Backstory. On June 15th, 2020, my second dog, {my Beagle/German Shepherd mix}, Rose Elizabeth, was euthanized after suffering from arthritis, kidney failure, and canine degenerative myelopathy. On June 1st, 2021, we relocated from the, {rainy and beautiful}, Pacific Northwest to, {hot humid, yet still beautiful}, Central Texas. With moving being an incredibly HUGE Life change for a new dog, I wisely decided to wait until we settled into the Lone Star State before my new canine's arrival. Long story short.... We were having a brand-new house built, so my family and I resided in an apartment during its construction. This was ONLY going to take three months. Or so we thought. Several complications later, and three months turned into nearly eight. So, I waited, waited, and waited to get my third dog. I needed to have patience. There were some heartbreaking and soul bleeding events that happened in the middle, but I will not go into details. On May 14th, 2022, I adopted/rescued my third mutt!! I named her Essie, {it means star}, Everglades, {that was her shelter name. Bonus.... All of my dogs, dead and alive, have a nature name.... Everglades is a wetlands in Florida}, Patience!! Essie Everglades Patience!! But the shelter's vet had been bit by a poisonous spider, and he needed to recover from that before spaying my adult dog. I could not take Essie home until post operation. This took two and a half weeks. Yes, I needed to have a lot of patience. On June 1st, 2022, {nearly two years after Rose died}, I FINALLY brought Essie HOME!! She was absolutely worth the wait!! Happy National Dog Day, y'all!! Mary Lou
We did a dog D.N.A. test on Essie!! I was BLOWN AWAY by its results!! I composed this poem after receiving them!!
{My ‘love poem’ to Essie Everglades Patience}
Written by Mary Lou
Mama loves your Siberian Husky tail;
It curls like a hook as you blaze Life’s ‘trails’;
Mama loves your Australian Cattle Dog black claws;
They are the darkest nails that I ever saw;
Mama loves your brown soulful German Shepherd eyes;
They watch hawks/birds of prey soaring in big blue skies;
Mama loves your Great Pyrenees white stomach fur;
You are obsessed with belly rubs, that’s for sure;
Mama loves your Alaskan Malamute tail;
I liked it immediately without fail;
Mama loves your Samoyed black-colored paw pads;
They are the darkest feet any of my mutts had;
Mama loves your Chow Chow blue/black-colored tongue mark;
I can only see it when you yawn or bark;
Mama loves your blocky Pit Bull Terrier head;
You were a precious surprise and randomly bred;
Mama loves your Wolf tail end’s black fur marking;
It looks like a bushy paint brush, my sweet darling;
Mama loves your Anatolian Shepherd legs;
They run fast when there is cheese for you to you beg;
Mama loves your soft Australian Shepherd ‘butt fur’;
Also obviously known as tail feathers;
Mama loves your tough unique Rottweiler body;
It is quite muscular in the chest cavity;
Mama Loves your Siberian Husky ears;
They comprehend words that I say, things you hear;
Mama loves your Australian Cattle Dog whiskers;
They are black, stand out against fur that’s red-colored;
Mama loves your distinctive German Shepherd butt;
You are my sweet mongrel/Heinz 57/mutt!!