Me too! He's such a cutie, and I'll bet he's looking even happier and healthier than ever before!

Me three! We're missing our poster dog!

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I remember Tobey, but forget who the owner is???

Yesterday Toby was fixed. It took 3 trips to the vet, starting at 8 in the morning to shuffle all 5 dogs for shots and checkups. He is pretty groggy still, but was a little trooper.

He is now about 4 months old and weighed in at 40 pounds. I was a bit shocked because I've been sneaking him into bed with me during the night. 10 pounds a month! I'm worried there won't be any room for me if he keeps growing. :O)

I need to give him a day or two before he is back to his old self before I take new shots. Right now he is resting yesterday off in front of a table fan, belly up of course!

This pic was his Easter photo. He was so sleepy that he fell asleep a moment later in the bluebonnets. Give me a day or two and I'll get some updated pics. He is getting so big!

He is so cute! Sneaking him into bed? LOL! What a great life he found with you! Yay! I'd hate to have your vet bill...

They grow up so fast. I am sitting here watching my 18mo german shep play with a tennis ball. He is at top of stairs and the ball rolled down. He stared at it so confused, then pounced down the stairs after it. I swear he thinks he is a yorkie or something.

Do I see spots on Toby?

I donÂt post here a whole lot, but wanted to commend you for what youÂve done for this little guy. You undoubtedly saved his life  and youÂre obviously a wonderful Momma to all your pups.

IÂve been a little down today, I was reading earlier about a dog that was abused & subsequently euthanized in Windsor, Ontario (the deviant owner has been arrested  hopefully, they charge him with the maximum, although even that is not nearly enough in most places in Canada). Stories like that just make my heart ache, and this one seems particularly bad. It did me good to read about Toby again - and to be reminded that for every abomination like the one in Ontario, there are many more big-hearted, kind & generous people who do SO much good for animals, and are saving little lives every day.

What a precious little boy he is! I just love his sweet face ... and I'll bet he's got everyone wrapped around his little paw!

What a darling doggie!! Wow, 40lbs. already? I hope you have a king sized bed, LOL! It will be interesting to see if his spots darken as he matures. What a sweet boy!

Thanks, Paintchips; he's coming along nicely, isn't he? He's going to be a beauty, and he looks very intelligent, too. Lucky you, and lucky, lucky Tobey. (Looking forward to seeing the updated pics).

40 lbs. at 4 mos...oh boy! He will be a big boy...80lbs., you think? What does vet say? Soooo adorable. Glad you inquired, Susie100! His story and pics do warm the heart. Oh how I wish you'd gotten the shot of him belly up in the bluebonnets...great title that ! Love it. Looking forward to latest pics., when you can! I love to snuggle with our pup, too, until summertime!

What a darling! Do you know what breed he is or mixed? We have had Pyranees, one was a lab/Pyrr mix. He grew 10# a month and as an adult was 150. You would think growing that fast one could actually see him doing it in slow motion.

Thank you everyone for being concerned about Toby. He is doing great and fitting in a hole that we didn't know we had.

GoldDust, I am really glad that our vet is more than fair, I almost wonder if it is because our dogs are rescues. The bill was just over $600 and included checkups for 4, testing on 4, rabies on 3 (two are allergic), box of Heart Guard for all 5, pre-anesthesia testing and complete blood work on Toby, neutering, 2 medicines for deworming (Toby picked up something and we REALLY don't want it to spread!), and a round of puppy shots. LOL, we had the vet techs SO confused! :OD

Rilie, I have a hard time understanding animal abuse, child abuse, really, any pain to a life... Those stories make me just want to cuddle with a book and someone warm and fuzzy.

Tomorrow, he was almost all white when we got him. I didn't realize his spots would change like that.

Leah, gosh I hope not that big! We only have a queen bed LOL. My biggest dog is 80 (also his favorite sister) so at least he would be in good company. It is embarrassing though because my 5 lbs chihuahua keeps them both in their place. :O)

Emagineer, we have had guesses all over the map from spaniel, dalmation, blue heeler, lab, and retriever. He is a good old fashioned mutt, the best of everything. :O)

Okay, I snapped some shots today. It was a crazy day because we had a dog house emergency. The sister Toby tried to sleep with decided today was the day he was offically kicked out. Our dogs all take naps in their houses, 2 houses and 3 dogs made for a lot of noise. :O)

It has been a tough couple weeks of growing pains. Two skunk sprays, one bath in tomato sauce (all I had) that turned him neon orange, and his first snake bite. He was so swollen! I felt so bad for him. After his first bite:

Here you can see how much he has grown.

I never realized that his spots would get darker, but then again, I usually end up with dogs after someone else has enjoyed the fun little puppy time.

Younger, before spots (playing with a water bottle):

Love to all!

Loves to you and Toby! What a great time to be part of a thriving pup! We are at the other end, watching our beloved dog try to get up in the morning without falling. Dubs is 120 pounds of an elder dog situation who can't move very well. Thanks for the vision of Toby! Dubs was a rescue too. It's painful to watch him getting old.

What a way to start my day! Those ear spots are adorable! I wonder if he has some English Setter in him?

Two skunks and a snake! Yikes! What kind of snake was it? He appears to be no worse for the experience, but seeing that shot of him all swollen is sad.

My little rescue Jenny helped me paint my mother's living room the past few days, and those brief breaks for all the kisses I could possibly want really helped!

OMG, he's gorgeous. what a sweetheart!

Thank you, Paintchips, for the update. It's amazing how love comes to us, in all its myriad forms.

Cutie pie! With the latest pic I'm now guessing he'll top out at 60lbs. Keep us posted.
Full disclosure: Because I love Australian Shepherds I tend to look for their traits in all mixed breeds. Aussies can have spots, ya know, and there is something about his ears, though a bit larger...hmmm. Okay, 3dogs, I admit I do see English setter!
You've really had quite the time of late! After all that, you deserve a trouble free summer. Your giving heart warms MY heart!

You look at those pictures and you can just tell that someone is "home" behind those brown eyes. So much personality and so adorable!

Susie, thank you for remembering him. I feel really good that people got to read his story and that MAYBE someone will spay and neuter their animals who might not have otherwise considered it.

My3dogs, the snake was a copperhead. DH killed 4 this week alone. (I even stepped on one!) It is the one thing I don't like about spring.

He might have some setter in him. A couple of his spots are red. LOL, he is so mixed up that all he can do is smile.

Leah, his ears are long, aren't they! When chewing his bone he has to be careful not to get them in his mouth. Really strange.

On the flip side, that was the first trip to the vet where I didn't want to take home any of the cutie dogs that came in. :O)

Aww, I just love him. Sound like you've both had some busy, rough weeks! He looks like he's going to be a really great dog. Happy and appreciative. Love his spots. :)

OMG! My childhood dog died from a rattlesnake bite, on the way to the vet. :( I thought copperheads were just as poisonous. No?

Four copperheads in a week? Yikes!

Oh Tobey is adorable. poor Tobey with the swollen nose.4 copperheads in one week. ick.Do you live in a rural area?

Thanks, Shee! He is a lot of fun.

GoldDust, copperheads can be very deadly. I have heard several very close stories. Worst of all was when we discovered how far local hospitals had to go for anti-venom. We also have water moccasins which scare me even more because I am known to jump in the lake in the summer.

I am so sorry that you had to experience the death of your childhood dog like that. Bites are so frightening that I can only imagine what you went through.

Cooper, yes, very rural. We moved out here to really know country life, not just think we know. It has been such an amazing experience. Usually DH kills about 12 copperheads a year, so hopefully we are a third done.

Can we say Ohhhhhh Sooooooo cuuuuuuute.

What a smile.

To say that Toby is photogenic is an understatement! My DD and I think Toby's "meadow" photo (last one posted) belongs on a spiral notebook or a calendar. Come to think of it, the Easter picture would make a great mouse pad or mug...hmmmmmmm.... I've never done that but it sounds great. Maybe a calendar could be made as a fundraiser for you doggie rescue group? IDK :) Just throwing that out there!

Here is a link that might be useful: make your own mouse pad