Always Allie

Always Allie is a story of a Bichon Frise who led a charmed life. As a puppy she was a winner of life s lottery, when she was selected from the litter of four to come and live with the Van Camp s. Immediately, Allie became a full-fledged member of the family, with all of the rights and privileges afforded any member of our family. Americans love their pets. It wasn t too long ago that pets knew their place begging for scraps from the foot of the table. However, in the last couple of decades Americans have elevated their pet s status to bona fide members of the family with a seat at the table next to the humans. Allie was no exception. She was treated like a queen from the moment we saw her. This story is more than a dog-tale; it is the story of how Allie stole our hearts from puppyhood on. It is said the Bichon Frise is considered a lovable clown whose purpose in life is to entertain their owners. Allie took this role seriously. She provided us with a lifetime of antics and enjoyment. When Allie was around, there was never a dull moment. Always Allie describes many of these lighthearted stories. Early on we realized that Allie, though sweet and adorable, was also independent and incorrigible. Her independence and her willful behavior needed to be dealt with, so we turned to the dog version of military school and sought the assistance of canine obedience training, aka puppy school. Little did we know that puppy school was as much about the owner and doggy parent as it was the pupil. During the eight weeks of obedience training Tracy and I confirmed what we had already begun to suspect, Allie was actually in charge. She simply complied with our rules just enough to fool us into thinking we were actually the masters. In reality, we worked for her. Throughout my years of medical training and during the numerous moves to different cities and states, Allie was one of the important constants in our lives. She was steady, and unflappable, a trait I came to respect and even admire. It s strange how I could learn some valuable life lessons from our four-legged daughter. And when I actually took the time to slow down and observe her closely, I did just that. Allie taught me many important lessons, like: slow down and stop and smell the roses occasionally, and all work and no play makes Kipp a dull boy, and one of my favorites, don t take myself too seriously. Allie had prepared us to become parents. The responsibility that comes with loving and caring for a pet was not all that different than caring for and raising a child. Throughout Allie s parent training course, we learned well. Allie accepted our two boys into the family as if they were her own. And we flourished as parents, in one sense due to her assistance. Allie loved to eat. But she was born with an alimentary affliction that remained a constant challenge for her gut throughout her entire life. She suffered from Crohn s disease. We had to keep Allie on a special diet. She protested this daily in her own unique way, and was often caught sneaking food from our plates or the kitchen counters whenever we weren t looking. Longevity is common to the Bichon breed. The average lifespan is approximately fifteen years. Allie loved life. Her zest for life and her superior genetics allowed her seventeen-and-a-half years of life. She enjoyed each and every day! And she provided us with the same amount of enjoyment, as well.
ASIN: 0615394205
VSKU: 56JUHA000C8B_ns
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Dr. Kipp A. Van Camp
Binding: Paperback
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: This book is in good condition with very minimal damage. Integrity of the book is in good condition with no missing pages. Pages can have minimal notes or highlighting. Cover image on the book may vary. Ships out quickly in a secure plastic mailer!