It is presently late in October of 2002. It appears to the people who have taken care of me over the last year, that I have experienced a lot of hard times in my past. They think that I am about 3 years old and at least 2 of those years have left me full of fears. For almost 2 weeks I have been living with a Foster family. This has been a big change for me. First of all, there are 3 people in this house and 2 other dogs. There's one sassy lookin' female Samoyed (oh baby) and one gray-bearded black Lab. He's old and I still haven't made a friendship with him. Now that Sammy and I are bonding quite well! I just discovered how much fun her squeaking and squawking toys are to play with. When I came here the only treasures I had were one very handsome collar and one chewed on nylabone. I'm still very protective of the bone. If my mom and dad clean out my crate, the first thing I do is find my bone and either put my head or my paw on it. It's comforting.
My mom and dad and their human son are trying very hard to help me calm down and feel safe here. I just don't want to get too settled and then be sent somewhere else. That's happened before and it's really hard. (Especially if I have to leave the "sassy Sammy"). So far, she and I puppy play and go for walks together. Sometimes just dad takes both of us and sometimes mom comes along. My mom does special things for me. Today she gave me a heart-shaped pillow that must have meant a lot to her in the past. She talked about giving it to her mom. I've never seen another lady so I don't know what that meant. She sorta looked a little sad when she talked about it. Sometimes she actually cries when she comes to pet me and talk to me. I don't know what to do when that happens. They think that I have been treated badly by another woman and that's why I am more hesitant around mom. I wish I could tell people what happened before, but that's not possible. Everyone here is trying so hard to help me forget.

My dad sometimes does really special things for me. The other day mom found a box of Frosty Paws in the grocery cart. It's a treat made from soy products that looks and tastes like ice cream. All three of us get to share a cup of it. Talk about a yummy treat, this sure is!! Some days I don't feel like eating all of my breakfast or supper. When that happens, dad gets on the floor and feeds me from his hand. Dad and mom seem to worry about me not eating enough, and that I need to weigh a little more. When they talk about that they also talk about something called a heart murmur. The second day I was here they took me to the dog doctor and he told them that I had a "slight heart murmur". He said he didn't know if I was born with it or if I got it when I had a thing called heart worms. I remember that. I had to take medicine from a different person and I felt very bad. It took a long time before I felt better. Do you think that this "heart murmur" is why I feel really tired sometimes? Dad and mom seem to want to be careful with me because of it. I am smaller than the "sassy Sammy" we call Belka.

The first few days that I was here I liked Belka to be where I could see her from my crate. They always leave the door open so I can come and go, but I don't do a lot of "going" yet. Now we play; I started a new game of stealing her toys and taking them to my crate; when she goes "upstairs" (I don't know where that is yet) I sit in my crate and cry and bark. Guess what? She comes running!!!! Little bit of control there don't you think? Well, I AM the male!
Yesterday dad and mom took me to a place I had been a few weeks ago. It's a place where they have LOTS of things for dogs. The first time I was there I cringed in my crate and was glad that my friend Allison had brought my blanket. Yesterday I was just on my leash and the lady that seems to be in charge of this place was there and another lady. Oh, oh, two women. The lady in charge got a handful of luscious dog treats, but I didn't want to take any so mom put them in her pocket and brought them home so I could have them in my crate. I shared them with Belka and Bonzo. There was a lot. After a little while, mom told dad that I was shaking and we needed to come home. I did enjoy the ride there and back though.

Some days are better than others. It sure seems to me that dad and mom and Jared are working very hard to help me with my fears. Sometimes it's funny to see mom. She stands up as tall as she can (she's a short lady), then she puts her arms over her head and makes a fist. After that, she looks at me and says, "Liberty, you're a Braveheart. Be strong, put a Sammy smile on your face, and hold your tail high. Sammies wear a smile and carry their tails high, and that's what you are!" I think it's been a long time since I have done either one of those things. Maybe if I watch Belka I can learn how to do those things. She sure has a BIG smile and she couldn't get her tail much higher or she'd be tickling her ears with it!

Now, let's see, hand feeding, doggie ice cream, soft things to lay on in my crate, a pretty heart shaped pillow to put my head on, and noisy toys to play with when Belka and I get tired of wrestling with each other. Although, I'm not sure that Belka likes to share her toys. Dad said that he was going to get me some of my own. How will we tell them apart? I know I can't read if they put my name on them. I don't think Belka can read either, but she does seem to know when she is told to drop something or pick something up. Would you believe she actually carried a bag with a cheeseburger and French fries in it to mom and didn't try to take a bite??? Of course, mom rewarded her with a piece of the burger. I tell you, I need to get in on this action. Right now they say I'm not motivated with food. Maybe I'll learn that too. It seems that by the time a dog is about 3 years old I would have learned some of this. But then, my life has been VERY different from what I see here. I WILL try though. I got two toys. A squeaky carrot that I share with Belka and a ball. But I play with all of Belka's toys too.

Well, there's some good news!! My mom was talking on the phone and she said, "We want to keep him. None of us can stand the thought of him having to go through another adjustment. Send the adoption papers." I think that means I get to stay with Belka. I'd really like to make friends with Bonzo but that hasn't happened yet. Mom keeps telling me that it's because he's quite old and doesn't adjust to changes very well. I know about that adjusting to changes bit!
Hey! Mom gave me a BIG piece of her hamburger today---for no special reason. I didn't carry a bag to her or anything. Why did she do that? Guess what---Belka and I got to share a half of a peanut butter sandwich. Dad gave me small pieces from his hand. I could get used to these things. What's their plan? I hope it's to be less afraid so that I can come and sit with them and get lots of hugs. I have been giving dad lots of kisses and he hugs and pets me for long periods of time. I know mom and Jared would like to do that too. Some day, hopefully soon.

Dad and I went to the basement today. That ALWAYS means a BATH. Three baths in 2 weeks. Well, the stains on my back feet are almost gone. There's still a lot on my tummy but dad's scrubbing on that area. Oh boy, there will be a nice clean, soft towel and a clean sheet in my crate after I get most of the "wet" off. The family says I'm starting to smell better. Personally, I didn't notice I smelled bad. I guess people's noses work differently than dog's. Dad got new shampoo. He says it smells like Vanilla. Mom thinks that I still smell like a wet dog right now. Maybe the Vanilla kicks in when I'm dry. Holy cow---When my tail is brushed it is so big and fluffy! I didn't realize there was so much fur back there!! I'll bet this is some of what those fancy show dogs go through to look SOOOO puffy. Mom says that Belka and I are show dogs. She says that we show the family new and great things every day. We do come up with some different things. So far, we haven't destroyed anything; we haven't dug any holes and we haven't had any smelly accidents in the house. That's a REALLY GOOD record!!!!

For all you Sammies that don't have a Forever home yet, I will be thinking about you a lot. I'm still not sure what Forever means, but I think it means lots of love, special treats, car rides that even bring you back home, and mostly that the family you are with will take care of you until we go to the Rainbow Bridge. I REALLY hope that EVERY one of you in Rescue will be part of a Forever home that is full of all these things. When I fully realize that I am here forever, I will be able to relax and not be afraid of so many things---you will too. GOOD LUCK !" FOREVER" IS FOR YOU TOO!

Here is the Latest from Liberty!

My story started out extremely sad and sort of scary. I had been in Rescue for a year. I spent all but short times in my crate. It became my haven of safety. When my family took me I was very dirty. (mom registered me with our vet as being biscuit color..she couldn't tell what color I was) I had a slight heart murmur; I had ear mites; my left eye had a discharge and left a brown mark on my face; and my legs and feet were a very dark reddish-brown color. My family left my crate door open so I could come and go. I cringed in the back of the crate, had the most intense look of fear in my eyes and shook when strangers came by. It has been my good fortune to be adopted to a very loving family and we have a female Sammy and a very old black Lab.

I have been able to watch them both very carefully and spend lots of time with them and seeing how they live in this house. It is now June of 2003 and I spend very little time in my crate. I can actually go to sleep on the floor of the family room and not jump up at EVERY little noise! I like to lay under the dining room table too. I recently found I can run UPSTAIRS, with or without, Belka. I can jump on the big bed. I am one BIG daddy's boy and follow him everywhere I can!! I've learned to love "tummy rubs". (I wouldn't turn over before. You know, that old thing about not exposing a vulnerable area...)I have a yard FULL of squirrels that I chase! I ignore the fence. Mom and dad were told that I would never be able to be in the yard off-leash. Well guess what.....I go out all the time off-leash and don't even try to jump a fence. Mom and dad have been very careful. Someone is usually out with all of us and they watch us, yet let us have incredible freedom to sniff and run and bark.

Oh....I'm NOT biscuit colored....I'm very white (that took a lot of trips to the basement for baths!!!) and my guard hairs are starting to look silvery and glisten! Mom and dad seem to be the most happy about the look in my eyes. They say they don't see the horrible fear that was there in October. I smile a lot. They say that I hop like a bunny in the yard. Mom says I spin my tail like a propeller. I don't have to be brought in on a leash most of the time. I'm able to get up my courage and run across the yard, jump on the deck and run through the door. I think everyone is proud of me. I'm still nervous about going through doors; meeting strangers; I like to cuddle very close to dad when it thunders; and if people move too quickly or loudly it startles me and I head for my crate. I still have my beautiful collar I came with and my chewed on nylabone. They give me some comfort. Then I have a whole bunch of new toys and Belka and they give me new happiness. My two-legged brother plays with me too. I'm still uncertain around women, but I do come to mom to get my head scratched more often. I like to sneak up on her when she is on the sofa with her eyes closed and lick her hand. She reaches out and rubs my head.

I'm a REALLY changed Rescue dog. I'm now a FAMILY dog that belongs. It makes dad so proud when we go for walks and people say what a pretty dog I am. I never even hoped for a "forever" home and I have it GREAT here. Sometimes I get scared that I will have to leave, but everybody keeps telling me I'm safe here and this is where I will stay "FOREVER". I'm fed good; kept warm and dry in the winter; cool in the summer; taken on lots of walks and car rides (my favorite); MOST IMPORTANTLY I REALLY know love. Love has allowed me to progress at the rate I feel comfortable with. It has helped me to feel secure. Most of all, it has done away with most of my fears. If you've never known fear, you won't understand how important this is. My mom says she has known lots of fear and she works real hard to help me through it. We're quite a site....Dad, Mom, Jared, and the 3 furries....Bonzo the black Lab, Belka the Princess Sammy and Me the bouncy, squeaky-voiced Sammy. We stick together. We don't get left home very often. Usually we all go together. It's soooo good to be able fall asleep and not keep listening for something to sneak up and hurt me!!! I really eat and rest in such comfort now.

Thank you MSR
Lots of Love and Sammy Smiles ----LIBERTY (Dad's boy)