I love all my dogs I pull, don’t get me wrong. Those of you who know me, know that. But a deep down secret I’ll share with you is that I’m head over tail for black and whites, officially called Parti Poodles. While we never used to get many of them in the shelter before “the economic crisis”, we’re certainly seeing a boatload more now.
These are a few of my past cuties
And the star of today’s story… Lucy!
Lucy came out of San Bernardino shelter in JULY of 09 when she was pulled for Bichons and Buddies by a volunteer scouting that shelter and bringing this doll to my attention. Well, of course I had to nab her – a diamond in the rough. It was the busiest and most stressful summer on record for rescues. Along with my Belle of the Ball came 4 other pink potion escapees – all smelling like a sewer and sporting coats that made it difficult to tell the back end from the front. The hustle/bustle of getting all cleaned up, shaved down, medicated, vet checked and temperament tested got underway immediately, and soon what emerged from the dreadlocks and dirt was my stunning Parti Poodle Lucy. Of course, I knew what a diamond in the rough I found, but seeing her after the beauty spa treatment was truly exhilarating. I suppose that’s how some collectors feel about fine art, antique collectors about rare period pieces, and archeologists excavating a newly discovered site. Good thing my motivation to place is stronger than my motivation to collect 
It didn’t take long to adopt out this breath-taking beauty to what appeared, and after checking out, seemed like a great home in Glendale. Well , I gave my gorgeous girl a kiss and sent her on her way for what would end up to be survival camp for 3 months. This MORON, calls me in SEPTEMBER of 09 to say Lucy ran out of his shop which he would take her to and he can’t find her.
Here’s the million dollar question? “She had her collar on RIGHT?”
“Oh, well, I had just given her a bath (right…)” bla bla bla .
I was heartbroken and felt like an utter failure, having failed this beautiful girl whose breed holds such a special place in my heart (I have no idea why!). I immediately contacted Avid and gave the chip number which they put on their “HOT LIST.” I was sure I would get a get a call from animal reg. I just never expected it to take so long nor would I have ever guessed in a million years that she could survive THREE MONTHS in the hills surrounding Griffith Park.
In early DECEMBER , just having finished another day of grueling work as a court reporter listening to pompous attorneys drone on and on , my cell rings. It’s a vets office in Elysian Park (aka NOT a good part of town) that says they have my dog with the chip number bla bla bla which a guy brought in who said he found it and wants to get shots. I take a deep breath and ask to talk to the guy. Darryl, a tough sounding inner-city guy, gets on the phone and proceeds to tell me how when he found “Mamma” as he called her, she was a horrendous matted dirty mess and he took her in, got her groomed (aka shaved) and was now at this vets office getting her checked out and shots. I calmly thanked Mr. T for getting my wayward girl off the street and explained that I would like to make arrangements to come pick her up. That’s when the extortion began: “Well, I paid $300 getting her fixed up! I have receipts!” “Great,” I said. “How about if you show them to me when I get over there?” He then goes on to tell me he really wants to adopt the dog, yada yada yada, OR he wants $300 “for what he spent” to give the dog back. My blood boils as I wonder how stupid he can possibly think I am???
Next thing I know there’s silence on the other end.
I frantically call back the vet’s number and they confirmed what I already knew…he took off. Off course since he hadn’t received any services they could have cared less. I couldn’t believe the feelings I was going through for the second time around with the same dog. Am I in the Twilight Zone?
The next few weeks of course were consumed with my usual 24/7 schedule of being a full time court reporter and frazzled, overwhelmed rescuer, while trying to maintain some semblance of “togetherness” in my 17-year relationship while of course, “getting ready for the Holidays.” My favorite time of year…when work dries up and budgets burst.
So exactly how long did it take for my “parti girl” and I to be reunited? After coming home the day after Christmas I picked up a call on my answering machine that was from Officer someone-or-other at North Central Shelter (Elysian park area) saying they had my dog with microchip number bla bla bla. Still being in a food coma from sitting around doing nothing but eating at my in-law’s place all weekend, I grabbed a pen and scribbled the number down. All I had to do is glance at the corner of my obliterated desk to see the original shelter paperwork for her pull …. in July 2009 along with her listed chip number.
Bingo! Lucy was behind bars, cute as ever, at North Central shelter. According to the shelter notes she had been “found” by a person that brought her in to the shelter the day before Christmas making sure the staff knew this “stray” was named Lucy. I couldn’t wait to see her. Needless to say, the next day I was there when they opened, paid my $40 redemption fee and sat waiting in captivated anticipation while they went to get her.
What they brought out was the exuberant, goofy, gregarious girl that I remembered, albeit it a little scraggly and smelly. She greeted me as enthusiastically as she had the first time I pulled her! I couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas present or a better way to bring in the New Year with a new resolution: To let everyone know the importance of ALWAYS having an ID tag WITH YOUR INFORMATION on your dog (that doesn’t mean 3 months after you adopt from me….those of you who know who you are!) AND of course a microchip – and to remember to notify the chip company if you move!!!
Lucy is now in a wonderful, loving home (with her own ID tag on at all times!) and with the exception of a strange, mysterious quarter-sized scar she has on her back thigh, she’s none worse for wear
