Persian Proverb

February 7, 1999 Lacy looking up while standing in the barn isle

He who knows not
      and knows not that he knows not,
            is a fool . . . shun him.

He who knows not
      and knows that he knows not,
            is ignorant . . . teach him.

He who knows
      and knows not that he knows,
            is asleep . . . wake him.

He who knows
      and knows that he knows,
            is a wise man . . . follow him.

I acquired Lacy from the Prince George SPCA on February 5, 1999. I had a rough idea as to her age but I was determined to find out when her birthday was. I contacted the veterinary office I knew Lacy had frequented, but I could not get the vet records released to me. I eventually learned she was born June 8, 1997.

Lacy's Story

I remember my mom telling me that I was special and one day I would find a loving family to take me home with them. She told me it was important for me to be kind to our human companions. They would feed us and keep us warm and dry. They would also play with us and pet and comfort us when we were sad. I promised my mom that I would do my very best.

One day some really nice people came and took me home with them. I really missed my mom but they comforted me and when I was hungry, they fed me. They had little humans who played with me and took me for walks. The man was my favorite. We seemed to have a special bond and he spent a lot of time with me. He taught me all sorts of tricks, even to give my humans a hug.

The time went by and I started noticing that my humans were starting to yell at each other. It scared me. I didn't know what to do. I often hid with my little humans because they seemed sad and scared too and I wanted to comfort them.

Then I little babies of my own. I told them what my mom had told me. They promised they would do their very best.

One day the man came up to me. He was really sad. I gave him a hug and he hugged me back. He told me he was so sorry, but I didn't understand. He said he was leaving and wouldn't be back, but I didn't understand. I wanted to go with him but he said he was moving to an apartment in a big city and I wouldn't be happy there. I didn't understand. Then he left carrying big bags in his arms.

I waited and waited for the kind man to return. The woman was sad and the little humans cried a lot. I tried to comfort them and to show them how much I loved them. The woman sometimes forgot to feed me or fill my bowl with clean water. She was always so sad now and never noticed me when I laid down at her feet.

One day the woman got me and my babies to get into her car. I loved car rides. We always went some place exciting! Maybe I would see the kind man again! We traveled for a long time and then the woman stopped in front of a building and went in. The little humans hugged me and cried. I hugged them back but I didn't understand why they were so sad.

The woman came out and two other woman came with her. One woman put a rope around my neck and gently led me out of the car. The other woman carried my babies. I thought we were going for a walk. I love walks. The woman led me into the building and I looked around. My humans were leaving! I was so scared and didn't understand.

I was put in a cage with my babies. We lay on a thin blanket on the cold cement floor. Many strange humans looked at us and I got excited when they came. Maybe my humans would be back to get me and I would be happy again. Sometimes a human would take one of my babies and I would be so sad. I finally had one baby left but he was so sick. One day I woke up and he was so cold and still. A human came and took him away and I never saw him again.

The humans were kind to me and would take me for walks and play with me but I missed my humans, especially the kind man. Other dogs came and left but nobody wanted to take me home. Didn't they know I needed to run and play with my humans who loved me? I knew then my humans were never coming back for me. What did I do wrong? I was so sad.

A man and woman came by one day. They were kind humans. I wanted them to take me home but I didn't know how to tell them. I jumped up on the chain link fence and tried to wag my my short little tail. The woman took me out for a walk behind the building. She pet me and I gave her hugs. I tried hard to tell her I wanted her to be my new human. They put me back in my cage and left. I tried to yell at them and tell them not to leave me.

It seemed like I lay there for a long time. I was giving up because no human wanted me. Then something wonderful happened. The woman came back! She came to my cage and told me she was taking me home to live with her! I was so happy! I couldn't stop telling everyone how happy I was! I got in the man's big, red truck and we went home!

Lacy lying on her new bed in the living room during her first Christmas with her new humans

I was afraid to love my new humans like I loved my other humans. I was afraid that if I loved them, they would leave me too. I tried hard to be brave. The woman spent a lot of time with me and took me everywhere. She introduced me to her horses and I was so afraid the horse was going to attack my new woman, I tried to bite it. The woman didn't seem very happy that I did that. I tried to tell her I was sorry and please don't send me back to that cold small cell. I promise I won't do that again and I never did!

Sometimes the woman would get dressed in a uniform and leave. I was so scared she wouldn't come back. She always did but I never could get over my other humans leaving me.

My new human would take me out to a wonderful place with other dogs I could play with. I didn't know how to play at first and the other dogs had to teach me. It was so fun. One day she left me there with my truck and promised to be back. I tried to run after her but I couldn't run fast enough. I went back to my truck and hid in it. The other dogs and the humans who stayed with me tried to comfort me but I was so scared and didn't understand. Then she came back! I was so happy and bounced and ran around her!

May 26, 2002 Lacy running with Alana (Stormy Red Sniper) and her 26 day old foal Razkel (Arazkis)

My new human always had new little horses to play every spring. I was always so careful not to scare them or hurt them. Ali was always nice to me, even if I did try to bite her nose off when I first met her. Every spring when the new babies were born, I tried to chase off the coyotes and wolves which stalked near. I was so afraid one would get my new playmate. My human always kept the new babies in the front paddock until they were old enough to run with the herd. That made me feel better.

Over the years, the horses started to get mean to me and the other dogs. Sometimes they would panick when me and my other friends would go and play with them. I tried to tell my human that a wolf pack has been stalking the horses and that is why they are chasing me. They must think I am going to attack the babies too now! Sometimes in the spring I convinced my humans the wolves were near and the horses were moved to the front paddock's. That made me feel much better.

Spring of 2004 Lacy riding on the pile of wood in the truck

There was always work to do around the ranch. In the spring, I would help my human get firewood for the big house her humans lived in. I would ride in the back of the truck to where we would run while the humans were riding their horses. The humans would cut and load the truck with wood. My friend tried to teach me how to carry big sticks but I would prefer the smaller ones. They didn't make my neck and jaw as sore. Mostly I would run behind the truck on the way back to the house but some days it was so hot I was too tired. My human let ride on the pile of wood and I felt like a queen. They drove really slow so I wouldn't fall but I tried to tell them they could go faster. The cool breeze felt so good!

May 23, 2004 Lacy running with her human, Susan and her friends Bobby and Brumby

I would love to go running with my human and my friends. My human often went on all sorts of fun trails where there were all sorts of neat new smells. I would be able to stretch my muscles and although I would be tired after, it was worth it.

December 25, 2003 Lacy running with her buddies while the humans are driving the horses

During the cold time, when we had lots of white stuff stay on the ground covering all the good smells, my human would put a sled behind her horse and I could run beside it. It was hard work but lots of fun too.

Haying 2003 The hay crew resting while Lacy is looking for pets Bobby is checking out the photographer

I would love when my human is helping get the hay off the field. I would run behind the truck and look for interesting stuff in the fresh cut fields. Later, the humans would lie in the cool spot. I tried to join them but I was always so excited because the humans would pet me.

Bobby is teaching Lacy how to play tug 'o war

Bobby was really patient with me. He loved to play tug 'o war, but I just didn't understand what he wanted. Why would he want me hold onto the end of a rope or stick and try to put him all over. He would have to show me over and over and as you can see, he really tried to make me feel like I was winning. Now I can show him! I finally figured it out!

Summer 2003 Lacy relaxing in the shade

I am happy now. I have been with new humans for over 5 years now. I turned 7 on June 8, 2004. I still get worried when they leave but my humans don't travel much anymore. The woman injured herself and she was sad for a while. I was so scared she was going to leave me and I tried to tell her how much I loved her. She let me know she was sad because she couldn't take me out for runs while she rode her horses. That's ok. I'm happy as long as I can be with my humans and they promised me that I will for as long as I live.

I love to lay inside at my humans feet with the fire burning in the fireplace, when it is cold outside and the wind is blowing.

I really am happy now!

December 31, 2002 Lacy sitting on the stairs