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| Paddy fka CP Patterson, our Ides of March Miracle Baby! |
It’s
hard to believe, but it has been ONE YEAR since Paddy (aka CP Patterson) made
his way into the world and our lives! It’s
been an amazing year from the beginning, when two expectant mamas were
delivered to their Col. Potter Foster Homes, only to give birth within hours to
a total of 14 bouncing baby Cairns!
Of
all those little puppies born that day, Paddy, was the tiniest and the weakest,
and he would need a lot of extra help and loving care to survive. Luckily, he had Lori and Mike R. as his Foster
Parents. Without them, there’s a good
chance he wouldn’t be here with us today.
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| The smallest puppy born that day, Paddy struggled to survive. |
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| Foster Dad Mike Bottle-Feeding Paddy |
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| Paddy was the first to have his eyes open wide! |
Those first few weeks of Paddy’s life were a
challenge. He couldn’t nurse very well
on his own, and had to be held up to feed. Mike took on the role of nursemaid,
bottle-feeding Paddy until finally he was able to start eating solid food on
his own.
It
became clear early on that Paddy had other obstacles to overcome. His back legs just didn’t work the way they
were supposed to. The vet was consulted
and x-rays done, but Paddy’s problem at that young age could not be diagnosed. He had trouble standing and walking, and his
little paws often slipped out from under him, landing him in a heap. But that didn’t slow him down! He would still do his best to keep up with his
bigger brothers and sisters, playing and wrestling, always wanting to be part
of the gang.
Living
just a few miles from his Foster Home, I was fortunate to be a part of Paddy’s
life from the start, and the first time I held him, I felt he was mine.
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| Forever Mom: Love at First Sight! |
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| Forever Mom & Dad and Paddy on Adoption Day! |
Even
with all his challenges, or maybe because
of his challenges, I wanted to be the one to give him a happy, loving home
where he could grow and thrive. So, my
husband and I applied to adopt him. What
a thrill it was to get the news that we had been approved!
Since
the day we brought him home, Paddy has been nothing but a joy and a treasure,
and he keeps us laughing with his silly antics. He’s a real people pup who loves to snuggle
and share kisses. He still pays visits
to his Foster Mom and Dad, and is always thrilled to see them both (but
especially Foster Papa Mike!).
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| Paddy visiting Foster Papa Mike |
Further
veterinary evaluations and research have revealed that his condition has a name
— cerebellar hypoplasia. The bad news —
there is no cure. The good news — it
won’t get any worse. Paddy will always
march like a little stiff-legged soldier and will occasionally slip and slide
on slick floors. He has learned to live
with his condition, though, and doesn’t let it slow him down. He now races around the back yard like a
little jackrabbit, and he dances around the kitchen at mealtime, just like any
other dog.
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| Happy 1st Birthday, Paddy! |
So,
join us in wishing our dear Paddy a very Happy First Birthday! May he have many, many more to come!
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