Ok, I am going to issue a tissue alert for this story. I can tell you that I have shed many tears over this boy over the past five years.

Won't you go back in time with me to about five years ago? It was the summer of 2000. It was a hot one. I had been called over to a small town in Missouri to meet with a commercial kennel owner.

She had been checking us out on the Internet. You see, she had been putting her retired breeding stock down when she was through with them, and then she heard about something called "Small Paws Rescue".

I drove up and her property was clean. Her house is clean. She is a very personable lady and the truth be known, I like her and I believes she likes me. We just have to agree to disagree about each of our chosen careers.

That hot summer day in August of 2000, I loaded up...oh I would say maybe 10 Bichons that were ready to come into retirement and into rescue with SPR.

Her husband had gone out to the kennel building to get them and brought them up in the back of the pick up, up to the house where we were waiting.

You know Bichons...their curiosity bumps were about to get the best of them and I could just see one of them jumping out of that pick-up bed...but they didn't, thank God.

One by one we loaded them into crates, and into the back end of "Glory" (as in "glory to God"...each time we do a commercial kennel rescue, you can bet your bottom dollar that we are ALL giving ...glory to God!) my 1998 model, red Volvo. Dale and I had just bought Glory, a 2 year old used volvo wagon. I think this may have been one of her first kennel runs.

Glory must know the way to each and every commercial kennel in MO...as sometimes she seems to drive herself to these remote and rural locations!:)

We had just finished putting all of the crates in the car that day, and I was about to leave when the owner had a troubled look on her face. At first, I thought it was the 102 degree heat...but then she told her husband to go inside and check the kennel tag numbers...to make sure she wasn't sending a Bichon that she didn't mean to.

My heart dropped. Oh dear God. How would I unload one of these precious Bichons and give it back...no no no...that would be too horrible to even think.

He returned with a list and I was soon to learn, standing there in the hot and humid Missouri sun, that ROMEO...wasn't supposed to go with me. He had been loaded by accident.

We had to remove several of the crates to get Romeo back out. I fought back the tears as our eyes locked...Romeo's and mine.

I asked them if I could just hold him for just a minute. They looked at me like I was nuts, and told me he had been out in the kennel building and he was dirty.

But, these really are pretty nice folks, and they let me get him out of the crate a hold him for a bit.

I walked a few feet away, while cradling little Romeo in my arms. He is so small, maybe just 11 pounds. I whispered into his little ear. I told him that I PROMISED him...I WOULD BE BACK FOR HIM. ONE DAY HE TOO WOULD GET TO GO BYE BYE and live in air-conditioning...and sleep on a real bed...and go for real car rides, and get to have real treats.

I told him to just hang on...that I would not forget him, and through my tears, I handed him back to the people.

There hasn't been a hot day or a cold day since, that I haven't thought about Romeo.

I have tried on no less than fifteen occasions to win his release into rescue. I have offered as much as $500.00 on many of these occasions, and once, I just flat asked her how much she wanted for Romeo.

She just didn't want to let him go, but all along she would tell me, "One day, Romeo will be yours."

I began repeating it each time I would go back to her place after more Bichons coming into retirement. I would say, "Remember, XXX....One day Romeo is going to be mine...."

By all accounts, Romeo would be fourteen years old today.

Fast forward to last week. My dear friend and our Small Paws Transportation Secretary, Lynda Dehart, just casually asked me how Romeo was doing and If I had talked to them lately about releasing him to us.

I picked up the phone and called them. No answer...no machine.

The next day, Lynda reminded me again to call and try again!

One ringey dingey. Two ringey dingeys. After ten rings, I was just about to hang up when...this time they answered the phone!

After some cordial small talk, I just said it like this. "XXX, I want Romeo. I've been waiting five years for him. How much do you want for him?" I was praying that Romeo wasn't too old or sick, for anything more than a car ride back here to Tulsa...and to be released home to God.

She changed the subject and told me how she had two female Bichons that were 98 models that she wanted to put into retirement. She said in the past she has sold dogs like this for $350.00 and there is no doubt that she has.

Then is when it happened. People, there is no doubt in my mind that the Lord was working overtime here. (as He does everyday watching over these Bichons and the people who love them!)

This is what she said to me on the phone last week, as I live and breathe.

"Robin, I'm just going to tell you about it. I've felt God telling me that if you asked for Romeo one more time...that I am just supposed to give him to you...and I will give you the two 98 females too."

GULP AND HARD SWALLOW.

I asked her..."Give them to me...give Romeo to me...as in for free?"

"Yes...for free."

Silence on my end of the line. You see, it's hard to talk when you are both praising God and crying all at once. The fur on my arms stood up, and I tried to speak, but nothing would come out.

"Hello??? Robin...are you there??"

Gulp and another hard swallow.

She heard me crying and then she said I had waited long enough for Romeo and it was time for him to retire. Well at 14, I should certainly think so.

That's when the NEXT miracle happened. She went to get his papers and came back to tell me..."Robin! He isn't fourteen! He is only nine..he will be ten on September 19. He was born in 1995. He's not near as old as I thought he was."

Oh God...PLEASE IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER...please don't let her change her mind again!

Then she said, "It's ok...you can still have Romeo. He is supposed to go to Small Paws."

THANK YOU JESUS!

Today, I fulfilled my promise that I made all those years ago...five hot summers and five cold winters ago.

When I first pulled up into the yard, I saw an x-pen sitting up in the yard. There were three Bichons...two shaved females, ...and there he was...Romeo...wagging his tail and raising up to see who was coming.

I headed over there to him and he raised up for me to pick him up. I held him to my chest and I told him..."I have never forgotten you. Today, you are coming on home...Baby..you are coming on home today.

The following are pictures taken by Kathy, one of our vet techs here in Tulsa. She ran home and got her camera...because my battery was dead!

Romeo and I...after just pulling into our vet's office.

Romeo seemed to remember me. I know it seems impossible, but he was sure one cuddly baby boy, Yes, I was a bit giddy, I guess!


Romeo's face. See how I couldn't forget it?


After numerous phone updates from Bonnie, that you all were coming through for these commercial kennel rescues, I could enjoy each and every moment of today. THANK YOU!


Romeo is a little guy...I am guessing maybe 11 pounds.


I held him for a good 30 minutes...unable to believe that we really had him in our arms. You know, she didn't have to give him to us...this was a tremendous gift from her, today.


The rest of the crates from today's kennel rescue in MO.


One of the 1998 females.


The other 1998 female.

One of the two 2001 females from another kennel.


One of the other 2001 females.


Coming out to meet the world.


Vet Tech, Bichon Mom, and Small Paws Hospice Foster Mom, Crystal, holds one of today's rescues!


"It's just a WIDDLE scawwy...being in a new place..."


"I'll come out..just give me a minute...is dere anyfing scawwy out dere?"


Here they all are...thanks to all of you today. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Today, my dream for Romeo came true. He is home with Small Paws and will be adopted into a loving home. If I didn't have six dogs already, I would keep him for myself..you know I would!:)

Thank you all so much for being a part of this magnificent obsession. They say what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger. We must be a whole organization of SUPER STRONG HUMAN BEINGS I TELL YOU WHAT! HAHA!

I will keep you updated on our fundraising to take care of these newest rescues...all with the new last name of SMALL PAWS!

All My Love, Robin and Romeo Small Paws

July 20. 2007
Romeo after two years is his new home with his new brothers! I am so thankful that the kennel owner let us take him into retirement that day!




Romeo is in the middle. I would know that tiny boy anywhere!


Have a wonderful life, little one! I love you!

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