Dear Abby - Meet Lulu Belle (A Rescue Spotlight)

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by today!  It has been a warm and spring like week here.  I love that, because it means lots of walks and time outside.

Today I would like to introduce you to my friend Lulu Belle.   She is a beautiful 6 year old longhair dachshund.  I love Lulu Belle's coloring.  As she wrote:  "As you can see, I am very unusual for a dachshund, being white with black, gray and brown spots all over."

Abby:  What is your background and how did you end up in rescue? 

Lulu Belle:  I was born on a ranch in southern Arizona, that was really a puppy mill, and I lived outdoors in a run there with other dachshunds. Later I had a litter of puppies of my own when I was 1 year old. We weren't stacked in cages like in some of the really bad puppy mills, or mistreated, but still we had almost no human contact. I slept in my own kennel with just crumpled newspapers to lie on. 

Abby:  How were your first days at your new home? 

Lulu Belle:  Very scary. The first day in my new home was the first time I was ever in a house, except for the day when I had my puppies. At first I refused to eat anywhere except in my kennel, and I didn't understand that I was being offered treats like hamburger and roast beef bits. But I learned fast by watching my mom and dad's other 2 dachshunds, Sadie and Rave. And after one accident in my first week, I have never, ever had an accident inside our home. My mom says I am the best behaved dachshund she has ever had.

Abby:  What are a few of your favorite things? 

Lulu Belle:  I love my toyfriends. I have lots of them -- Freddie Frog, Charlie Chameleon, Danny Dragon, Roadkill, and others. But I have to guard them because my pesty little brother Harley loves to grab them and tear them apart. And I love going for walks with my dad. In fact, a few months ago I met my father, Stretch, who got rescued from the same place that I did and now lives close to us. 

Abby:  Do you have any tips for people who want to adopt a rescue pet? 

Lulu Belle:  Be very, very patient. It took me a long time to get used to my dad, as I was very scared of men when I first arrived here. I still don't like it if we go on a walk and meet a man with a rake or hoe in his hand, but then I am okay when they put the scary things down. And at home, my dad knows it is okay to carry a cup of coffee or a small book around, but anything bigger, and he has to show it to me first so that I can approve it and not be scared. 

Abby:  Is there a rescue group you want to send a shout out to? 

Lulu Belle:  My rescue group was Belle Area Rescue Kennels (BARK) and little brother Harley came from Oregon Dachshund Rescue. We think a lot of both of them.

Thank you, Lulu Belle, for stopping by for the interview.  I loved reading more about your background.  I think it is wonderful that you met your father Stretch!

I am friends with Lulu Belle online from a special dachshund group.  She has a wonderful rescue story, and I hope you enjoyed meeting her too.

If you have a rescued dog or cat that would like to be featured here, please let me know.  Thank you for visiting today!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo