This is blind Emmy Lou on the left, about to steal a bone from her boyfriend, able-bodied Zephyr. Our employee Gloria G., who is Zephyr's mom, asked if she could adopt Emmy Lou, and we gladly said yes. Gloria started taking her home on a trial basis, and Emmy Lou adapted so well that we made the adoption official.
Soon after coming to work here last October, Gloria and Zephyr fell in love with Emmy Lou, and the two dogs would play together every chance they had. Now at the end of the day they both go home with Gloria, and then come back the next day when Gloria returns to work. When Gloria first began taking her home, Emmy Lou was very nervous about getting in the car -- but now she insists on riding up front in the passenger seat!
Here's the next shot in the sequence of photos I took this afternoon at our dog building, Widget's House. Emmy Lou is moving in on Zephyr's bone:
Then she snatches it and makes a clean grab:
Zephyr is always a good sport about his pushy girlfriend's behavior (being blind doesn't mean you can't get your way), so he simply swaps bones and resumes chewing:
Here's what they were doing before the bone-heist occurred:
And now, if you're wondering what Emmy Lou's new mom looks like, well, Gloria won't let me take her photo for the blog! Gloria is leaving at the end of May to return to school in Ohio, so I have a couple of more months to work on her about the photo-shyness thing, but in the meantime, this is as much of her as I can get away with posting:
Glad someone rescued this little beauty. Some people should never take a pet. If you won't or don't take care of a pet don't ruin a beautiful animal's life by neglecting it.
Posted by: Rita Boatright | April 14, 2008 at 01:19 PM
It appears that Emmy Lou has stolen more than Zephyr's bone she has stolen everyones heart too!
Four legged love does wonders!
congratulations to all!
Posted by: Paula | April 10, 2008 at 07:11 PM
What a great story. Brings a big smile to my face. Congrats Gloria! Emmy Lou is a very, very lucky girl to have both you and Zephyr as her new family. Emmy Lou looks just like my Catahoula girl, Baybe, who was born deaf and is the best dog I've ever had. If you click on my name, you'll see her picture. Thanks Rolling Dog Ranch for all you do for the animals. :)
Posted by: Nancy - Florida | April 10, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Wow, had a difficult day but this story just warmed my heart and is leting me go to bed with a smile. Loved the photos also -- Emmy Lou is such a beautiful lady -- glad she found a forever home with her bud Zephyr and Gloria. You both do such an amazing job. If you ever get another pit with some problems, let me know. I just fell in love with Emmy Lou and I love pits.
Posted by: Linda | April 10, 2008 at 02:03 AM
I am so happy that Emmy Lou has a "seeing eye" person. I adopted my beautiful lab Jake about 3 years ago when he was about 2 (he has PRA) One day I will tell you all Jakes story. But, for now, Congrats to Emmy and her new family.
Posted by: Kimi Lubow | April 09, 2008 at 07:10 PM
This story warms my heart-I love the pictures too!What a wonderful place you have. Thank you for helping all those sweeties.Good Luck to Zephyr and Emmy Lou!
Posted by: Debbie Gipper | April 09, 2008 at 05:57 PM
Heartfelt congratulations to Gloria, Emmy Lou and Zephyr! I'm overjoyed for the three of them: what a great, happy little family!
I'm sure you're going to miss them, when they'll go back to Ohio at the end of May... But there'll be a brand new "Buckeye doggy" then!:-)
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | March 25, 2008 at 08:26 AM
YAY! Fantastic news. Thank you RDR for all you do, and thanks Gloria and Zephyr, you are a beautiful family!
Posted by: Catebb | March 25, 2008 at 06:12 AM
PS, I just noticed, in the second picture down, how Emmy Lou has one paw on her bone while stealing Zephyr's bone. What a sneaky girl!!!!She wants it all... I love it! Doesn't seem like she needs sight at all to get what she wants ;-)
Posted by: Mika | March 24, 2008 at 06:33 PM
I just heard the great news!!!! yay Emmy Lou! After shipping her to RDR, I had wondered whether she would ever find her own home. I'm so glad it is with an employee, because that guarantees the good life for her. What a long way she has come, and those photos are so heart warming and cute. She is so loved. Sigh. Wonderful. Love from North Carolina, Emmy!!!! You go girl!!!!
Mika
Posted by: Mika | March 24, 2008 at 06:09 PM
Come on Gloria! You gotta show whose the momma! Congratulation on your adoption! Emmy Lou is a lucky lucky girl!
Posted by: jenJen | March 24, 2008 at 03:58 PM
What school is Gloria coming back to in Ohio? The Ohio group here will always be willing to doggie sit if necessary.
Jennie
Posted by: Jennie Wiseman | March 24, 2008 at 03:19 PM
EmmyLou, Zephyr & Gloria- true BFF! Through the true magic of the RDR & rescuers in N. Carolina. May these wonders NEVER cease. Happiness to you all.
Posted by: Margaret | March 24, 2008 at 11:41 AM
I just reread the story of Emmy Lou's (so called) life before arriving at Rolling Dog Ranch - and then her turnaround and happiness once she got there. Now a home of her very own, and rides in a truck. What a wonderful story. Come on, Gloria, let us see your smiling face -- you are a hero.
Posted by: Helen Rietz | March 24, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Aw commooooonnn Gloria - no family photo is complete without Mom! This article and pictures made me laugh out loud. Emmy Lou and Zephyr are such lucky pups. Many happy days to you Gloria and the gang - and I will be waiting for that shot of Mom. :<)
Posted by: Angela | March 24, 2008 at 11:01 AM
This is fabulous! Congratulations Gloria, Zephyr and Emmy Lou!
Emmy Lou is one of my top dogs; so beautiful and sweet!
We'll miss her when she moves to Ohio in May but we also know she's got a wonderful home filled with love, care and fun.
Posted by: Boundforglory | March 24, 2008 at 09:39 AM
Best wishes for a match made in heaven, rolling-dog-ranch-heaven that is! And really, Gloria, for us blog-readers is it as much fun to see a happy human face as it is to see a happy dog face! Good luck in Ohio, too!
Posted by: Jessica, NL | March 24, 2008 at 08:57 AM
See the amazing "Woman with the Head of a Dog" at RDR!
What a happy, happy ending for sweet Emmy Lou who has made so much progress. And she gets a very patient brother as part of the package as well.
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | March 24, 2008 at 07:59 AM
What a great love story! Zephyr and Emmy Lou look like such great pals that it would be a crime for them NOT to be together! Thank you Gloria for being such a great person to see what a wonderful match those two make! Wishing all of you happy trails.
Sending big hugs,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | March 24, 2008 at 07:51 AM
What great news! I have always thought that Emmy Lou was adorable (and adoptable!) with her striking coat and winning (bone stealing!) ways, and I am so glad that she has found a loving family and that she will not be going far from the Rolling Dog Ranch. It must be the best of both worlds for you because she gets a good home and you don't have to officially say goodbye! :)
Posted by: maggie | March 24, 2008 at 12:48 AM
Emmy Lou is a GREAT dog--these pictures are fantastic! Sounds like one big happy family!
Posted by: Shirley & James, Portland, OR | March 24, 2008 at 12:18 AM
I needed a smile today, and can think of nothing better than a happy ending such as in Emmy Lou's story to provide it. Congratulations to the new family. :)
Posted by: Andrew, NZ | March 23, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Gloria looks just like Emmy Lou! : ) Maybe this will push her into a photo op. : O
Posted by: Craig from Great Falls | March 23, 2008 at 10:23 PM
What a heart-warming ending for a dog whose beginnings in North Caroline were pathetic and sad! This sounds like a wonderful match for both Gloria and Emmy Lou!
Posted by: Nina | March 23, 2008 at 09:24 PM
How wonderful, that this shy beauty is going to go live with someone who knows and loves her.
Even better, that she found a lifetime "mate" along the way! These are the Happy Ending stories that help to lessen the pain of losing the other much loved ones. I wish Gloria & the kids much happiness ahead, and Congrats on becoming this precious girls new MOM! PS- Don't worry about your picture being taken, Gloria...ALL Angels are beautiful, as I'm sure you are!!
Posted by: Barbara Arenal | March 23, 2008 at 09:17 PM
Congratulations, Emmy Lou, Zephyr and Gloria! Hope you have a loooong and happy life together!
Posted by: yoonamaniac | March 23, 2008 at 09:03 PM
Best wishes to Emmy Lou, Zephyr and Gloria. Have a happy home always!
Posted by: Moon Rani | March 23, 2008 at 08:20 PM