My Name is
Dawn Ritzie

City/State where I live
Wind Gap

My Story
My parents brought me into their home as a companion for my older brother, Houser. He was mourning the loss of his best friend, Dakota. Dakota was daddy's first pup, a rescued shepherd mix and the reason mommy and daddy started dating! When he passed away, Houser cried and wouldn't eat or play. They tried setting up play dates and gentle Houser snapped at the neighbor's dogs. When they brought me home, Houser picked me up, brought me into his crate, and we have been buddies ever since.
My best friend, though, is my Mom. I hate to be apart from her. I sit on her lap, sleep next to her, and sit at the door waiting for her to come home. Because I love her so much, I've taught myself how to help her. She has EDS and is getting progressively disabled. I fetch her anything she needs, can turn on lights, open the fridge and get her water, and bring the groceries in from the car!
Three years ago, my Mom found a lump and forced the vet to test it. It took two massive surgeries to remove all the cancer cells from my side. It was painful, but Mommy babied me through it.


My favorite pastime is
Playing fetch and being with my Mom! Oh! And swimming! I can swim under water for more than a minute.

The best thing anyone's ever done for me is
My Mom fought hard to save me from cancer. Daddy loves me, but didn't think a lump that small could be so scary. Mom knew better. The vet said labs get fatty tumors and not to worry. Mommy said "No, I want it aspirated!" The vet lectured her that I was young and it was a tiny fatty cyst. When she finally gave in to Mom, she apologized. It was Mast Cell Cancer. Aggressive. Mom and Auntie Janet found me an oncologist three hours away who saved me! So many people cared for me after my surgery.

I can't live without
My Mom and my flying squirrel!

The naughtiest thing I've ever done is
I got mad Mommy left me to go to work, so I ate her eye glasses! Glass, metal, ALL of it! I paid for it the next day.

The funniest thing I've ever done is
I once somehow locked myself in a spare bedroom. I panicked, so did my Mom. I admit, I was crying a little because I couldn't see her. But, the lock was on my side of the door. Mom took something called a baby sledge to the door and got me out! My hero! Mom said I tried jumping into her arms when the door opened.

My favorite place to go is
Anywhere I can swim: the creek, our pool as seen here, or our neighbors' house with the BIG pool!

I'm completely obsessed with
Daddy says I'm obsessed with my Mom. I don't see why! I don't spend every second with her. Sometimes I have to walk five feet from her to go potty or get some water.