Happy Birthday Sophie KitTON!

Over the weekend it was Sophie KitTONs birthday! I woke up on Sunday morning and tried first thing to give her a birthday kiss, but she would have nothing to do with my big slobbery dog lips.

Mom said she is 17 years old! Wow, that's old! Mom got her when she was just a wee little kitTON. Her and her brothers were found abandoned near the train tracks when they were only about 2 weeks old. Mom took all 3 of them and bottle fed them until they were old enough to eat regular food. Mom kept Sophie, and the other two boys went to a friend's grandparents.

I think Sophie doesn't know she is a kitTON, I think she believes she's a great dane! Mom had her first Great Dane, Bristol, when she rescued the kitTONs and Bristol was such a good doggie she used to try to nurse them.

Bristol, 1991 - 2002

Sophie grew up crawling and jumping all over her and another big doggie named Judd...he was an Old English Sheepdog/Irish Wolfhound mix. Mom says he was one of the nicest doggies she's met, but boy was he dumb! heeheee!

Over her lifetime, Sophie has held an important job as a doggie trainer. She's had the opportunity to train a few more of Mom's past doggies. The 1st doggie she trained was Tyler, another Dane. He was a pup when Mom got him, so he needed lots of swatting. He finally got the hang of things though.

Tyler, 1995 - 2003

Then she trained Hannah, Mom's last dog before me. Hannah was a Ridgeback mix, and loved to try and play with Sophie.

Sophie would have none of that though, she's too 'mature' for playin. I should know. She's scratched my nose quite a few times, prolly cuz I have a thick head and keep forgetting the last lesson she taught me! She really likes quiet, mellow dogs. I'll have to work on that.

Sophie kitTON & Hannah (2003 - 2009)

I think she looks kinda silly in the picture with Hannah. Mom sometimes shaves her during the summer cuz she's got super long and fluffy hair. One summer, she even gave her a mohawk! Mom said it was so she could be tough, to beat the cancer.

I'll tell you more about that evil 'C' word in a bit.

I think I'm kinda growin on her though...as long as I remember where to put my big feet when I'm walking! I sometimes forget and step on her tail by accident. Boy does she get mad!

Mom says we are super lucky Sophie is still with us. Almost 3 years ago, she was diagnosed with Feline Lymphoma. Mom says she was super sick and we almost lost her. Mom took her to the Betterinarian, and a Special List did all kinds of tests on her. Luckily they found medicines to give her that have helped make her healthy again! November will be her 3 year anniversary of diagnosis!

I'm really happy she's still here, she's got such good experience as a dog trainer that I feel super lucky and priveledged to be trained by her. I just know I'll make her proud.

She also hates it when I play with my favorite squeaky toy. A few times, when I was doin nuthin but mindin my own business...sqeakin, sqeakin, squeakin my toy, Sophie suddenly when crazy and started growlin and hissin and chasing me around the house!! Sheesh...if she didnt like the squeaky noise, all she had to do was ask me to stop!

Maybe I'll give her my squeaky for her birthday. What do you think? Seriously...how could she not love a face like this?

Here are some more of Mom's favorite pictures of Sophie KitTON.