My name is Beau. I was one year old on October 5, 2000. The house where I am now is the fourth house where I have lived -- not because I was such a bad boy, but because the other people didn't have time to help me to grow up. I guess they were just too busy. But when Grandma Susan got me, she took me to a nice house in Arlington where my new Mommie let me stay.

I have lived in my new home since August 20, 2000. I have a nice big yard where I can play and chase those things with big fuzzy tails and little things that fly away when I scare them. My Mommie calls them squirrels and birds, but whatever they call them, they had better call them 'QUICK' cause I don't like them in my yard.

I'm still learning how to be good, but it's really hard cause my Mommie doesn't like it when I bark too much or chew on the rug, and she really freaked out when I chewed the strap off of one of her good shoes, and chewed the bottom of her tube of hand cream. I hope I don't ever do that again because I really got sick and spit up on Mommie's bed. She wasn't too happy about that either.

I'm starting to meet lots of new people who seem to like me just fine. I really like my Uncle Buck cause he likes to play catch ball with me. I also like Mommie's other friends, but I have to learn not to jump up before they can really like me a lot.

Mommie hollers about me barking and biting, but I wish she wouldn't because I love my house and yard and all my toys, but I have to grow up a little more before I can understand everything she wants me to do.

I think Mommie likes me because she feeds me good, takes me for rides in the car, plays with me and loves me, but that crate thing has got to go. I'll be glad when she thinks I'm good enough to stay by myself outside of the crate when she has to leave me to go wherever she goes.

I really like it when Mommie tells me I'm a good boy, and I know she wishes I could be good all of the time, but I get so excited cause there's so much to see and do and so much fun to have -- I forget! You would think that she would be happy that I don't mess on the floor, except for only two times.

I wish every puppy could find a Mommie like mine. I love her a lot except when she fusses at me when I'm bad, but I sure do like it here in Arlington. It's a really nice place for puppies like me, and I'm going to try very hard to be the best puppy I can be so Mommie can be proud of me.

Love,

Beau

I want to tell you about my new puppy named Beau. I adopted my Beau on August 20, 2000, from Northern Virginia Sheltie Rescue. He had been adopted by four other families before he was taken to NVSR and found his way to my home in Arlington. It's hard to believe that he has been with me over two months, and had his first birthday on October 5, 2000.

Beau is a typical sheltie puppy in that he loves to play, run, bark, bite and chew. We are encouraging the playing and running while working hard to control the barking and to eliminate the biting and chewing.

Beau is a good-looking puppy. He is sable in color, has a full white bib chest, with white fur on the tip of his tail, and the cutest face. He is very friendly with everyone. He loves to be around people, and he even likes other animals. Beau is very smart and fun to have around.

It's amazing how he knows when I'm getting ready to leave the house. He seems to think that the front door is the best place to hide so that he doesn't have to go into the dreaded "good crate," as I like to call it. If he could talk, I'm sure he would have another, unprintable name for it. He thinks the "good crate" is only to aggravate and to control him. Hopefully he will soon learn the house rules of do's and don'ts, and can be left free to roam the house on his own. But for now, it keeps him out of trouble and gives me peace of mind to know that he won't get hurt while I'm away.

He's a strong puppy and the veterinarian's examination has shown that he is very healthy. I know he's very persistent. We are working hard on obedience training, and he is "smart enough" to understand and learn, but still just "puppy enough" to ignore some of the commands.

Beau has adjusted well to some of the basic house rules that may be new to him, and we continue to work on the more difficult ones. But when he sits so cute for his cookie treat and looks at you with those big, "ain't I cute" brown eyes -- what's a Mommie to do?

Beau will definitely give me comfort to know that he will alert me if he suspects that we are in harm's way. He is going to be a good watchdog, and, at the same time, he will provide me with many years of enjoyment and companionship, and we will love one another unconditionally.

If you're looking for a little friend, be sure to contact NVSR or a shelter in your area. You will not regret it.

Yours truly,

Beau's New Mommie