Lacey Valentine Abbott

Dear P.A.W.S.,

My name is Lacey Valentine Abbott. I am a golden lab/sheherd mix and I am 12 years old. When I was about 6 months old I was found on the streets of Lynnwood, Washington and taken to the P.A.W.S. animal shelter. While I was there I was adopted by my family Jim and Jeanne Abbott. Now that I am 12 years old I thought you might like to hear about my life and what a wonderful proud lady I have grown into. My Daddy and Mommy adopted me on Valentines Day 12 years ago so they gave me the middle name of Valentine and we celebrate my birthday on Valentines Day. My name Lacey was given to me by the wonderful friends I made while I was at P.A.W.S.

My family loves to go camping and we travel a lot up and down the west coast. I have been to Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, Montana and of course Washington. I love traveling and getting to see and smell all of the new areas where we travel. (And I know all the RV resorts and camp grounds have cookies for me when we register.) I know when we are getting ready for another trip, and I get so excited to be ready to go again. I am so afraid I am going to be left behind but as soon as I get into the back sit of our truck I know I am going too. I don't know why I am so afraid of being left behind because I always get to go. My family lives in an RV that just fits us perfectly. In February 2000 my family retired and since then we have really been traveling a lot. We spend the winters in Arizona where it is mostly nice and warm. I get to go for walks everyday. The best part is our golf cart. We use this to get around the resort where we live. My family had a nice riding box built just for me and put it on the back of the golf cart and I love riding in there the best of all.

I love kitties and have many cat friends. I have many dog friends too, but my Mommy Jeanne says I sometimes play too rough for the little dogs. I am just so much bigger than they are. It is not my fault they can't keep up with me. I am not crazy about horses at all. They are just to big for me, I think. But mostly I love people. All of my people friends say I am the best behaved dog they have ever seen. I just want to get pats and rubs so I try real hard to be a good girl. I only bark when someone comes to my door, to alert my family. I love chasing balls and playing with my toys. I have 3 stuffed animal babies that I have had since I was a baby myself. I would never think of tearing them up like I have seen some of my friends do.

I have been very healthy. I have only been into the hospital one time. I hurt myself while visiting Idaho and had to stay over night for stitches. My Daddy and Mommy were so sad and upset I thought the Dr. needed to give them both the same medicine he gave me to help calm me down. But I came out of everything just fine. I am now starting to get a touch of arthritis. My Mommy tells me she has it too.

This past May I had a very sad thing happen. My Daddy died very suddenly. We were in Nevada and my Daddy had a heart attack. I was so very sad for quite some time. My Mommy talked to me, walked with me and petted me a lot. It was hard for me to understand why Daddy left our RV and never came back. But Mommy has helped me and I know I have really helped her too. Together we are getting through this tough time.

I want to thank all of my friends at P.A.W.S. for finding me my wonderful family. We love each other so much. I have a wonderful life and I am very thankful for everyday.

Thank you again.
Love to everyone,
Lacey Valentine Abbott