Me, My Dog, and I ®: Happy Birthday Portia!!

08 February 2010

Happy Birthday Portia!!

On February 8, 2007 somewhere in Central Oregon a Chocolate Lab gave birth to six puppies. The Lab had given birth to puppies before...Lab puppies...but this time was different, the puppies were most certainly not Labs, well not purebreds anyway. These puppies had white markings on their chests and toes and for whatever reason it was decided that these puppies would not do and they were subsequently "abandoned" (for the lack of a better word) at the Humane Society of Central Oregon, located in Bend, Oregon. The volunteers and employees worked diligently to wean all six puppies and find them loving homes. And as is usually the case with the puppies they were quickly adopted...all five of the six anyway...all but this one:

The called her "Sweetie" on account of her kind and gentle disposition. For some reason though the shelter was having a hard time finding her a home. Much loved by the handlers and volunteers that worked with her they would post notes on her kennel encouraging folks to take a look at her and hopefully adopt her: "I love to play and run, if you want more energy I will give some to you. I can not sit yet but I am learning!" or " I heart being taken out on walks. I do not know sit, come, or down, but get me treats and teach me! I am very energetic and I love people!" But even with references like those, "Sweetie" continued to live for nearly five months in her kennel at the shelter.

Then one day in June, while looking yet again through the shelter in search of that perfect dog...I met "Sweetie"...I immediately snapped a cellphone picture of her (the one above) and forwarded it to my roommate/landlord in hopes he would approve of my attempt to bust her out. I particularly liked this dog not only for her demeanor, but for the fact that she was almost a pint-sized version of my roommates dog Zeke, a Mastiff-Boxer mix:

After seeing the photo of "Sweetie" my roommate, Matt, agreed that she seemed like the right dog to rescue. So, on June 30, 2007 after close to five months in a cell at the local shelter the last of the six puppies was about to get a new home, but before that could happen she needed a new name, "Sweetie" is nice and all, but it's more like a nickname, than a proper name. I felt that I had the perfect proper name, inspired by the heroine of William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice I settled on the name, Portia.

Portia, from Merchant of Venice, is beautiful, gracious, rich, intelligent, quick witted, and has high standards in men. She obeys her father's wishes, even while having the determination to land the suitor of her desire. Even at one point disguising herself as a man to save another's life. This character fit perfectly with this precious little puppy, full of energy and a willingness to please.

So, on June 30, 2007 "Sweetie" became Portia...rescued from the shelter to come home where she made fast friends with Zeke:

It's been a great three years, Portia and we have come along way from our beloved home in Central Oregon to our new home some 3000 miles away in Virginia...hope your day is special!