All in the Family

Biography: Harvick came to live with us as a puppy in June, 2005. He was a gift to me from my father and my step-mother. I am currently disabled and Harvick has brought a new light into my life. He's half Shih-Tzu and half Pomeranian, also known as "Shih-Poms" and "Shiranians", a so-called "designer dog". I just call him "love". He's so cute and affectionate and is very intelligent, showing many signs of thinking a problem out. He's also inventive, such as trying to exchange a piece of rawhide chew, which are always available to him, for a dog biscuit treat, which are not. He often wins this one, although we are watching his weight. Harvick has many toys but his favorite, by far, is his ball. His sleeping companion and most treasured toy is a little green frog we call "Jeremiah". Harvick sleeps with Jeremiah every night and always brings it to show to any company we have. I believe with all my heart the Lord sent this lovely little dog to me to brighten my days. He's truly a blessing. Since I first wrote this, my daughter Lori had a baby girl, Shelby, in September of 2009 and Harvick has come to love her immensely. He wants to "kiss" her ears, face and hands for her any time he has the chance but, of course, we can't allow much of that. Shelby loves Harvick, too, and now that she is seven months old and more in control of her hands, she wants to get hold of Harvick's fur. Harvick is a bit uneasy about that and has become quite artful at dodging those little, grasping fingers. My wife and I wanted to babysit Shelby while her mommy and daddy are at work because a daycare cannot give a baby what we can give...true family love, so Harvick and Shelby get to see each other at least five days a week. Harvick made our lives more full and now little Shelby has made them more complete. I thank God for my daily blessings; I am truly blessed among men. A while back, we had to trim Harvick's fur. He had hair on him which was as long as six inches, easily, and a lot of it was tangled down deep. WE bought some doggy clippers and I clipped him down to about an inch or so long in most places and it was like setting him free. We let him out to run after he was clipped but before Sharon bathed him and he ran like a happy puppy. I should have clipped him long ago but I wasn't able. I thank the Lord for enabling me to trim my little buddy. He sheds ten times less now, if not even less. It's amazing what that clipping did for him. Since then,he's been clipped several times and feels much better. Harvick still lights up our lives and he dearly loves little Shelby, who is who is two now, to be three on September 13, 2012. They really enjoy playing together and she thinks he's wonderful; I pretty much think so, too. :o)