BARKUS XXI

QUEEN - Hattie

 

 

Hattie's family was going through a divorce and foreclosure and neither parent felt comfortable in keeping the two adult Danes and two three-month-old puppies, so they were brought to the local SPCA.  Because the father and mother were so big (150+), as is always the challenge with Great Danes, the SPCA couldn't keep the dogs in their small facility so they, luckily, did some research.  They found a wonderful lady who lives on farmland in Hattiesburg and rescues both Great Danes and Chihuahuas (opposites attract), and she was happy to take the displaced family.

 

 

 

By this time, I had been researching Great Dane rescues and had been in touch with the same lady for two months.  Great Danes are often put up for adoption at one year old because, as such good puppies, they are often not well-trained; pretty soon the owners have a 140 lb bad-mannered beast on their hands!  We were convinced we would rescue one of the many one-year-olds, but the rescuer contacted me when the puppies arrived and we immediately committed to one of them...not knowing boy or girl or the coloring. 

 

 

 

We met Hattie in a gas station parking lot  four years ago.  I immediately fell in love (Chris was persuaded) and we brought her home.  Her 40 lb, four-month-old body quickly grew, but by the time we had our first baby 8 months later, Hattie was a well-mannered, loving, protective family member.  Hattie has become an easily-recognizable member of our Broadmoor community and loves to let curious children pet her and dogs half her weight smell her...she's still convinced that she is their size! 

 

 

 

Hattie's favorite activities include keeping her dad on pace during his morning run, meeting new friends at Audubon Park and cleaning up the kitchen.  She loves keeping the house safe and greeting the passers-by, especially other dogs, though she is not a fan of the mailman or any other deliverer that comes to the house.  She'll do anything for peanut butter and will even ask for it in her Chewbacca voice!  She loves to watch TV with the family, as long as she has her place on the sofa  - with her front paws on the floor, back paws in the air and bottom on the seat - like a human!   (see photo)