to my very special Newfy!

 

17 years ago I was first introduced to newfies and when Panda passed away at 11 years old, I cried and cried for weeks on end. I didn't go to work, didn't talk to anyone on the phone, I was literally broken-hearted. Friends sent me flowers, fruit baskets, cards galore. I plucked a fresh flower from one of the baskets and stuck the flower in the ground on Panda's grave in our backyard. This was the last week of October, weeks had gone by and the flower kept it's vibrant color and strength to stand straight up despite snow and chilling temperatures. After weeks of searching and calling breeders, back-yard breeders and puppy millers (I didn't know better at the time), I still didn't find a newf to help heal my wound. Then  Kathy Wortenberger (who has been very kind in sharing her knowledge through the years) told me about Rescue as she didn't have any pups and knew how distraught I was... that's when my life changed. I went to one of PONCs foster's home and took one look at Pebbles and dropped to my knees as she came running into my arms.  We brought Pebbles home at 10 months old and I took her to Panda's grave to let Panda know she would always be in my heart, but I needed Pebbles to help me heal. The next morning, the flower had wilted over and I swear to this day, Pebbles was Panda-sent!

Pebbles had come from what was probably an abusive environment as she has two scars across her forehead between her eyes, probably smacked with something hard because of her barking, which we had come to know as her cry for attention.  She was placed in another adopted home before us but was returned because the people said she had growled at one of their children (guess they didn't know newfs <vbg>, their loss, Pebbles gain!). 

I was so grateful to rescue, so I created a web site to help give back what they had given me.  I chose Pebbles as the mascot for the Newf Rescue logo and the recognition and exposure which was so badly needed for rescue efforts has helped thousands of rescues on a national basis since then.  Pebbles is also a very big part of our fostering and has always been a great judge of character with all the rescues we bring into our home. 

Pebbles is a very agile, vibrant and boisterous newfy with an immense personality and vigor for life.   She absolutely loves parades... the excitement of a crowd of people and noise just thrills Pebbles, she's definitely a "party-gal".   We've never met a male newf that hasn't fallen head over heels for her and she has always had the ability to talk with (not to) humans with her soulful eyes.

Her puppyhood scars between her face may have been the reason she developed epilepsy when she was five years old.  Her seizures were so severe she blew out her knee and could bearly walk for months because of all the torn ligaments she incurred.  We could not get her the surgery until we had the seizures under control.  For almost a year, Pebbles was having such a difficult time just walking, but being the resilient girl she is, had learned how to play by just laying down and mouthing, and found contentment in being able to at least do that.  We bought a newf-sized wagon so that Dino could pull Pebbles in the parade as we didn't want Pebbles to miss out on doing things she loves so much.  She was so happy to be "paraded" about in this wagon and took the air of royalty as she held her head high.  Through a daily regimen of water exercise this past summer (guess there was a reason for me breaking my foot after all and staying home all summer), increased walking distances through late summer and fall and being seizure-free for more than 6 months on her pheno meds, Pebbles is now able to walk more than a mile and was able to march in the Christmas Parade with all the vigor of her puppyhood.

Pebbles, born December 9, 1999, is also known as Ms. Pebbles, Princess, Pebbley-Poo, Little Tank, Instigator, and Panda-Sent.

I Love You, Pebbles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

See Pebbles' web page:  http://www.lovenewfs.com/flinstones/pebbles.htm