Betty in the Tahoe Vista Animal Shelter  (This was her "mug" shot in the online lineup of adoptable animals.)

Several years ago, I decided was time for a new dog.  My last two dogs had died under difficult circumstances (one was coyote food) and it had taken me a while to be "ready" for a new furry friend.  I found Betty Boop in a local shelter.  She had been rescued from the Reno shelter (a "kill" shelter) just before she was to be euthanized.  According to the rescue people, as they were getting ready with the needle, she smiled and licked the hand that was to kill her.  They couldn't do it.

All the information the shelter had was that someone had stuffed her into a "night relinquishment" box, which is basically where you go ditch your dog because you're too much of a coward to take it in during business hours.  The dog is left alone and, one would assume, afraid and confused until someone comes and gets them out in the morning.  And still, she smiled.

Despite being blind in one eye (whether because of trauma or disease, we don't know - and believe me I've found out that there are animal opthamologists and they cost plenty!) and an obviously rough recent history, she always had a smile on her face.  Dogs with disabilities like blindness are often not rescued, but the vet who examined her was so impressed with her sweet temperment that she made an exception. We're sure glad they did!  Her smile is contagious...

 As you can see, since coming to live with us, she has a really tough life...

Winter is probably her favorite season besides spring, summer and fall:

I know it's corny, but now that my kids have grown up and moved out, it's nice to have her company.  She's always anxious that I might take a car ride without her so she follows me constantly, occasionally misjudging the corners and bumping into the wall.  She's always sleeping on the floor right by my feet wherever I may be just so I don't try to sneak out the door without her.  In fact, she's lying on my feet as I write this and sends her best to you all.  So, although I know some of you don't particularly enjoy animal pictures, thanks for putting up with mine.  I am unabashedly sentimental when it comes to my kids, my grandchild and my animals...

As the saying goes, I hope I can be as good a person as my dog thinks I am.

Showing that a blind eye can't stop the smiles...