Drivers, lets hear from you regarding your special partners. Your pets.
I raised my black Schnauzer in my semi. Then lost him at 13 yrs old. I now have my little rocket. He is a Pomeranian with a hair cut. (Looks like a fox) He is my reason for everything I do. The life line for me.
Hope to hear from more drivers with pet stories
Be safe

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Bobbi

Good idea!

Here's a sad story. My DH and I share our lives with rescue hounds. Until Friday night, there were three.

We've had Geordie the longest - she's 6, and I found her in a local park in sub-zero weather when she was about 4 months old. She loves to snuggle. Hates cats, unless lightly sauteed and served on a bed of mice... and gets car-sick after about 30 minutes in a moving vehicle. She doesn't come with me!

Flick is 4. She was found on Valentine's Day 2005, only 2 weeks after my German Shepherd died unexpectedly. We fostered the little brat (aged approx 3 months) and eventually adopted her fully. Loves to ride in any vehicle. I've taken her with me a few times, but found that I can't make the miles I need to make, and give her the exercise a Jack Russe/Aussie Cattle Dog mix requires.

Tori showed up starving on our doorstep last September. 20 pounds underweight, bad hips and of indeterminate age. Dumb as a post, too. Which is unusual in a German Shepherd. We figured she was about 9 years old, and had been dumped in the country as her vet bills would climb looking after an aging dog with bad hips. Good natured, and even loved cats. Well, on Friday night her heart gave out. She'd had a rough couple of days and Dan had taken her to the vet, where a degenerative neurological problem and her heart problems were confirmed. We've had Shepherds in the past, and had our suspicions about the myelopathy and heart problems. She died in her bed, with her Daddy right beside her.

So here's my tribute to Tori, cute but dumb - with a heart as big as a whale. She loved everyone, and everyone who met her loved her... even folks who didn't like/were scared of dogs. She's in doggy heaven now, with healthy hips and heart. Cheesies to steal whenever she wants them.

And also my tribute (again) to my DH, Dan; who had to deal with this all by himself as I was trying to get my behind back from Dallas ASAP and had only made it as far as Indianapolis.

Love your family (human or otherwise) and hold them in your heart all the time. Cherish every moment you have with them.

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10448-D

Just FYI for all drivers with pets on board. Please, lock your truck when you pull forward at the fuel islands. I have heard too many stories about pets being stolen from the truck while the driver was inside getting fuel reciepts and other items. What an terrible experience that would be.

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Bobbi and Rocket

Hellion,
Thanks for the sad story and so sorry for your loss.

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Bobbi and Rocket

I just picked up a stray a few months back who had been living at our truck terminal since last winter.

No one could catch her, she was wild.

Finally Animal Contraol was called but she apparently escaped from them.

She was gone 3 weeks but somehow found her way back across the Dallas Metroplex to our Truck Terminal.

She looked so sickly when I saw her upon her return I knew she wouldnt live thru the summer in Texas, plus she had many trust issues and would not make a suitable house pet.

I caught her and she is on the truck with me now.

I named her "Karma" because she always comes back and wrote a story about here on my website www.truckerdesiree.com

I also recently did a radio show about her because her story has gotten so popular it put me in touch with many rescue organizations that have now sponsered her when she came positive for heartworms.

I had a 3 legged dog for 14 years who was a rescue and then lost my beloved Lab & Basset just before I came to trucking, I never thought I'd take another dog because it was painful to lose mine and I had not emotionally recovered from it.

Karma is a real trucking dog, she just loves being around the Trucks.

I finally found a good team partner

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Desiree Member #10546-D

Hey Desiree

Nice to know you did the right thing. I just wanna waste the folks who think dogs are disposable.

Couple of questions... can your team partner reach the pedals? Or do you have one of those "dog-matic" shifts? Where do dogs get their CDL? How does she manage to do her logs neatly (no silly scatalogical comments here, ladies!) with no opposable thumbs?

OK, OK... I'll stop! Give Karma a HUGE belly rub and let her know not all humans deserve to be drowned at birth like an unwanted litter.

And, Cinderallato, (did I spell that right?), thank you for the thoughts. We all appreciate the prayers and sympathy. Big belly rub to Rocket too, for keeping her mom safe and happy.

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10448-D

Hellion,
Rocket says Arf.....now that usually means time to stop, or time to eat, or time to come to bed!!! But in this case he says HI to you.....As we have heard from so many drivers out here, their pet(s) are what makes it all worthwhile. As is the case for me......... Opps, too many ......I will hear about that I'm sure HEEHEE
Hey, I write alot if poetry, would live to hear some pet poety if anyone wants to share.Be safe ladies,
It is what it is !!!

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Bobbi and Rocket

Hi Hellion:

I didn't see your post before, funny you should ask about "Karma's" contribution to our "Team"

Like most dogs, as soon as I get out of the drivers seat she sits in it.

It's funny because she has taken to sitting watch when I go to the sleeper, she dosen't bark unless someone get to close and it's ussually a firm warning until they split.

On three occasions she actually warned someone off my running board and last month when we were in La Grange, she was incessant which she normally isn't.

I got up to look and a guy was trying to get into the truck in front of us who was up to no good, she would not quit and by me opening the curtain and locking eyes on him, he knew he was busted and left the premises immediatley.

I always say on Twitter, "Karma works the night shift"

and I've snapped pictures of her sitting up there on patrol.

One male trucker who loves hearing about "Karma" on Twitter sent her a message that was cute, he said "excuse me driver, I'll need you to pull it over and show me your "dog books" please.

I thought that was funny.

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Desiree Member #10546-D

http://www.facebook.com/truckerdesiree or http://www.truckerdesiree.com

This will be hard to believe but,
A few days ago I got the 12 volt oven out and put my chicken and pototoes in side, with thoughts of a great dinner to be. I know Rocket also had the same thoughts as I could see it in his eyes. We share everything including meals (well he still gets his dog food, then thinks he needs some of mine too) anyways, I was drivin along with no cares to bother me when all of a sudden Rocket came forward and put his front feet on my throttle leg., Hmmm I said, "What's up Rocket???You never come forward unless you need a pottybreak, water, food etc. all of which has been taken care of. What in the world is the problem"? Well, he was persistant and would not stop bothering me untill I pulled the truck over. As I got up from my seat to head for the sleeper where he now stood guard, I saw that the red light on the oven was not lite up. It had blown a fuse. Rocket was letting me know that dinner was in trouble.
I think he was able to hear the fuse blow, or he may be able to hear the oven when it is cooking and understands that the goodstuff inside was not going to get cooked and on the table for him and I..
What do you readers think?

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Bobbi and Rocket

...I believe you...although ....more to the fact that he could probably smell the hot wires...and or 'burning' 'melting' wires....and of course the fuse blew so all was well.....I would trust my 'Sharkey' (now past on) about everything...and even if at the time his persistance did not seem to make sense....later when I though about why and what...I would find that he saved the day...again!

dmla

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People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Membership # 10842-D

Sometimes Sharkey would ride up on the passenger seat....but this one time....was different ....I had the heater on and the fan blowing on low....and Sharks jumped up on the passenger seat and as soon as the air from the vent touched his face, he sneezed and kept ducking his head away from the air (which was not blowing hard)...and looked at me like....CANT YOU SMELL THAT?????....and he jumped off the seat and went into the bunk and put his nose in the far corner, tucking he nose under a blanket....

I carried on to a rest stop, we got out...and I just happend (not connnecting what he had done) to decide to check the oil and water (the water had been going down a bit from time to time)...and there was a rad leak with the antifreeze being blown up and along the side of the engine.....that is what he had smelled....(and what I could smell too once I popped the hood).....hot water and antifreeze.

Sharkey was the most awesomist team mate....I miss him every day.

(and he also had a great sense of humor)

dmla

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People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Membership # 10842-D

drivingmylifeaway
I can believe that story with you and Sharkey........So sorry he is not with you anymore.
I have become a bit of a fear freak about my Rocket and choose not to shower at the truck stops very often . I have been hearing about too many trucks being stolen while the drivers are in showering (Latest one I heard was a truck stop in VA beach) Anyways, I would be suicidal if that happened to me and my Rocket, so I choose to use facilities at the casinos and my different company terminals across the country......
Be sAfe out there

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Bobbi and Rocket

Naive post alert...

Casinos have facilities? Really? Details, please...

And it's not so much the theft angle, but part of the reason Flick doesn't come with me is I'm terrified of her becoming road-pizza. She's a lifelong, hard-core, dedicated tire-biter. And I just can't risk her going under the wheels of her "prey". I too would be suicidal.

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10448-D

Hellion
Yes, sounds like you need to be careful with Flick. Rocket won't leave my side, ever, so I am grateful for that.
As far as the casinos are concerned, I very often use them as my safe place to park. Most have camears all over the grounds along with security that constantly drive the parking area of the big trucks.Some even write down the truck plates and have a description of the drivers. Many have full facilities for drivers, showers, phones,fuel, driver lounge etc. Along with good restaurants often times. They truely are my choice in parking if a terminal of ours is not available. I would recommend this to all female drivers.

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Bobbi and Rocket