Parker - DOB July 9, 2004

Well Parker is number seven, our youngest and most recent addition. I first saw him on July 5th at the Pioneer Days parade in Prescott. Our adoption group traditionally walks in this parade with several dogs to raise awareness of the breed and our group's charter to adopt out these wonderful creatures to loving homes. This year though they brought Parker to walk in the parade. I am not really sure if it was his stoic appearance, sympathy for his limp or his gorgeous eyes and adorable face but I immediately fell for this dog.

Well, we did not take him home that day. We went home and talked and talked and talked and went through careful deliberation and a week later we took Kingman to an adoption event in Flagstaff where he was to meet his new brother. We took Parker home that day.

Parker quickly made himself at home. He was roaching on his back within the first hour in his new home. His racing name was Ucme Garrett and he only raced 16 races before he was retired back in 2006 due to a broken leg. He probably should have had surgery to repair the break but it was splinted and he was in a kennel for 2 years to recover. The problem is that it never healed properly.

In November after we adopted him the old fracture broke again and ruptured calcaneus ligament (like our Achilles tendon). We had to rush him in for emergency surgery so they could put a pin in and wire the damaged bones together. We were given strict orders to limit all his activity so that the healing could occur. Not an easy feat with a very active 4 year old.

As of this posting he is still in his cast, but he takes it all in stride. He goes to the vet for weekly bandage changes and checkups. They are not saying yet how much longer he will be in the cast but they are saying it will be a very long and tedious process.

We are keeping good thoughts and hopes that when the healing is done he will be pain free and will be able to resume a healthy normal life. For now he has kept his sense of humor, his good nature and zest for life is an inspiration to all that meet him. The picture above is Parker looking very festive on Christmas Eve with his local vet Dr. Celeste Flannery.