Lucky came to the Animal League abandoned by her previous owner. She was apparently tied up in the house and alone for up to 12 hours. She was very shy and skittish, and I was told she was probably not treated very nicely. On March 2nd, I stopped by on a whim looking for something suitable for a home with two kids and four cats. I didn't want a puppy or a senior dog, and I was hesitant to take in a stray whose history was unknown.

When I walked in, Lucky was visiting with two girls. It was love at first sight, from afar. I waited and waited for the girls to finish their visit, silently willing them to walk away, which they were not doing. The attendant told me they'd probably take her, as they had been with her for quite some time. I gave him my card and asked him to call me if the girls didn't take her. I left sad, praying Lucky would be happy with them.

A short time later, I got the call! Lucky is now Kobe (compliments of my basketball junky son). She immediately respected that the cats needed to co-habitat with her and although they don't sleep together (yet), they are all friends. It took just a few days for Kobe to realize that she was safe and unconditionally loved. She's house-trained, doesn't jump on anyone, obeys commands, doesn't bark, and pulls me around town like the sled dog she is. She is absolutely the love of my life.

I set her up with a table by the front window where she sits and waits for me. When I'm home, she's by my side 24/7. My kids love her and spend the afternoons with her until I get home from work. She loves Cheweez Strips, which I give her every day before I leave for work so she has something to do. She hides them, retrieves them, hides them and all the while daring the cats to come near it. If she's a mutt-i-gree like you all thought she may be because she's small, it's definitely with some sort of herding dog. She herds the dogs away from me at the dog park and herds the cats away from me in the house and keeps the cats at bay when the bone is out - all without an ounce of aggression. It's adorable. She also has great table manners and gets periodic rewards when we have dog-friendly dinners…like big juicy steaks!

Kobe has three canine cousins, one of which visits every weekend (Cosmo, a Malti-Poo). Another cousin lives out east (Maya, Boxer mix from the Animal League also) and Molly, a Bulldog from Philly who she had a recent sleep-over with!

We try to visit the dog park once a week (when it's not too crowded, as Kobe annoys some of the other dogs who do not want to run with her), we walk along the trails in Bethpage St. Park, and she loves to be in the (newly, double-secured, fenced) yard. She doesn't dig or try to escape; she just runs a marathon out there and then lies down and hangs out. She's also my new driving companion.

I just wanted to share a few pictures highlighting our Happy Tail. Kobe is our forever dog, and I know you all like to hear that.

:) Denise Finnegan