Pino says, "Thank God I'm a country boy -- !!"

 

Click here for his two year update!

Click here for his 10 month update!

 

1 day old	2 weeks old	3 weeks old	8 weeks old	10 months old
Well, here's a story of a boy who went from rags to riches -- from being one of many, to being the only one... the story of little Pino --

 

Pino came to rescue in-utero with his momma, Dea -- -- Dea was and is a princess -- one of the best pups I ever had -- -- more on her puppies can be found here, and more on her glorious forever home can be found here -- -- Dea was one of the hard ones to let go of, even though I believed 100% in her placement and knew it was the right things to do, I cried the day she left -- -- checking her pictures, you'll see what a great momma Linda is to her -- !!

 

Back to Pino and crew... ... here they are, hamming it up on their coming-out day, at 5-weeks old, when prospective adopters came to see them -- -- more on this day can be found here --

 

Here's the crew at 8 weeks, ready to spread their wings -- !!

 

... and here are Jim and Lorraine, who drove 7 hours to come see Pino at his coming-out -- -- notice Elvis my hands in this picture -- and how much bigger he was than Pino -- NOT FOR LONG, Elvie -- !!

 

Here we are, on the way to Pino's home visit at Thanksgiving, traveling down his 1,700 foot driveway -- !!

 

... and we arrive at our boy's forever home... Jim and Lorraine raised their kids in suburbia, and then got the itch for country living -- well, that they did with this destination -- !!

 

Here, Lorraine meets her little man --

 

-- and he does as trained -- he greets her with kisses and wiggles -- !!

 

Little Pino, who kept his name, is now lovingly referred to as "Peenie" -- -- here's the boy's crate and toys...

 

... and he meets his new sister, Lorraine's grand-daughter...

 

Surveying his surrounding, this boy will have the country life, that's for sure -- !!

 

Here's a northerly view of their lot -- -- beneath the smoke-stack is a wood-burning furnace that heats water, which is circulated through the baseboards of the house -- -- electricity is generated by a hard-working diesel engine -- -- this is REAL country -- !!

 

-- and the family tractor, holding equal (if not more) importance to the family car -- !!

 

Back in the house, Pino says, "I'm stayin' -- now all I need me is some comfort food -- !!"

 

On the fridge -- -- note the mention of "obedience", little Peenies -- !!

 

The final steps -- Lorraine reviews the adoption contract --

 

-- and I grow somewhat jealous of this little man, realizing he'll have a nice warm spot guaranteed throughout the winter -- !!

 

Pino says, "Okay -- anything else?"

 

We do a quick rundown of the basics -- - always give kisses - don't pee in the house - cats are your friend - focus on obedience!

 

With that, we're done, and ready for nature and nurture to take its turn in letting this little man thrive...

 

We say our good-byes, and look forward to our next visit...

 

10 months later...

We arrive, to see nothing more than a small ox in the front lawn -- !!

 

WHAT a beauty this boy has grown in to -- !!

 

Jim takes a few minutes from his porch-building project to greet us and to show us what a love this boy has become --

 

-- Elvie and he meet up again -- nose to nose -- !!

 

Pino plays like a prince with his little sister -- who used to be his big sister -- !!

 

-- and Elvis quickly realizes the tables have turned -- -- Elvie is now classified as a pocket-pit, a little man, or whatever you choose -- -- and Pino is a beautiful young man -- as Elvie is, just of a different build -- !!

 

Here's Pino, participating in Jim and Lorraine's every day life... Lorraine wrote at Christmas -- "Hey "Dad," I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas! I also wanted to thank you, Eric Daddy, for giving me such a great start in life- when Papa Jim and Lorraine brought me to the vet- he looked at me and said "Look at that chest!" He also said I was a very healthy puppy and something about being very masculine. "

 

"Anyway, I was proud and so were they and so we want to thank you, Eric- because you are the guy who made all that happen for me! It's fun out here, but very cold - I did not like that at  all- they had to drag me out to go piddle! Hope all is well with you, Dad. Love and bites and slurpy kisses, Pino" Such kind words are so appreciated -- -- look at what Elvis resorted to -- stalking Westies -- !!

 

Pino and I meet up, and he connects with me...

 

... that's for sure -- !! This boy has developed in to the strongest and most stocky that I have seen -- I am so happy to speak with Jim and Lorraine about him, and their ongoing obedience and training with him, raising him with care and discipline.

 

After dinner (and a few beers), Pino and I talk about the old days, when he was just an ankle-biter...

 

I bring up the times he used to fall in the food bowl, dipping himself in puppy-paste --

 

-- and he quickly gets embarrassed -- "Enough of that," says little Peenie -- !!

 

So, there we have it -- all in the family, Pino is -- an absolute tank of a boy, who in the wrong hands could have had a very tough and abused life -- -- instead, he is loved, loving and fitting in like a pea in a pod with his country setting -- THANK YOU, Jim and Lorraine, for making this boy's life an ideal one -- !!

Pino at two years!

Two years down the raod, I get the following from Lorraine -- "Subject: Our boy at two years old... surveying his doggiedom... Isn't he handsome? XO, Lorraine" And that's all I need -- -- knowing that this boy is doing great, loved and loving, in his original placement -- -- things like this make me happy I gave Lorraine and family a chance with this little man, and with that chance, he received all the love and responsible ownership he needed -- -- and that one picture with that short email makes everything worth it -- I love these dogs, and I am so happy to see them flourish.