, with kids and dogs and good food. I feel very lucky to be here.
Late November 2010
It’s been a few weeks and nobody has come to adopt me. I really like it here at my foster family’s house, but they already have their own dogs, and they’re trying to find me a forever home. They take great care of me here. I am trying really hard to remember not to pee on the rug.
December 2010
Today I found my forever home! I have three boys and a mom and a dad and two cats. My people feed me twice a day and they really seem to like me. The cats act like they don’t like me but I bet if I keep chasing them around they’ll change their minds. I can’t always remember not to pee on the dining room rug but nobody gets very mad at me. They tell me I’m a good dog. I think it’s because I’m super-cute. I know I’m going to love it here.
Spring 2011
I really got to show off my running ability today. Mom and I ran in a 5K race, and I pulled her the whole way. (Actually, I had to stop once to sniff some garbage.) I slept the whole way home. The boys taught me a new trick today. In addition to the highly marketable skill of rolling over, I can also do a high five. Really, I’ll do anything for a treat.
Summer 2011
My people took me with them on vacation to New Hampshire, and it’s so awesome here. There’s so much to sniff! Plus, two other dogs are staying with us so I get to play with them and eat their food. We hiked the Appalachian Trail and I ate a stinky dead fish I found by the river. Could life get any better than this?
January 2012
Today I went to a dog park, and man, am I exhausted. I’m not a very big dog, but I do love running around on the big dog side of the park. I know I could totally run faster than that greyhound, if only I wasn’t so distracted by that shiny black Weimaraner. He was so cute! I tried to get his number but then I realized I don’t have a phone. Mom let me sleep on her bed this afternoon. I considered chewing her new boots but decided on a No. 2 pencil instead.
Spring 2012
After successfully chasing the cats around the house and doing my pre-rinse duties on the plates in the dishwasher, it’s time for a nap. Mom thought she might actually sit at her desk and work at the computer, but my persistence paid off and she is now working with the laptop where both it and I belong: On her lap. Pretty soon she’ll throw the tennis ball around the back yard for me, which seems to make her happy. Now that it’s getting warmer, those boys who live here are spending more time outside with me. They have almost as much energy as I do. And they let me sleep in their beds at night. I love them.
Teresa M. Pelham is a Farmington-based freelance writer and regular contributor to Seasons. A columnist and blogger for the Hartford Courant, she is publishing a children’s book in 2012 entitled Roxy’s Forever Home, with proceeds benefiting a dog rescue organization.
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