Commission Piece

Title: "Mehl and Anna"

Size: 18" x 24"

Medium: Color Pencil

Paper: Stonehenge

Breed: Whippets

Owner: Debbie and Larry of Bothell, Washington

Mehl and Anna were both adopted from WRAP (Whippet Rescue and Placement) Mehl was adoped from the Oregon WRAP and Anna from the Washington Wrap. Lori Rose is one of the Oregon representatives for WRAP

Lori sent Larry and Debbie an application for adoption. After watching Lori's website for a while, they noticed she had dogs available. They drove down to her home in Oregon and she presented them with their new best friend, Mehl.

They adopted Mehl when he was 2 1/2 years old. The first 2 years or so of Mehl's life, he had lived with his 2 brothers, Sutter and Kai. All 3 were tied to a trampoline in a back yard. During these 2 years, they were neither cared for, nor loved and ended up being feral dogs. They were then taken by another family and were kept for a short time and then were given to Lori Rose.

Mehl's grandfather was national champion and they have no idea why these 3 dogs were abandoned and neglected, other than the assumption they had "flaws" that disqualified them from being shown.

At first, Mehl was rather stand offish and appeared nervous, which was understandable considering the first two years of his life. Mehl had severe separation anxiety, when Larry and Debbie would leave him at home in his crate, he would howl and cry etc. When they were home he seemed interested in them, but he was not very affectionate. Except for his separation anxiety he was very quiet.

Lori Rose suggested that a buddy for Mehl may be a good thing, especially a younger female. Since Mehl was taken away from his brothers, he may be very lonely.

Two months later, Larry and Debbie found a female whippet named "Anna Banana" on the WRAP website in Washington state. She was 6 months old and available after she was spayed. Larry and Debbie drove down to see her and of course drove back home with a new little female whippet.

Anna belonged to a single person, that worked all day, and she was kept in a crate up to 18 hours every day. When she was given up for adoption, she was separated from her brother, which was kept by another member of the family. When Larry and Debbie first met Anna, she was extremely thin and very shy. She was a puppy mill dog.

The moment Anna was brought home, Mehl came out of his shell. He was happier, more relaxed and more affectionate. When they talk to him, Mehl will tilt his head, like he understands every word and he quite often talks back to them. Not barking, but making softer owooowwwooowwwowowowow sounds.

After a few weeks, Anna warmed up to Debbie, but she still stayed on alert, when around their grown children. She is absolutely terrified of any strangers and will shake like a leaf, if anyone comes to close. For over a month, Anna would not come in through the back door, if Larry was holding it open for her. Nor would Anna eat or walk by Larry, if he was anywheres near her. After about a year with them, Anna and Larry, are now best friends. She will now lay in Larry's lap forever or snuggle in bed with them both, squeezed in right up by their pillows.

Every morning, Larry and Debbie watch the news downstairs on tv, for about an hour, and both, Mehl and Anna, are on Larry's lap, in his chair, covered with a blanket. They won't leave, until they get up to feed them. Larry loves it!

Mehl and Anna have become best friends. They play together constantly, arguing over toys, wrestling in bed, tearing up and down the hallways and just sleeping together or even on top of one another. They are now two very happy pooches!

Larry and Debbie can't walk anywheres in the house, without two dogs following them or sitting down in the chair with them. They stay in their crates quietly, when they leave, with no howling, they usually just sleep. When they come home and let them out of their crates, they start bouncing and playing and acting delighted in the fact they have come home. Larry and Debbie love it!

Mehl is learning to be more confident and more affectionate and Anna is slowly overcoming her fear of other people they meet, when traveling in the coach. Their antics and presence in Larry and Debbie's home, has brought many smiles to their faces in the last year. Mehl and Anna have become their two best friends.