Hi, my name is Casey and like my friends, I have a story to tell you. On March 10, 1998 I was born in the Neptune Beach, Florida area. I am 3/4 ChowChow and 1/4 Shar Pei. When I was about eight weeks old I was taken to a flea market just off an exit to Interstate 95 in Florida and stuck in a sale cage. That was not a very happy time for me. People would look at me but no one loved me enough to take me home. That made me very sad and depressed. Many people do not understand how much feelings dogs have.

     Two weeks later, on a Saturday morning, some  people came and looked at me. They took me out of my cage, played with me, hugged me and talked to me. I liked that very much and thought maybe I would go home with them. But then, they put me back in my cage like everyone else had done. They said they were on vacation for the next week and could not take me but they would stop next Saturday and see if I was still there. The next week was very long. No one took me home and I did not know if the  people would come back as they said. Saturday morning they did not come and I started to loose hope. Then, late in the afternoon on May 13, 1998 they came back and got me. It was great to be out of that cage and I was going to be part of their family.

    We rode in their car for a long time and it started getting dark. I did not care because they took turns, one would drive and the other would hold me and play with me. Then we stopped at a motel for the night. They put me in a cage and put the cage on a chair next to the bed so I could see them. The cage was old and did not have a good lock. Twice during the night I unlocked the door and crawled out of the cage onto the man's stomach. He didn't get mad and fuss at me but I did get put back into the cage. The next day, again, we rode for many hours until we arrived at their home in Ashland, Virginia. Now I had a nice home with a big fenced back yard and plenty of trees for shade. Most of the time I stay in the house during the day and always sleep in the house at night. I get good food, many treats, and lots of love and attention. Often we go for walks on our road or in the park. I am very friendly and at the park I get to say hello to many other dogs. We go for rides in the car which I also like, especially when I sit in the front seat and can see everything.

    Now, I am almost 5 years old and still love to run and play like a puppy. I love people, including children, and and other animals. Now papa and I have adopted Jake. Jake and I play hard all day. It is fun and makes us very tired. Then we lay in the shade and rest together. At night we like to sit with papa when he works on the computer or watches television. We both know he will find a nice treat for us.

    I am very lucky to have a wonderful home. Please remember that their are many nice, loving dogs that are not as lucky as Jake and me. Without someone's help they will never have a nice home or maybe not even a chance for life. Here in the Ashland, Virginia area many dogs can be found at the Hanover Humane Society, Hickory Hill Canine Rescue, or the Hanover Pound. If you have room in your heart and your home for a loving pet please check with them or one of the Shelters in your area.

     Love,
               Casey