Best to you for taking in such a loving but needy animal. We've had mixed luck with pound animals, but sometimes you really hit the jackpot. Our 2nd Belgian Tervuren was a rescue from the shelter in Montgomery County, MD. We were told about her by the BT breed rescue league and went up to see her, just to see her. They told us this 7 year old beauty wouldn't make it past "tuesday" without being euthanized--it was a Saturday.

We took her home and for the next 6 1/2 years she was the most wonderful, glorious, and loving dog until, finally, in old age, we had to let her be rid of her pain. Friends used to come to visit her and BEG to walk her...Me, like Tom Sawyer, "Well...I GUESS it'll be OK--but she likes really, really long walks...."

We had to medicate her for thyroid deficiencies every day of her life and let me tell you: An animal with a sound personality is a piece of cake to handle with medical problems, no matter how serious they are.

We are BIG fans of breed rescue leagues as they find homes for needy dogs who happen to be of a particular breed. But any dog you rescue who loves you for it is a GREAT dog.

We've adopted a few cats, too, over the years, mostly good ones (as good as a cat can be). Currently we have one Belgian Sheepdog (came with the name "Clooney", like George because he's pretty laid-back--for a Belgian anyway) and one cat, an adoptee named Ti-He who looks like Garfield and eats Clooney's food with impunity. That's OK--Clooney doesn't care--and he steals Ti-He's food himself.

Good luck again with your little girl...she's clearly a trooper.