Merry Christmas!!!

Maya has been with me over 5 months now. This was our first Christmas together. She's still a great dog!! I am so glad I adopted her from a shelter. It's been a rewarding experience. I've learned so far that she doesn't like snow, or maybe because it wasn't a lot of the white stuff she wasn't interested. She loves to take the roll after I wrap presents and destroy them. For a young Rottie she didn't bother my tree much or the presents. There was one stuffed animal under the tree that caught her attention. That was the only thing I had to move out of her way. I love my Maya and all her silly spolied ways. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone! I'm sure there will be more to share in 2014!!!

Maya's First Bath at Fur Get Me Not

Maya had her first bath at Fur Get Me Not today. It's located at 1722 Florida Ave NW Washington, DC. A friend in my office building suggested the spot since you have to leave your dog for 3-4 hours at most Groomers. Maya was surrendered at the shelter twice before I adopted her. Anytime we leave the house and we aren't headed to my parents house, the vet or the park she cries. I can only imagine what would happen if I left her some place for 3-4 hours. This way I won't ever find out. We walked right in and the young man working the desk advised me to fill out the paperwork, and then he helped me get Maya into a waist high tub. That's right no bending over, no clean up after. They provide the shampoo (all natural), brushes, towels and blow dryers. Maya loved it. You would have thought she'd been there before. The young man that worked there said he was shocked how well she was doing, because most dogs don't like water. I paid $20 and we were on our way after 30 minutes. I would definitely take Maya again. This will be our bath location for the winter. I actually bathe her in my yard in the summer. She smells great and looks awesome. Best part they gave me an apron to keep me from getting wet during her bath. If you're looking for a spot to give your dog a bath check them out. The 10th bath is FREE!!! www.furgetmenot.com

Our Ups and Downs

Well, this week I thought I would tell everyone about Maya being fully house trained. Well, today I tell you this and about her eye infection.
I've left Maya out of her crate on and off when Ieave the house since the day I rescued her. Only for an hour or two and then I moved it to four. However, I would never leave her out of the crate the entire day while I was at work. All this changed Monday. I would see the look she would give me each day more as to say "Really, that again?!". It was the most pathetic look a dog could give you, and Rottweilers have some of the most pathetic looks.
So, the first day I opened the door reluctant waiting for a smell to hit me. Instead I found Maya waiting at the door with her nub waging. Second day the same thing. By the third day I knew she was a pro and didn't expect any less then greatness, and I wasn't disappointed. By the fourth day I'm snapping pics and that's when I noticed it. Her eye was slightly swollen.
I didn't pay it any mind at first. I layed down for a nap and she did to right next to the bed where I saw it again. Still not paying it any mind I dosed off for a bit. It wasn't until later when I got up, cooked dinner and was getting ready for bed that it looked even more swollen. I started snapping pics and sending them to my mom and a friend who works overnight in an Animal Hospital. Mom thought it was weird and thought it was a bug bite, bit there were two bumps. Could the bug have bitten that close to her eye twice? I was worried and then the worry turned to panic once I recieved a text from my friend suggesting that I take her to the vet.
By this morning the upper bump was much larger. I made plans to leave work early and take her to the vet. The few hours at work I wasn't with her were the worst. I've had a sick dog before, and I didn't want to think the worst; but the thoughts were swirling. When I got home to pick her up and take her to the vet the lower bump popped. I cleaned it and applied a warm compress.
Once we arrived at Al-Lynn Animal Hospital he took us back and immediately wanted to make sure this just happened. I told him I take pictures of her 24/7 and just saw this yesterday. He said then it shouldn't be a tumor. TUMOR?!?! See that's the word I didn't want to hear. That's the one that can change your life. However, he was almost certain this wasn't the case. He said it appeared to be an eye infection caused by bug bites. He prescribed Benadryl and Cephalexin with an eye oinment called Neopolu Baci.
$105 later Maya and I are at home relaxing, or should I say I'm trying to relax. He said the Benadryl would make her drowsy. Well, he doesn't know my Maya. Nothing has changed. She ate and played the same. Even after we had a little fight over her taking her pills.
I'm so glad she is ok and fully house trained. She is one spunky dog!!!
I almost forgot. She is now 88 pounds!!!

All is Well!!!

Maya is still doing well. I can tell that I have to work on not spoiling her so much. She doesn't want me out of her site when I'm home. She is also trying to jump on the bed and couch more, but when I tell her to get down she does. She is a very loving dog and greedy. She loves to eat!!!! We are working on waking at 6 instead of 4:30. I thought the early wake up calls were to go out to use the bathroom. Oh no!!! Maya wants her breakfast at 4:30.
She loves her walks, and I can tell she does better when she has one in the morning and evening. She has plenty of energy! Just like a two year old should. She is loved by the vet and vet techs. We went to visit last weekend. She now weights 87 pounds. We also took a trip to PetSmart Friday and everyone fell in love with her. She has a great personality. I love that she gets tons of compliments and people can't believe she came from the shelter. I tell them with the hard times people have fallen on there are all types of dogs there that need good homes. So glad I found Maya at one.
We are working on her commands. She is getting much better at sit, stay, down, paw and a few others. I think this is the easy part. Since she was already crate and house trained I am not complaining about commands.
I love my four legged child and I know she loves me!!!

Maya 3 weeks after adoption

Maya just had a 2 mile walk and a bath. You would think she is tired, but she wants to play!! Time for a nap Maya!!

Maya's Wake Up Call

This is Maya's way of waking me up in the morning. She loves her walks.

This was taken Sunday, August 4, 2013. 2 weeks after her adoptions.

Help Find Abby

This is a special post. There is a woman on the Eastern Shore of Maryland heartbroken right now. She has been looking for her 18 month old Rottweiler since July 4th. This dog has special needs. She requires medication and she has double vision. You can see her eyes look different then most Rottweilers from her pictures. If you've seen this dog please contact Cindy. Her number is on the picture below. Abby also helps wounded soldiers. She is a VERY special dog in so many ways. Please spread the word and visit her Facebook page: Help Find Abby. I know Cindy and her twins would truly appreciate your assistance. Thank you!!

Maya and I visit Ma and Ace

Maya and I went for a visit with her big brother Ace and my mom today. She seemed very excited to visit with them. I think she now knows where my parents live, because she barks with excitement the closer we get. Ace is still trying to process where this overactive dog came from. He mostly observes her, begs for water and then lets her have it. He is definitely assuming the big brother role looking out for her. It's really cute. The pic below is of us. Maya is still working on looking at the camera.

Why did I name her Maya?

I thought about names for a new dog for weeks. Originally I thought of Sadie. Everytime I called my pet insurance company I would have to correct them and tell them her name was Sade like the singer and not Sadie. It would drive me crazy. Someone even suggested spelling Sadie Sadeii so it looks like Sade the 2nd. That seemed a little weird to me, but it was a thought. My little brother said name her Ivory and call her IV. Those were the first initials of both my deceased grandmother's first names. Again, it just didn't seem right.
One night while laying in bed I thought of the movie I'd played several times for Sade. The one that you would really think she was watching. The one her ears would stand straight up during the dog barking scenes. The movie was Eight Below. When I first rented the movie from Netflix in 2006 I played it over and over until I purchase the movie to watch how intense Sade would be during that movie. I thought of all the dog names and immediately remembered of all the dogs in the pack there was only one female dog. You guessed it, it was Maya. Maya was the alpha dog, the leader, and the fighter. If you've seen the movie Maya almost died, but she was the alpha dog with the help of Max that survived. I felt it was perfect. Maya would be the new dogs name, but would it fit the new dog?
The day I met Maya her name was Kemma. I thought that is a cute name too, but I was determined to name her Maya. She looked like a Maya to me. So, when the shelter asked me if I wanted to keep her name as Kemma I responded with no hesitation her name would be Maya. After calling her Maya for a day she knew her name was Maya as well.
So, her name came from a movie that I played for my dog. I know that may seem weird to some people, but that's exactly what I did. It kept Sade's attention and not many things did that. Now as I look at her I'm glad I made the choice to name her Maya. She's a strong dog with a very strong personality, and I think she will live up to this alpha dog name.
The photo included is the very first photo I ever saw of Maya. I did a screenshot of her the night before I met her.

Maya is really GREAT!!!

It's been a week and a half since I've adopted Maya, and she's been great!! I named her before I met her. I created this page anticipating her. I had no idea I would get another dog so soon, but it was to quiet in the house. I also missed looking at that Rottie face every morning. Sade greeted me each day with the loudest bark from the bottom of the step. Maya greets me at my bedside either playing with toys, barking, whining or face and front paws on the bed. I think two months ago I would have hated the last the most, but I love to see her smiling directly in my face as I wake in the morning. Losing Sade has taught me to treasure each day with Maya even more then I did with Sade.
That's why when she started to live up to her name I wasn't to surprised. She hasn't had an accident in my house or crate since I've adopted her. She hasn't been aggressive one bit. She's been a very affectionate dog that looks for reassurance that she will stay here each day. Someone loved her enough to house train and crate her. The first person that adopted her couldn't keep her cause they were moving. They left a Great dog - Maya the Great for me to spoil!!
We are almost done with her antibiotics. She has kennel cough. I didn't know she could get it from stress. When we returned to the shelter for her Heartworm test she was very upset. I think seeing that place for a third time wasn't the best thing for her. She started to cough Tuesday and it progressed into a deeper cough throughout the week. Saturday was her first visit to Al-Lynn Animal Hospital and everyone loved her. The vet tech got a lot of attention. Maya loves gloves. She said that Maya probably received a lot of attention from people with gloves at the shelter. She is always trying to carry my cleaning gloves around.
Maya the Great is living up to her name. So glad I picked her or she picked me. Either way she's one perfect dog that weighs 85 pounds at 2 years old.

No Heartworms - Play date with Big Bro Ace

Today my fears were laid to rest. I've been worried since Saturday that Maya would have Heartworms. What would I do? I was glad the shelter would pay for treatment if she had it. As long as they did the blood work. So, we headed back to Millersville, MD bright and early this morning. I said several prayers during that 60 minute ride.
When were arrived everyone had questions about Maya. How was she doing, was she crate trained, and was she housebroke? I told them she was the best surprise. She was doing great in all areas. No accidents so far. She had one chew incident, but that was easily corrected. She waited patiently in the lobby and received more praise. When the vet came out they did the blood work, and Maya gave her and the tech plenty of kisses. We waited about 10 minutes and heard that magic word NEGATIVE!!!
Once we left the shelter I took Maya to spend the day with my parents and their dog Ace. Ace is still trying to get use to Maya. I think he still wonders where Sade is. I also wonder if Maya has too much energy for him as he use to have for Sade. It's really cute to see them interact. Ace looked out for her most of the day.
When I got to the house I was so glad to see them both. They both wanted ALL of my attention.
Maya had a great day. She is currently knocked out and probably preparing herself for a long walk in the morning. I better get some rest to hang with her and all her energy tomorrow.

We made it thru Our First Night!!

We made it!!! Maya slept most of the night next to my bed. She woke me a few times digging at her skin. She had fleas when she arrived at the shelter and continues to have dry skin. It may be from the shampoo they used or the flea treatment. Either way I'm giving her an oatmeal bath after we come from Church. My mom suggested ointment to sooth it, and I believe it helped. However, a bath will make her feel much better.
She can be a barker, but she prefers to jump on the bed to let you know she has to go out. She started the night out on her very own pillow, but I found she pushed it out of the way and pushed her body close to the bed. I could feel her licking my back a few times last night. I guess she was saying thank you for adopting me. Lol.
We went for a walk early this morning. She is walking much better on a leash today then yesterday. She loves to growl at her toys. Seems she would rather play alone then with me. She appears very independent.
I'm enjoying getting to know her and her little personality!

Meet Maya!!!

I woke up today knowing it was time to meet Maya!! My search for a new dog has been one with mixed emotions. Should I adopt from a shelter, get a puppy or purchase a dog from someone who could not keep their dog?
Well, the idea of a puppy was fun. Raise her from a pup as I raised Sade, and spend as much time as possible with her. I was willing to do that, but the breeder informed me his dog wasn't pregnant. I kept looking for a dog in a shelter. I always thought that was the right thing to do. Give a homeless dog a forever home. I searched all over Maryland, DC and Virginia. My finally option would be from a stranger. I will just say that didn't workout.
So, I called the Anne Arundel shelter this morning to see if Kemma was still available. I saw her on petfinder.com the day before and told Vernon (my boyfriend) I thought she was cute. When I called they told me Rotties go quick, and I should come on down as soon as possible.
So, I picked up my road dog (my mom) and we were on our way. When we arrived I just knew I wasn't leaving without her. I had packed my leash and collar in the trunk; just in case. I spoke with the wonderful ladies at the counter and they told me Kemma was still available. They also suggested Sadie. Once I filled out the adoption application they allowed me to meet Kemma. Immediately I felt a bond. She jumped up to greet me. The volunteer said she showed her several times today and she didn't do that with anyone. I thought this must be a sign.
I immediately asked if she could go home today, and she said she was pretty sure she could. As I went to get her new leash and collar from the car they were suppose to go back inside, and Kemma was suppose to go back to her crate. She wasn't having it. She waited for me in the hall until I returned. She seemed to be just as stubborn as Sade. I love a Rotties personality. They truly are good dogs, but they have a mind of their own. Especially young Rottweilers.
So, we filled out the paperwork, and the lady tells me her adoption fee is $0. I was so excited to hear this I didn't know what to do. They handed over Kemma; which I offically changed to Maya during the adoption process. She used the bathroom and jumped right into my truck.
We were headed to my parents house for her to meet her big brother. She barked and made a few noises in the car showing she didn't like being in the hatch faraway from us. When we arrived to my parents house and she met Ace they seemed to hit it off perfectly. They did the typical checking one another out and then it was great from there. She loves my dad. It was nice to see their bond.
Maya and Ace then  rode together to Pet Smart to get her new supplies. Everyone spoke to her, and she loved the attention and treats. Once we were home she seemed to fit right in. She is currently sleeping next to my bed on one of Sade's old beds. She doesn't seem to be a dog that wants a lot of attention. She appears to be very laid back when she is solo. She reminds me so much of my Sade.
I know she will never replace my Sade, but my heart feels warm and full again where the emptiness set in after losing Sade. I know I have some work ahead of me. Maya will be 2 July 26th, and she still has commands to learn. Not sure how potty trained she is, but we will soon find out.
I hope to share my journey with everyone. I am super excited to finally have my new doggy, and I am so glad I saved her from a shelter. Please join me on this journey as I promise to share the good, the bad and hopefully not the ugly.

One Month since I lost My Sade

Today marks one month since I lost my beloved Sade. I had Sade almost 10 years when she past. Sade was born September 1, 2003 and she was euthanized June 1, 2013 with my mom and I by her side. She was the only girl born with 2 brothers. She had the best personality from the start, and I always felt she knew just what I was saying to her. She was the perfect dog for me. She didn't like the #1 or #2 on her so she was very easy to train. This was perfect for someone who hates the smell of poo and doesn't like cleaning it up. She loved to play with my parent's dog Ace, and I loved spending time with her. She was the one to greet me when I came home for the past 9 years and 9 months. She was my company, my protection and my push thru the hardest times. When a dog looks at you and loves you thru anything they become your best friend. Now this best friend never lives long enough, but the place they find in our hearts will last for an eternity.

Sade had Cancer and I didn't want to face the signs that were there. She stopped eating, walking and wanting to play. Although Sade was an older dog she still had her puppy ways. I think most Rottweilers always will. She was great and I truly miss her.

I wanted to start this blog, because I wanted to track my journey to getting a new dog, raising it and enjoying her just as much as I enjoyed Sade. I know Maya will never take her place, but she will fill some of the emptiness I feel each and everyday I go home.

This first post is dedicated to Sade. The best dog I ever had. The dog I would do anything for including trying to carry all 140 pounds of her the last few months she was here on this earth. Feeding her by hand and buying costly medication for her just to keep her here as long as possible. In the end I knew letting  her go was the best thing for her.

Sade now rest at the bottom of my step in an Urn on my table. She loved to sit at the bottom of the steps watching all doors and making sure anyone who came in the house would have to cross her before they got to me. She earned that place that we would frequently fight over. I didn't want her on the steps since she was having problems with her knees. She didn't want to be to far away from me. Her Urn has a poem that reads 'If Love Could Have Saved You, You Would Have Lived Forever'. I honestly believe that. Not having kids or a spouse I spent a lot of time with Sade and a lot of money!!! LOL She was a good dog. I love her very much, and I can't wait to start my new journey with Maya the Great!!! I don't know if any dog could be as spoiled as my 140 baby that ate cooked string beans almost every night, watermelon in the summer, french fries when I cheated on yet another diet and pizza crust when I didn't feel like cooking. She will forever be in my heart, and I will never forget her.