Principessa

Principessa (Princess in Italian, my nickname for her)

"Happiness is a warm puppy."

-Charles M. Schulz

"Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear."

-Dave Barry

There is royalty living at the Carver household.  Her name is Princess, and I am pretty sure she thinks she IS royalty.  Princess is the guardian of the home, no one comes or goes without her notice, and believe me she notices everything.  Let me tell you about Princess, she is a Rat Terrier.  Now if you know anything about dogs, and especially Terriers that declaration is explanation enough.  Most terrier breeds are remarkably similar. The same words are used over and over -- quick to bark, quick to chase, lively, bossy, feisty, scrappy, clever, independent, stubborn, persistent, impulsive, intense.

Princess protects the house from many things... neighborhood cats sauntering by, the blue jay scrubs and fat squirrels that eat the peanuts Dad puts out.  The saga of the squirrels is particularly interesting.  There is a doggy door that leads onto the porch.  In one corner of the porch is a feeder that can be seen from inside Princess' see through door, and there Princess waits.  Patiently she watches out the door, just waiting for the squirrels to come... and when they do, she shoots out the door as fast as a bullet!  She runs out the door so quickly she catches the hairs on her head and back on the door.  Poor little thing is going bald!  Although they do say that owners and pets start to resemble each other, sorry Dad. :)  While she is so quick she has yet to catch a squirrel, but she keeps them on their toes and I do believe I see a smile on her face as the indignant squirrel chatters his displeasure at her from a safe distance. 

"One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you're feeling blue is that he doesn't try to find out why."
Unknown 

Princess is also a professional lap dog, and comfort.  Mom and Dad adore this dog.  Princess really is the apple of their eye, and to be honest she is worthy of this adoration.  Now Princess does have her faults, she barks at the slightest noise, she harasses the cat sometimes and begs like no ones business.  She isn't subtle about her begging either, she will quite literally get in your face if you have something she would like to taste.  And another thing, she can clear the room when she passes gas!  It's so bad that if the living room were a cartoon, things would start melting, and I am pretty sure I saw the tulips droop just a little more the other day.  

Princess has her faults, we all do, however she is worthy of adoration, not in the sense of worship but that I do adore this dog, if for nothing else that she rarely leaves Mom's side.  Princess will go about her business in a day but usually when you want to find her, she is on Mom's hospital bed curled up at the foot or laying on top of Mom.  I have heard reports of dog's being able to smell cancer, or even just sense when something is wrong, and from what I have seen, I believe it.  I think that Princess counts it her personal duty to make sure Mom is OK, and she does a very good job of it.  I also know that as Mom passes Princess will continue taking care of Dad.  I adore her because she will help to keep Dad a little less lonely in the way only a faithful dog can, she is a big blessing from God wrapped up in a furry little package. :)

"I talk to him when I'm lonesome like; and I'm sure he understands.  When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat.  For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that."  ~W. Dayton Wedgefarth