Mini or “Chocolate Drop” as I often called her was the love of my life and inspired me to write this series of children’s books.  

 This is her story….

Shock was all that I could feel when my friend Dee placed a skinny, little, bug-eyed, brown Chihuahua in my hands--three and a half pounds of dog and one pound of tongue.  J  I will never forget that moment for as long as I live. The rain poured down around us as I held her to my chest and felt the beat of her heart, so tiny, so exhausted, and so abused.

At first I couldn't understand why her tongue was hanging out and she couldn't walk very well, but then Dee explained that she only had 4 teeth and there was nothing to hold her tongue in her mouth.  And her nails, nearly full circle, curled into her pads.  She also had a cut on her back right hip that had been unattended. 

This was my first introduction to Mini.  As in the first book in the series, Mini and me, Learning Healthy Habits , Dee had Mini taken care of at the vet and then gave me this precious little dog as my birthday present.  Even before the visit to the vet, I noticed that there was something special about this little creature.  She had obviously been abused and neglected, but all I could see in her was happiness and joy.

Her nails were clipped, her four remaining front teeth were pulled due to infection and the cut was mended.   I never knew how old she really was, but the vet estimated that she was around 13 when I got her.  

The Journey

Over the next months, she won my heart and that of everyone who met her. In the beginning, Mini was tiny in stature, but I called her “skinny fat” because she never had enough food or the right food prior to living with me.  So her belly was fat but she had these tiny stick legs and tiny features. From day one, she always wanted to eat.  At first, this was good because she needed to gain weight.  However, I knew this was becoming a problem when Mini would wake me up at night with her food bowl at her feet.  Just like in the book, her favorite treat was peanut butter and pretty much anything else she could get her paws on. 

The Farewell

I had this amazing gift for 5 more years until the angels had other plans for her. She rebounded from crisis after crisis, due to previous negligence.  The final blow came when she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, due impart to her weight and age.  On August 15th, 2007, my “chocolate drop” Mini went to puppy heaven, but not before inspiring me to live my life as she did.  Full of happiness and joy, even when faced with adversity.  I know she is watching over me and Sandi encouraging us daily to keep writing this series of books, inspired by her life that will help change the lives of children and adults around the world.

With my undying love,

Shelly