Our Dog Tessy

As I sit in my bathrobe starring at the computer this fine Saturday morning listening to my dog moan and stretch on the floor I thought, "I need to tell her story".

Our dog Tessy has been a part of our family for 3 years now. We adopted her from the University of Utah. There she was used as a test subject for pain medications used for cancer patients. But before she began her career as a drug dog she was born in New York City and lived happily on a farm (or I imagine) for the first year of her life. On her first birthday she flew to Salt Lake City and spent the next year in a laboratory.

Approximately two weeks before the sale of our house was finalized we went to the U of U to pick out our Beagle. She was in a study group of five. George, Paul, John, Ringo, and our Yoko. When we came into the room Yoko was on the table getting an IV in her leg. She was such a good girl, didn't bother her a bit. While she was on the table we visited with the boys, but none of them struck us like she did. When she came down from the table she greeted us like an old friend. It was love at first sight. She still have a few more weeks of studies to do and then she would be ours.

Tessy the first few days at home

She moved in our new house almost the same day we did. The name "Yoko" had to go, so with the same process as naming a child (I imagine), we came up with the name Tessy. We actually heard the name on a "King of Queens" episode but it seemed to be perfect since her "testing" was now over. The first few days seemed a shock to poor Tessy, never having experienced carpet, stairs, grass, or couches. She also had just been "fixed" which meant carrying her up and downstairs while trying to potty train her and hand feeding her because she refused to eat out of a bowl. I thought, "what have we got ourselves into".

Now three years later, I can't imagine life without her. She has adjusted to this lifestyle just fine. She lays where she wants, goes outside when she should, and even let's us know when it's dinner time.

With no children yet, I'm so glad we have Tessy around!

Our family last fall