Gidget, our one-year old Cairn Terrier, has always rolled on her toys and sometimes her 

On the 13th of March, Ward, my husband, was on the roof patching a few places that looked like trouble. He had roofing tar to fill in the spots. There was a piece of tape with tar on it which he threw on the ground. Gidget (being a true Cairn) ran at once to investigate this new plaything. Finding it to her liking, she ran with it before I could stop her. She then rolled in it covering her back with globs of tar. What to do? What to do!

We were afraid to use a strong solvent to remove the tar because it might burn her skin. We decided that liquid Crisco should do the job. It takes oil to remove oil. After much oil and a big roll of paper towels, she was ready for a double shampoo and complete drying. She had to stay inside until she was completely dry. She was then ready to start more of her wild adventures. None of this ordeal seem to bother her except having to stay inside. Gidget is a delightful addition to our family and is always entertaining us.

Ward and Donna Clark

by Larry Brown

        My Cairn Terrier, Suzie Q. thinks she is 10 feet tall, weighs 5000 pounds, and  has the ______ of an elephant.  (It's an inside joke.)  And she hates trucks, from Toyotas to
triple-trailers.  From the apartment or inside the van, Suzie attacks all trucks with vigor and resolution – no exceptions.

        Suzie and I took a trip one Saturday to Ardmore to visit an aged aunt.  We took old Highway 77 down (Purcell, Pauls Valley, etc.) and there was not much truck traffic. Coming home, we drove I-35.  Just upon entering the highway, we encountered an 18-wheeler.  Suzie hit the driver-side window with a vengeance, barking almost hysterically, until we got past that truck.  We saw so many trucks on the road that it seemed like a convoy.  Her hysteria began to weaken at Wynnewood.  At Purcell, when we passed a very long truck, she sat in her own seat and growled.  At Norman, she just whimpered at a UPS double-truck.  By the time we reached the N.W. 39th Street exit, she just ignored a Sysco 18-wheeler. 

        What is the moral of this story?  You can only stand so much of a good thing ..... or maybe .....Dogs, even 5000 pound dogs, should be friends with trucks.

Gracie: More of the Story

by Linda Wheeler

I just wanted to tell you a little more about my Cairn Terrier, Gracie, and the impact she is having on some other people in my life.

When Pat White and I rescued her, Pat took her home because I was going on vacation, and I had another problem: I wanted to keep Gracie so badly, but I was probably not going to be able to because my landlady (94 yrs old) had a 30-year, iron-clad policy of absolutely no pets! (oh yes, Irene lives in a house right next door to the duplex I rent from her.)

When I got back from vacation, Pat and I talked a lot about how to approach my landlady so that I could bring Gracie home. I prayed a lot about it too. I got up my nerve and had a long talk with Irene about keeping Gracie. She finally agreed to let me keep her, but she was not at all happy about it. Neither were the people across the street who do the yard/property maintenance for Irene. So there I was with this wonderful little "girl" that no one else wanted around. So . . .

Gracie and I laid low for awhile. Then we started going outside in the evening to see Irene as she was watering her flowers. At first, she was totally flustered and didn't know how to react to Gracie. However, after a time or two of going out, Irene fell in love with her. Irene is not in good health (congestive heart failure) and can't walk very well or bend down. Gracie was always so gentle with Irene and I would pick Gracie up so Irene could pet her. She was afraid to pet her the first time, but after that it got a lot better.

Now Irene looks forward every day to seeing Gracie. (Gracie knows immediately when Irene has gone out into the yard). We even got to go in her house the other day! Gracie sat in my lap and didn't move the whole time (which is amazing). Irene talks to Gracie more than she does me! Gracie has also won the hearts of the people across the street who were so against her. She is so good with people - very polite and gentle.

Last night we were all sitting in Irene's yard talking, and of course, Gracie was the center of attention. (Now the neighborhood kids come over to see her, too.) Irene has been having small pains in her chest and wasn't feeling real well. I think Gracie sensed this, because she slowly walked over and just sat by Irene for the longest time. I saw Irene talking to Gracie and it seemed to help her to just have Gracie there. Gracie wouldn't leave her until she seemed to know that Irene was better. It just left me in awe.

We continue to go outside every night so Gracie can see Irene. I know that sadly, someday, Irene won't be with us any more. But until that time, I think Gracie has appointed herself as one of Irene's guardian angels.