ChrisMiss and Faith went to their forever home 10/30/02

From the heart of their foster mom to you.........
ChrisMiss and Faith went to their forever home 10/30/02
They have been in our home in South Florida for almost a year now - they both turned one year old in foster care. My hubby Ray dubbed them our "Florida Snowballs" the very first moment he met them - they will always be remembered in our home that way. Both little girls are well adjusted and happy and have known nothing but lots of love in our home. I personally flew to St. Louis, Mo in January, 2002 to pick up these little girlies who only weighed a couple of pounds each. As we were preparing to land at the airport, snow began to fall and I was just delighted, as I'm a Florida gal and don't get to see snow! When I saw Angel Robin come toward me with the teeny tiny black carrier that held them, my breath caught in my throat. I thought - how could they possibly both be in that one little bag? Robin commented that I probably shouldn't have worn black to transport the little girlies, and she was right, haha! After having transferred them to the bag that I carried up with me, as I was walking toward my gate, they both promptly decided to take a poop, so the next hour at the airport was spent cleaning up their snowy white coats. What fun!
When I initially heard about Faith being in PMR, I knew that I was the perfect foster home for her. I already had a couple of special needs pups, and I knew that I would be able to help her with dealing with her handicap and prepare her for her forever home. I made plans to fly to Missouri after Christmas to pick her up. Only a few weeks before my schedule flight, PMR founder Jean Jones phoned me and said "There's another little girl that needs your help - can you take her"? Oh, boy! Two little disabled pups? At one time? But how could I said "no"?

Faith was born in a cold puppymill in Missouri as a perfectly normal little puppy girl. When she was barely one week old, either her mother or a pup in an adjoining pen, chewed her back feet off. The miller brought her to the vet to be euthanized, and a rescuer was there and said "NO! I'll take her!". ChrisMiss was born in a different cold and uncaring puppymill in Missouri, with a birth defect that she no doubt inherited from her mom or dad. It has been said that she had a littermate with the same condition, but he went to a broker to be sold to a petstore. I've often wondered about the fate of her little brother. But ChrisMiss was lucky enough to make her way into rescue, although at the time she wasn't expected to live very long. To say she has beaten the odds is an understatement!

What an element of fun and delight ChrisMiss and Faith brought into our home. They fit in immediately as if they had always been here. My pack of puppies accepted them without question and my little female yorkie Bijou wanted to "mother" them - they both had to leave their mothers much too early - that's the way they do it at the puppymills so that the millers and brokers can quickly make more money off of their sale.
The delightful antics of ChrisMiss will certainly live on in our memories and hearts. She was always looking for an adventure and if it involved a paper product, she was thrilled. It never was determined where her intense desire to eat paper came from - I always joked that if ChrisMiss suddenly found herself homeless again, she would be able to make a living as a copier - put her in a room with one piece of paper, come back 2 minutes later, and she has copied it into 15 pieces of paper! She never overcame that habit, and you could be sure if you dropped just the tiniest piece of paper, she would sniff it out and tear it up in just a few seconds! Faith never developed this curious habit, although she did mimic ChrisMiss several times in the paper endeavor.

Faith was the quiet and gentle one, happy to bask in the brightness and glory of her effervescent sister. She was always at ChrisMiss' side and it appeared that they held one another up. She was as curious as ChrisMiss, but more apprehensive about acting too quickly. She knew that if there was a situation that needed to be investigated, that her sister would take care of it! It became very obvious to me after the first week that the girls had to be adopted together - there was no doubt about it. They bonded quickly to one another, as if they knew there was something very special about the other one. They also knew that they looked very different from the yorkie pups that were in the home!

There are so many memories of ChrisMiss and Faith during their time in our home. These little girlies captured our hearts, and the prayers that they would find their very own forever home didn't seem to be answered. As each month rolled by, and yet another applicant just wasn't the right one, it seemed like the perfect one would never come along. But they did......... Ray and I never lost hope that it would happen. And we thought we were prepared when the time came....but it was very, very hard to let these little princesses go, although we knew that it was the right thing for them. Their new mommy and daddy, Nicci and Glenn, loved them the minute they met them. Glenn called Faith his "little buddy" and didn't hesitate to pick her up and pet her. Nicci was just in awe and couldn't believe how beautiful and playful they were. Jean and I sat back with smiles on our faces and hope in our hearts.

After all the approvals, vet checks and home visit were done, then plans were made for the day to say goodbye; oh, my what a bittersweet time! How do you let go of two little precious pups that have totally wound their little paws around your heart? How do you adjust to life without their adorable little faces looking up at you? How do you fill that empty space that has been reserved for only them? This is how......you are only the intermediate family, the foster family, the one that is there to readily accept them when they need you the most - when lots of times, no one else wants them or can take them. You are there to love them, comfort them, keep them warm and safe, and do whatever you can to let them know that they are worthy of love, and that they will never ever face cruelty or neglect again. You may spend days, weeks or months, in this case, devoting your life and love to them - caring for their every need, laughing at their carefree capers, and staying up nights with them when they were sick or recovering from surgery. Then .......... you allow them to go to someone else that is more perfect than you......you allow them to begin their lives with their forever families. The circle of fostering is complete........you know that you have done what you set out to do.

For those of you reading this story, please consider fostering or adopting a special needs or senior pup. You have no idea how much your life will be changed by this kind deed. Yes, our lives have indeed been changed and enhanced and blessed by the Florida Snowballs. We shall never ever forget them. And, guess what? They were adopted by a Florida family, so visits are possible and probable. A few words to Glenn and Nicci, the Snowballs' forever mommy and daddy. You have entered into your adoption of ChrisMiss and Faith with much prayer and thought. You have been given a gift - the gift of their love, and I know without a doubt that you will treasure and nurture this living gift. Thank you for loving them so much that you wanted them to share your lives. And thank you for your generous spirit in allowing Ray and I to continue to be part of their lives. We are truly blessed.

ChrisMiss and Faith - have a wonderful life, little ones! Our Florida Snowballs ....our precious little ones....you are so loved!

Mommy Dianne and Daddy Ray

This letter goes out to the many many people who were involved in every way
shape and form for the rescue of ChrisMiss and Faith.

And also to the many many people who have never met them but have continued to pray for them. But most of all to Ray, Dianne and Jean. To you three this is written for you
with many tears and heartfelt gratitude.

******************************

My story................I was sitting in my office one day when a coworker
named Deidra came in my office and she told me about this web site called
petfinder.com. I had a Bichon named Muffy and I had always wanted to get her
a Maltese sister. We saw ChrisMiss and Faith and read their very sad stories.
From then on I would go to Puppymillrescue.com and read their updates. I
could not wait for the next one to post. When one did I was just so excited
to read what was going on and see their cute little faces. Finally one day I
again found myself sitting in my office reading about them and then it hit
me......HIT THE RED BUTTON.......HIT THE RED BUTTON........and I did.
Something I will never regret. I immediately thought I would get them right
away. I had no idea how the process worked all I knew is I wanted these fur
babies. After several emails, conversations, many tears and lots have heart
to hearts with Dianne, we made arrangements for me to meet them. Glenn and I
drove to South Florida and from the minute I saw them I really knew it was in
God's plan for me to have these Sweeties. Originally I thought they were
somewhere up north I was so surprised to find out they were right in my
"backyard."

After we left from our visit I just cried all the way home because I hated to
leave them. I finished completing the wonderful, detailed process from PMR
and was on my way to work when sweet Tricia (PMR Processor) called and all
she said was "congratulations" Tears began to role down my face and I was in
awe. The very next call I made was to Dianne to tell her of the Boards
decision, we were both so happy. They were finally mine.

Throughout this entire expeiernce I have always had in the front of all my
thoughts one thing.....The love and feeling Dianne and Ray have for these
Pups. I have thought about it so much I would be overcomed with guilt and at
one point placed my application on hold because I just could not bear the
thought of taking them from such loving wonderful people. Dianne, with all
her sweet words and love explained to me about fostering and that there will
be more out there to save...."One pup at a time".......For the many who do
not know me I love my God more then anything and I believe in his awesome
will. This entire situation has been guided by his love and will. Dianne and
Ray WILL continue to be Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy. I am in the South
Florida are often and will always have "Pups in Tow" for a visit while I
attend to business. God knew the prayers and needs in all of our hearts and
it is VERY important to me to continue to have both Ray and Dianne be a part
of their very special lives. The situation could just not have been more
perfect.

Upon returning to our home with our new kids it has been none stop. ChrisMiss
is now dubbed "ChrisMiss Tree" and Faith is "Faith Bug." Muffy has adjusted
wonderfully. There are no children in our home so all three get complete and
undivided attention. So far it goes like this......Play, Eat, Bark, Pee,
Poop, Play, Play, Play, Sleep, Bark, Play, Play, Play......oh did I mention
Play?? Words will never describe the enjoyment they have brought into our
hearts.

I invite anyone to email me at anytime if you would like to see more photos
or even hear about what they are "in to"!!!!! As so many people loved these
babies, it was never my intention not to share them with anyone and everyone.
I know I have adopted two very "famous pups." And in retrospect......they
love all the attention. They are my "little movie stars" You can reach me at
Nhensel@aol.com

In closing I just want to tell all that I will be forever grateful to Puppymillrescue for the work that they do in saving these animals, although the
REAL "ANIMALS" are the Puppy Mills themselves not the dogs!! I will do my
part in spreading the word and now join proudly in the fight against the
mills. God Bless you all and many heartfelt thanks.

Nicci Bennett
New Mommy to ChrisMiss and Faith

From ChrisMiss and Faith to Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy
****************************
It was very very cold, we were in separate places....
We knew of no love and no familiar faces....
We were very small and not like the other pups we were around....
The Millers assumed we were worth nothing but thanks to a "miracle" we were
found....
Then from far far away an Angel appeared.....
Dianne was warm and cuddly we then felt no fear...
We instantly loved her and the man who was so sweet...
They never cared that one of us "hopped" and the other had no feet...
Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy, words will never describe...
The love we have for both of you that lives deep inside...
Thanks be to God for finding us a Mommy and Daddy who will never let you be a
"memory"..........
Continuing to be in your lives will always be a reality....
You both showed us love when we needed it so bad.....
And now we are prepared only because of you so please do not be sad....
From the bottom of our teeny tiny hearts we love you very very much....
We anxiously await to see you again and feel your warm loving touch.....

With much love to our foster mommy and foster daddy.......ChrisMiss and Faith

We are always in need of foster homes. Click here to learn about becoming a foster home.

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