Golden Retriever, Yellow Labrador Retriever [Mix]

1/7/2006 - Clara really is a diva. The minute she sees the digital camera, it's as if she just knows. She immediately begins to pose, waiting patiently and thumping her tail, looking at us with those eyes that just silently say, 'Okay, I'm ready! Be sure to get my good side, now.' Of course, every side of her is a good one, but we humour her. ;) She's settled down and has really blossomed in her new home. :) The fleece bed I told you about that I bought her hasn't come in yet (grrr), but I'm hoping that it'll be here by Tuesday of this week no later. The sweetest thing was this just past Friday afternoon when my mom came home from work. The second she came through the door, Clara greeted her with tail swishing back and forth and kept jumping up on her for kisses followed by the most hyper happy dance you'd ever see. It was adorable. :) And, everyone loves her. Pizza delivery guys have already begged to pet her. The mailman saw her on her perch during the week and commented on what a bombshell of a girl she is. We had a couple friends over for cake and coffee and they fell in love with her automatically. Too bad; they can't have her - she's ours! ;) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 12/31/2005 - I've bought Clara a large Berber Fleece oval bed as a belated Christmas gift and I can't wait for it to arrive in the mail so I can see her reaction. She's already got so many sleeping spots in the house already, but I figure one more would be quite alright. ;) It's sage and oatmeal-coloured, a dark colour that will contrast nicely against her beautiful fur -- aesthetically pleasing as well as being a warm and cozy spot for her to curl up in. ;) And, oh, she's fantastic! There truly aren't enough words in the dictionary to express the sheer magnitude of how wonderful she is. Every day that passes, we fall in love with her more. This morning after her walk when I put on my white and purple fuzzy slippers, she was so happy that when I walked to the counter with her food dish to get her breakfast together she started chasing my feet and trying to grab the slippers from my feet! It was so cute! She certainly is a morning person...er... dog. ;) Then, when me and my mom got our coats on to go out for some groceries for our little New Year's Eve party, Clara perked and got so excited, she started prancing and hopping with an expression that read 'Ooh, are we going out? Where we goin'? Huh? Huh?! I can't wait!' She loves car rides so much - a shocking but pleasant revelation, since our Rex didn't like them at all too much. We took her along with us and then when we got to the supermarket, I stayed in the car with her while Mom went in to get what she needed. On our drive back home, me and Mom decided to take her up to the park near our house since it was nearing her walk-time anyways. She adored it! And when it started snowing big, large flakes... Oh, my God! She became a whirlwind, a sparkle of sunlight dancing among the silvery white everywhere! Mom and I could hardly keep track of her as she ran in circles and all over, attempting to be everywhere at once. Like a child seeing snow and experiencing the wonder of it for the very first time. Right now as I type, everyone else is in the kitchen getting things together for New Year's. Except for Clara. She's laying on the sofa watching me with those gorgeous eyes of hers and listening to a Josh Groban CD with me that I put in the computer's disc player. :) She's never more than 10 skips away from my side, we've been bonding so well. Happy New Year's, from me, my family and Clara! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 12/30/3005 - Update: The second Clara entered her new home, you could tell she was always meant to be with us. Her tail was wagging a mile a minute and her beautiful, large brown eyes shone bright with joy. So curious she was, prancing everywhere, exploring every inch of her new surroundings. Then, we took her outside to do her business and also to explore the yard and she was a dream. This morning, I woke up to find her curled up across from me on the chaise lounge in our living room, the early morning sunlight streaming over here and making her soft honey-coloured fur glow with an almost angelic light. And, she is an angel, I think, sent to us from God, my Grandma and Rex up in Heaven. They wouldn't have sent us anything less than the best and Clara is just that, as good as gold and more, a blessing. As soon as I sat up and stretched, I could see her perk and hear her tail thumping happily. I hugged her and she gave me a good morning kiss before following me into the bathroom to watch me wash my face and brush my teeth. She did her check-up on the other people in the house and then we went outside together for her walk. When we got back in, I fed her and gave her a fresh dish of water and then she ran around and played. She's made the bay-window overlooking the street her own, content to just sit there on the large wood ledge and watch the cars go by. Whenever my mom sees her up there, she calls her 'her china doll' because of how still and statuesque she looks, like a Queen on a balcony overlooking her domain and subjects. Clara also loves to lay on the tiled floor in the dining room. She's there at this very moment, just basking in the sun. And, I just wanted to keep you updated on her. I know you love Clara just as much as we do and thought you'd be glad to know how she's doing. :) Thanks so much again for everything and me and my mom will continue to keep in touch with you. Happy Holidays! And, Clara sends you a big puppy kiss. ;) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 12/29/2005 - Adopted! Today my foster mom and dad and new family from New Jersey met each other and me and I now have a forever home! My new home is in West Paterson, New Jersey! I think I will be a treasured family member and, therefore, very happy with Debbie, Dave, Pam and Dave. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Hello, my name is Clara and I'm a wonderful mix of Golden Retriever, Yellow Lab and German Shepherd. I'm as sweet and friendly a dog as there'll ever be. I love everything and everyone: except being alone outside by myself. I want to be an inside dog and am 101% housetrained and gentle. Unfortunately, my person has run into some hard times and no longer has a place to live or for me to live. I was born in mid-October 2004, and weigh in at 54 lbs. I am spayed, up-to-date on all my vaccinations, rabies, on heartworm prevention, micro-chipped and ready to start my new life with a loving person/family who is able to care for and love me - perhaps you are my person / family? Here is what one family had to say about me, but their dog didn't want me to stay :o( "Clara is being as good as gold; she's been great inside the house, and she is a very enthusiastic walker! Andrew and I have decided that on a ten point cuteness scale, Clara is an eleven, at least. It's impossible not to smile when she's in the room." Can you come and meet me and see what a wonderful addition to your life and family I would be? I will be at I'll be at Fur-Ever Friends Adoption and Outreach Center this Saturday, December 31st, from 12 noon to 4 PM, and then every other Saturday until I find my home. FFAOC is located on the upper level, between Sears and Belks. Come into the mall on the Stratford Road side through the entrance to the right of Sears and FFAOC is the second business on your left. If you would like to begin the adoption process prior to Saturday's adoption fair, please let Caring for Canines know of your interest in me - Clara - tell them a little about yourself and what attracted you to me and some nice person who is helping me find my forever home will e-mail an application to you for completion. I hope to meet you soon. Clara