The Story of Prissy

I couldn't tell you how many times I have said "her name is Prissy but we didn't name her that." Not that there is anything wrong with that name. Once I openly stated my dislike for the name Prissy to some one who actually had an animal named Prissy. It was awkward. Regardless of your thoughts on the the name, it just doesn't fit "us." I never imagined that we would have a dog named "Prissy." To be honest, I never imagined having a dog. The truth be told, I have never been an animal person. I realize that those of you who read my blog will find this totally unbelievable. I post more photos and write about the dogs more than I do my own husband. However, it is true that up until little Prissy joined our family, I hated dogs. Ask any member of my family and they will agree. They still laugh at the notion of me with two dogs, one of which sleeps in our bed.

So, how did we come to be dog lovers? We happened to drop by a The Ark, a pet rescue shelter in town, on the 4th of July. Having just purchased our first home a few weeks before, Jason decided it was time for a dog. When we strolled into the Ark we both immediately noticed Prissy. She was on the only dog in the place that wasn't barking. She had just arrived there after a week long stay at the vet. The guy running the shelter that day didn't know anything about her past. He welcomed us to take her out and play with her. So we opened the crate door and she cowered in the corner. She was terrified. It was obvious that she had been mistreated before the Ark found her. She was scrawny and her hair was a mess. After a few minutes we coaxed her out. We spent the next 20 minutes trying to get her to warm up to us. Honestly, she never really did. However, you could tell that she was really sweet and really needed love. Despite her sad state, I was ready to leave her there. Sometimes folks, I can be a heartless witch (edited for the kiddies). I wasn't really sure if I was ready for the responsibly of a pet and Prissy was literally the first dog we had looked at. While I was unsure, Jason was convinced that she was OUR DOG. After a lengthy discussion he won and we left the Ark with her.

The first order of business was to change her name. I know that it is supposed to be easy to do but is wasn't. The only name she would half respond to was Prissy. She was so sad those first few days. She would barely let us touch her. Finally, we caved and started calling her by the name Prissy. She would at least come to the name (most of the time). Slowly, she warmed up to us as she realized that she was safe and loved. By the time she became comfortable with us we felt it would be mean to change her name. Also, while it pains me to admit this, the name fits. She is in fact quite Prissy. She loves to be cuddled and pampered and hates to get muddy. I have thanked Jason over and over again for insisting that we adopt her. In addition to being an adorable puppy, she was also a wonderful companion to me in the months after my mom's death. Jason's job at the time required him to travel a lot leaving me and Prissy home alone. She was a wonderful friend. She has wiggled her way into our hearts and turned us into the crazy dog people we are.

Here is one of my favorite photos of Prissy. This was taken in the first few months she was in our family.