I Call Her My Granddaughter-Shelby

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Story ID:	2047
Written by:	Veronica Elizabeth Foust
Story type:	Family History
Writers Conference:	$100 Best Inspirational Post Contest
Location:	Greensboro North Carolina USA
Year:	2004
Person:	Shelby

My Son's Dog-He got her when she was just 8 weeks old. We had not had a dog since Blackie. Right away we became attached to her. I missed her when Shannon moved into his own apartment. I went over to see her. Shannon was really hard on her when she was a puppy. She instantly became a part of the family. We were so glad when Shannon moved back home with her. She had a rough time with potty training but eventually got the hang of it. She became a member of the family. She soon learned her grandparents right away. I know sometimes that Shannon did not like the way we gave into her,but we just became really close to her. For Richard and myself she fills a void when all of the children are gone. We spend a lot of time with her and teach her things. We have took her on a couple of trips with us and we have also taken her to the park. She understands a lot more than he gives her credit for. She does not think of herself as a dog but like she is human. Having a pet around the house has really been good for me. I spend a lot of evenings by myself and having her in the home makes me feel a lot better. She lets me know when someone is around and she sleeps in bed with us at night. She is truly a member of the family. She thinks she can eat whatever we eat. I named her Shelby Lynne Lee. Shannon named her Shelby after the Shelby Mustang,he has always loved Mustangs. When he goes to visit his girlfriend on the weekends Shelby stays with us. She really loves my youngest son Timothy. He spends a lot of time with her. Even though she does not see Shannon as much she still loves him and knows he is her daddy. She even knows what time everybody is due home from work. I enjoy giving her a bath every Saturday. She is my little granddaughter and is so sweet and loving. We really love her a lot. I just hope when Shannon finally moves out he leaves her with us. Pets are a great companion to have in the family. Shelby has made a real difference in our lives. I never thought we would love another pet after letting Blackie go. That was a hard thing to have to do.

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