FRITZY'S STORY

MY FROG

Hi, I'm Fritzy. You had an introduction to me on Pugger's Page. I'll tell you my story from when I first met/saw Jim and Nancy.

I was one of a couple of puppies at the Pet Shop. People would come and people would go and I still did not have a home. One day a couple came in and looked around. They stopped to look at me. The man looked and kept on walking. The lady stayed for awhile and then walked away. They came back later. I can remember hearing them say, "she acts like a jumping spider". I did kind of jump in the air when I moved. I think it was the wire floor that made me do it. They talked to each other then the shop owner. The lady, Nancy, thought I was cute despite the jumping and my big bug eyes. Also, I was skinny. All of a sudden I was picked up and put in a box.

Boy, I didn't like this. I started barking and raising a fuss. I was in the box for quite awhile. Sometimes I had trouble standing. What is with all this motion. I would go from side to side. Finally it stopped. Jim lifted my box, carried me and set it down. I wasn't too happy. The top opened and Jim reached down and picked me up. This is not my cage, I have a home.

Jim put me down next to this big dog that kind of resembled me. He must have been confused. He looked at me, then Jim and Nancy and then back at me. I was on the floor for just a short time. Jim put me back in the box and carried it to another room. I had eaten so I was not hungry. They put a towel and some water in this big white slippery kind of box. This is where I was to spend the night. This box was their bath tub. The next morning, after cleaning up the mess I made, Jim carried me outside. It was big out here and there wasn't any wire sides or floors. After looking around, I ran through the green stuff that Jim put me down in. It was grass. Funny, I didn't hop anymore but ran like a normal dog. It must have been the cage that made me act like I did. It took that big dog a couple days to get use to me. I learned his name was Pugger. We slept in different rooms for the first few days and then we shared the same room. He had a bed and so did I. Did I tell you how I got my name? Nancy named me Fritzy after Aunt Fritzy in the Nancy and Sluggo cartoon, her favorite. As I grew and put on weight, I looked like the Pug dog that I was suppose to. I started hearing "no Fritzy". Who do these people think they are?

I soon learned that my training was beginning. Jim would take me around and point at things and say "no Fritzy". Pugger was close by watching. I remember one day Jim and Nancy were sitting at this place where they ate. There was a box on the counter that had funny pictures and sound came from it. I found out it was called television. The place where they ate was called a booth. I wanted to get a better place so that I could watch television. I kept here hearing this strange word, tv, from Jim and Nancy. Anyway, one day I decided to join Jim and Nancy in the booth. As I started to jump up on the seat Pugger grabbed my back leg and pulled me back down to the floor. I turned and gave him a look that could kill ( Jim's words ). What is with this guy? I also heard "no Fritzy". Whoa, wait a minute, this is my home and I will do as I please. I also remember Nancy saying "did you get a drumstick Pugger"? This went on for about a week. I had had it with this guy grabing me and pulling me back to the floor. Who does he think he is. He is no match for a smart girl like me.

I would go and lay down by the sink, it was across from the booth. Pugger would lay on the rug with me. After awhile I would get up and start sniffing the cupboards. I worked my way toward the booth. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Pugger still laying on the rug. Here I come. I made a run at the booth and jumped up on it. I took all three of them by suprise. I landed in Nancy's lap. I heard Jim say something like "what is this". Pugger ran over and barked at me. Nancy, she started laughing. She said "no Fritzy" and put me back on the the floor. We went through this routine three times. Once more, here I come. Up, up and away. Nancy laughed and let me sit on her lap. I won, I am the Queen of the house. Got ya Pugger. As time went on, I would get in the booth to either sleep or watch tv. Nancy would keep an eye on me when she was working in the kitchen with the tv on. I heard her tell Jim one day that she could tell when a good tv program was on. He said "how's that". She said she watches me. If the program is good I watch it and if it is bad I go to sleep. You can see my booth at the picture page. Pugger and I use to take naps in the hallway. Jim has some pictures (since the move I can't find them). When not watching tv, eating or sleeping, it was play time.

Pugger and I would play in the back yard. Some times we could go in the front when Jim or Nancy was there. I remember one fall. The leaves had fallen and Jim raked them in a big pile. He left to get a bag to put the leaves in. This is my chance to play a trick on Jim. I crawled into the pile. He came back and started looking for me. "Fritzy". No answer. Nancy came outside and asked "what is the matter"? He said he could not find me. They both turned toward the pile of leaves just as I poked my head out at the top of the pile.

I don't think I have ever heard them laugh so hard for so long. Nancy picked me up, gave me a hug and said "you little devil". I remember in the front yard, I would grab Pugger by the excess skin at his throat. Got ya big guy. After tugging for awhile I would let him go. Each time Jim would say "what's the matter Pugger". By the third time that I had done that to Pugger, he had wised up. I didn't know it but he figured out that if he just stood there and waited until I tried to renew my hold, he could get away. Smart aleck male.

Jim and Nancy made sure we both were in good health. We got our check-ups and annual shots. One day Jim said Pugger had to go to the doctors. He said "we will be back". Jim came back but he did not have Pugger with him. He told me Pugger had to stay there tonight for observation but he would be home tomorrow. The next morning Jim recieved a phone call. I heard "no, what happened"?, I'll come pick him up now. Jim reached down and picked me up, gave me a hug and said "Puggers gone Fritzy". I could see a tear in Jims eye. I didn't know what he meant. He left and came back with a box. Pugger was in the box. He got a plastic bag, laid it on the patio and laid Pugger in it at the opening. Jim petted me and then stood up. I went over and sniffed and nudged him. He didn't move. I barked "get up - get up". Pugger still did not move. Jim picked me up and while stroking me said "Fritzy, Puggers gone, it is now you, Nancy and I". He put Pugger's harness in with him. It was still hard to believe he was gone. I heard Jim talking to him. I heard him say "I put your harness with you incase you meet some little boy who might want to play with you and who will take you for walks". Jim dug a deep hole and buried Pugger in the backyard. I saw him put a stone on the dirt over his grave. I looked at it and saw a paw print impression with the word Pugger written in it. We walked back to the house and waited for Nancy to come home. It sure is quiet around here. Nobody to tease or crab at. Sometimes when I crabbed at him, he would turn an give me "the what for". I was queen of the house, but he was always the king. I sure miss my guy. It was sometime later on a Staurday morning that Nancy and I were watching tv. A program called Pets On Parade came on. It is sponsered by the local humane society. They were showing Sam. Nancy said " wait till Jim gets home". What does she mean?

Jim finally came home and she rushed to greet him. I heard her tell him to throw his clubs in the wagon and that they were going to see Sam. "Who is Sam" he asked. "Never mind" she said, "just do as I said". They left me alone and were gone for quite awhile. I hear the car. The carport door opens and Nancy walks in. I hear Jims voice and another sound. Jim walks in and beside him is this big dog. He looks somewhat like Pugger but is blacker. Oh god, who is this. Both Jim and Nancy said " Fritzy, this is Sam, you be nice to him". I gave him that "you better tow the mark here fella, I am in charge" look. We became good friends and he was my protector.

One evening we were out front. Sam and I were laying at the edge of the driveway, this was as far as w were allowed to go. Jim and Nancy were puttering around in the front. We spied some people down the street coming our way with their dogs. One of the dogs barked. Jim and Nancy turned and walked over by us. The people stopped and chatted for a short time. One of the dogs lunged toward me. Before he got too close, Sam was up and took both dogs on. He worked them and their owners to the center of the street. Their owners were hollering and I heard Jim say "stand still". Jim reached down in the middle of the fight, picked up Sam and carried him back into the yard. These people went on their way. I heard Jim tell Nancy, "boy that was a stupid stunt I did, reaching in there to get Sam". Things went back to normal. Sam and I played to pass the time away. Some months later Jim was transferred to nights. Nancy, Sam and I were out front enjoying the evening. Those same people came walking along the burm with their dogs, even though Nancy had asked them to walk their dogs on the other side of the street. Nancy was standing there with us, When they were about 6 feet away, Sam jumped on both dogs and had them in the middle of the street again. Before they could break it up Sam bit the big poodle and drew blood. the dogs were separated and Nancy carried Sam into the house and returned for me. They hollered at Nancy. She apoligized and said she would drive the to the emergency clinic and pay for the treatments. When she returned she called Jim and told him what happened. The next morning I heard Jim tell Nancy that "it was about a year ago that that dog lunged at Fritzy". "Boy,Sam doesn't forget and he was not going to let it happen again". Things got back to normal again. We all played, watched tv, went for walks and rides. Something is wrong!

I started having a problem with my back legs. I would head out in one direction and after one or two steps, I would be sitting down headed in another direction. The first time Jim noticed it, he said, "what's the matter Fritzy"? I gave him that I don't know look. He watched me for a couple of days. One morning there was my harness on the rug and Jim said, "come on Fritzy, you have a doctors appointment". As he was putting on my harness, Sam was running around looking for his. Its not here. He looked at Jim and was told "Fritzy has to go to the doctors Sam". "We will be back in a little while". "You be a good boy". The doctor told Jim that I was having spinal and disc problems and to just keep an eye on me. Things kept getting worse. I tried to get up but slipped around and was facing Jim. He looked at me and said, "Fritzy, this torment can not continue". Jim made an appointment with the vet. A few days later Jim recieved phone call. "Its dad, he died". They packed suit cases to fly back. The neigbors, Gene and Lorraine took them to the airport. They told Sam to be a good little guy and they said they would miss me. What did they mean? Gene and Lorraine came down the next morning, put my harness on and took me to the vet. I never saw Jim and Nancy again. Now I am at Rainbow Bridge with Pugger waiting for Nancy, Jim and Sam.

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