Yay! Welcome to my very own personal webpage!

You know, I feel very flattered that you're visiting me here. This is going to be the most fun I have ever had in my life, and I'm so happy to share it with all of you!

Who am I? Oooh! let me introduce myself!

My name is Big Bertha.

Oh yes. BIG Bertha. I only just got that name, mind you- before that, my name was Anna. (That's AH-NAH. Not an-a. hrmf!) But when you make kissy noises at me, and say, "Bertha!" I wag my stubby tail like there was no tomorrow! My life is going to be one giant outrageous adventure, I can tell! You never know WHAT might be lurking around the next corner, for me to discover...

For instance- who would have known my life would take this strange turn?

I was staying with some wonderful people, who do a very hard job- they rescue rottweilers! Yep, that's right- they rescue all kinds of rottie dogs, and I really really liked them! They're special people to me.

You know why? Because they took me out of a very sad place... I had a family once, you know. I loved them! But they had a child... and then another child... and then they got new carpet.

I don't know why the carpet was more important than me, but they decided I should live in a yard and the garage from then on. I was so sad. :(

I was so sad that when I came to Happy Tails Rescue, I never even looked back! I was just, all, "YAY! We're going in a CAR! Yay!!"

A few weeks later, they brought me to meet some people. Well- actually, they invited some people to meet Velvet, and they liked her a lot, but she didn't like THEM a lot. She was scared they would take her away! eek! She hid.

I, however... was beginning to notice a trend here. See... I got it down. I figured out that when dogs go to meet people- sometimes... they go HOME with the people!!

I wanted to go HOME with someone. I was ready for a Family again.

Well, I was in the back of the vehicle, while Velvet just took all KINDS of time up! I don't know what happened, but eventually they came outside- my rescuers, and the people who came. Two guys who were strangers to me, but... you know, everyone is a stranger untill you meet them! Everyone!

The people who cared for me took me out, so I could do the potty thing. (I really had to go!) and I wanted to meet the new people too! We went around the yard, and then into the house for a while, to talk and to see how it went.

I could tell you all the things that happened- but this is the most IMPORTANT part: I was trying very hard to convince them that I was a pretty great dog! I was trying everything. One of the people was quiet... and he kept looking at me very wistfully, like I wasn't what he wanted at ALL... and the other one was ALL smiles! He kept saying how wonderful I was... So I was VERY smart.

See... I knew, if I could convince ONE of them to take me home... I could work on the other one later! I know- people work that way. It's very sneaky, but that's what I did! I said goodbye to my rescuers, and gave them smooches, and while one of the new people was very nervous (he said, "she's so BIG!" and he said, "she's just so energetic...") and he looked a little afraid that I was just too much dog for his life... he kept talking about training, and how well I would be able to 'focus' or learn 'tasks'... hrmf! But I was smart... when one of my rescuers tried to show him how clever I was... she got me to lie down on command, even though I never had any training like that before! ...and he looked a little hopeful!

So I convinced the other one of them, that I was a GREAT walking partner, and a GREAT playing dawg... Oh you bet! I love people. people people people. I just wanted ATTENTION! lots of it! And the other one did that LOOK... you know it, right? He said, "I'm going to trust you guys... you know her best. I think we can give her a try..." and I was all YAY! and Happydawg! I win! I win! I win!

He wasn't convinced, I know... cause he talked about making sure I could come back if I 'didn't work out'... that made me a bit anxious, to be honest. I want a family who won't leave me! I have so much love in my great big body... why can't he see that yet? I'll have to work on it.

Next thing you know, they were all saying goodbyes, and I was in the backseat of a car... and it smelled like there used to be ANOTHER dog here! I was very surprised. They have another dog? But no... the person called "Pa" told me 'not anymore...' and they sounded sad! They drove away, talking about how to get to a particular place they called a 'hotel'... But as they talked to me, reassuring me that there was no other dog anymore... just ME... I sensed a lot of nervousness going on. Maybe they loved this other dog too MUCH to love ME now? Oh no...

Oh sure, I was scared too then! ...I mean, we were in a CAR... driving AWAY!

How would YOU like to get into a car with some people you just barely met- one of which didn't sound convinced they would keep you yet!! And then they drive you away to who-knows-where? eek!

Well, I can tell you, I didn't know what to do at first either...

But then I thought, well... the first step is making sure they still like me. What better way to make sure of THAT, than to offer a lick upside the head?

You know what? The one who was driving (That'd be "Dad") laughed! ...Oh Hooo, I thought, this is a good thing!

So I licked again.

and again.

And again!

After I had a good FRENZY of licking going- trading between them, I had both of them giggling SO hard, Dad yelped, "do something! I'm trying to drive!!" but he was still laughing. hah hah. I win! I win!

We drove to the hotel, which is where we started my new life.

I want to write about that too, but my big 'ol paws are tired. How about I do that tomorrow?

It's hard to type with paws! Thanks Dad. :)

Big Bertha