Update on 7-year old sisters Lucy & Missy

This wonderful update comes from Pete VanderLaan in NH who adopted two mature girls earlier this year. (I want a video of "dog-tipping"!!)

"These girls are just wonderful! They are such a great addition to our lives. They love the farm and snuffling the pond and the creek. They have a morning ritual of conning me out of mouthfuls of fish food which I throw for the trout in the pond.

The eye surgery was really successful. They both have mostly clear eyes all the time. Missy has occasional watering in her left eye but all in all it has been a blessing for both of them. Lucy's are both fine. While each dog has some conformation issues, they are doing awfully well, particularly at their ages. They took a mile long walk through the woods this morning with us when we went out to see if the wind had brought down any big trees, which it had but not terribly. Firewood falls here faster than I can burn it.

They love car rides. It must have been a major part of their former lives. If we are dumb enough to leave a truck door open in the driveway, it is quickly occupied by two Berners in the back and they will not get out with out a shoehorn. They don't care for the glassworks that much, preferring to stay in the yard while I work although they do come in sometimes. I think it's too noisy. They are great with the chickens and totally accept them and they simply give the horses a slow wide berth. One of the horses has gotten in to "dog tipping." Wingman, a quarter horse Freisian cross born in to my arms and now 1200lbs will sneak up silently on a sleeping Berner in the field and quietly flip them over which wakes them up efficiently. He doesn't hurt them, he just rolls them.

They have their rituals. Biscuits in morning after being let out, then marrow bones and then breakfast. Then it's nap time and then bark at anything time which is an unfortunate thing they learned from our Crazed English farm collie- the equivalent of a Border Collie on Steroids. The barking is hard but it is what it is. These dogs never had an ounce of discipline and when they don't want to do something, they just faint. It's like Dog jello on the ground. Utterly unmovable. Time to call the horse and then they move.

This program has been wonderful. While it is sad how they wound up being available, we have been thrilled to have them here as part of our lives. They are part of the pulse of the farm. I wish they were younger so they could be here longer."