This is for my friend Sherrie (DrifterLee) who is a amazing artist, animal lover and dear friend. I promised her I'd put up a photo along with the story of my dog Peppie to try to show her that even though there is a lot of pain and trajedy in the world there are a lot of small miracles too, we just have to look for them. Well here goes, wish me luck. A few short years ago my dog Pugsey died of old age and I was devastated and sad. After some time a friend of mine told me maybe what I needed was to get another puppy to which I replied "no way" because I could never think of replacing him. After thinking it over I was talked into going to a area down in Arkansas in the middle of no where to look at dogs. Upon arriving at the small kennel they took me to a pen in back where they would bring out the dogs so you could look at them more closely. The lady brought out 4 different dogs, all of them very nice but none really touched me. I was ready to give up and leave when the lady hesitated and said ( well there is one more dog but I really shouldn't even show him to you because he probably won't be around very long ) She told me he was the runt of the litter (the smallest) and had gotten sick and she was afraid was dying. I asked to see him and she carried him out, and sat him down in the pen. He was so weak and sick he could hardly stand, it really was pitiful. All the other puppies were running around him in the pen, all healthy and happy. For some reason I leaned down and called to the dogs and much to my surprise only one of them responded. Weak and barely able to walk he made his way those few steps to me while the other dogs never even noticed me at all. I picked him up and he cried and snuggled so close to me. My Mom was with me and she asked me if I really wanted to take a chance on a dog that looked so sick. She said she was afraid he wouldn't be around very long and I'd be even more sad than I already was. The lady who ran the kennel even told me my Mom was probably right, and it might be best to not get my hopes up. Once I held him in my arms I knew there was no way I would let him go so I told her that he was gonna be allright now because he would have someone who loved him and would take care of him. During the day I took him to our company and put him in a baby crib to keep an eye on him. Then at night I would lay with him in the floor and hold him until he fell asleep. I gave him medicine the vet gave me and tried to to my best for him. After a couple of weeks it was like a miracle ! That sick little dog was better, bouncing all over the place and so full of life that I named him Peppie. The picture you see is one I took after I had nursed him back to health and even though I am not a very good photographer it is still my favorite of him. It's a few years later, Peppie is still so full of life and happy and what I went through with him gives me hope. Because I know there are other small miracles like Peppie out there happening all the time. And if I pray hard enough for it and believe, maybe God will provide one for my sister Veronica too. So as I said at the start this photo and story are for you Sherrie. I know just like myself and so many others here you've had hurt and sadness in your life. That is why it's my hope that maybe this photo and story can give you a bit of hope like so many here at Renderosity have done for me recently. Take care and hugs from your friend, David