Bob Donham's Page

Proud pet parent of:

Bruno- age 16 ( red short hair standard Dachshund)

Willie - age 14 ( black and tan short hair mini Dachshund) UPDATE: Willie went to wait at "The Rainbow Bridge" Sunday, April 13, 2008.

Scooby - age 9 ( red short hair mini Dachshund)

Since Willie went to the Bridge, we adopted
Mr. Gus -age 11 (estimated)
Miss Grace -age 7 (estimated)


We jokingly call it "The Donham-Oleson Retirement Home for Senior, Elderly and Geriatric Dachshunds"

How we met:

Bruno- Backyard Breeder rescue 14 years ago in Phoenix, 22 months old and was going to be killed if not adopted by the end of the day!
Willie - Adopted from my son in 1996.
Scooby- Rescued in October, 2007
Gus- adopted from Dakota Dachshund Rescue in April, 2008. He is a former puppymill dog that was dumped over the fence in a Rotie Rescue Volunteer's yard, along with 3 other doxies. The Rotie got loose and killed one of the doxies. Gus came to DDR in July, 2007 but because he is a senior dog, no one wanted him. When Willie went to the Bridge, 2 very special people at work appeared at my desk with a card and inside were 2 checks that amounted to Gus's adoption fee in "Memory of Willie". These 2 Angels knew I had been looking at Gus on the DDR's website. Mr. Gus fit right in and we love him very very much.

Miss Grace-adopted from Dakota Dachshund Rescue in August,2008. 7 years old and 14 litters as a former puppy mill breeder who was sent to an auction, not sold and was to be killed. A Rescue Volunteer bought 4 doxies for $10.00 and they came into DDR.

Pet likes:

Bruno-Naps...Naps...Naps; his breakfast and dinner; AND #1 ...ME!

Willie-Food ( his or anyones); Attention; Walks - his idea of a walk is to the end of the block, sits down, puts on his " I am exhausted and can't go another step Act" and will need to be carried home; his special "throne" in our home office -see picture #4 in photo album.

Scooby - Car rides; Walks-major all over the neighborhood - up streets and down alleys- at serious trot; Being out in the backyard; The blanket that he came with when rescued last October; His place on the back of the couch where he can see out the front window and monitor the comings and goings in our neighborhood.

Gus-food food food cheese cheese cheese and his very own bed!

Grace- sleeping on the big bed, being near either of us and, of course, cheese cheese cheese.

Pet dislikes:

Bruno-Being awakened from a nap; when Scooby jumps down from the back of the couch; when Scooby tries to play.

Willie- His new diet; Getting his nails clipped ( takes our Vet plus 2 assistants and Willie's screams fill the 3000 square foot building and sounds like surgery is being performed without an anesthetic); Being ignored or thinking he is being ignored.

Scooby- When we have our sub-zero days and there is 18" of snow piled up, he is only allowed to go out in the backyard for potty needs, which we watch and when he is done he must come back inside. He loves to be in the backyard chasing squirrels, barking at Miss Cat who is our neighbor on the north, poking his head down Mr. and Mrs. Bunny's burrow who live under the tool shed and gossiping thru the fence with Buddy ( a golden lab) who is our neighbor on the south. So, when it is cold and he can't do all of this, he sulks and give me the "I am a depressed and unhappy Dachshund" look.

Gus- Not being close to us.

Grace---going outside....

Pet’s favorite spot:

Bruno - Anywhere I am. His cushion next to my desk in the home office; at the end of the couch under his blanket when I watch old movies; under my right arm each night in bed.

Willie- On his "throne" next to my partner's desk in our home office; sleeping between our pillows at the head of the bed at night.

Scobby- On the back of the couch looking out the front window; sitting next to me in my chair in the our home office; sleeping under his blanket at the foot of our bed and ....his #1 favorite spot....THE BACKYARD!

Gus-The backyard..his bed near us.

Grace-her bed in our office, sleeping between us on the big bed.

Pet’s favorite toy:

Bruno- Because of his horrible early life in the "backyard breeder mill" he never learned about or cares about toys.

Willie- a small pet sized yellow tennis ball. It must be in his morning bowl of dry food and he carries it in his mouth on trips to the Vet!

Scooby- Any stuffed toy but ....Scooby believes there is an Olympic event in "Stuffed Toy Destruction" with his record being 4.5 minutes from shopping bag to shredded all over the house.

Pet’s silliest habit:

Bruno-He loves to carry the running hose around in his mouth with the water gushing out of both sides...Who need a Rainbird sprinkler?; jumping into the bath tub and demanding that the water be turned on so he can bite it!

Willie - Willie is a class A, award winning drama queen. If he believes he is being ignored he will begin with soft whimpers that build in volume to nerve wracking whining that sound like the tornado warning sirens.

Scooby - sticking his head down Mr. and Mrs. Bunny's burrow not caring that his backside is waving in the breeze...not very dignified for a Dachshund but, part of their genetic history.

Gus-eating his meal and then cleaning up everyone else's plate. He is a "butterball".

Grace-insisting on giving both of us wet sloppy kisses before she goes to sleep each night

Pet’s sweetest moments:

Bruno- He was so emotionally damaged after his rescue that he wouldn't come near me. He would lay in the corner of the living room watching me; didn't know what being held or cuddled was about; slept on the far end of the bed facing away from me at night. THEN ONE MORNING WHEN I HAD ABOUT GIVEN UP HOPE...I awoke with this 15lb weight on my chest and my face being drowned in big wet sloppy kisses. Bruno had decided to trust one more time. After that he learned what being loved and loving was and has never left my side since. He has dedicated his life to his bond with me. He barely acknowledges or tolerates any other human because he has given "it all to me".

Willie- I drove 22 hours and 1600+ miles from Rapid City, SD to Phoenix to pick Willie up from my son in 1996. Jason was moving into apt from condo and Willie needed a new home. After driving 22 hours and 1600+ miles back to Rapid City, Willie met Mr Bruno! Now at that time Bruno's other name was "Mr Alpha-Dog Extreme" so when he met Willie he set about letting him know who was boss. Willie didn't want the job anyway as he is a Card Carrying Life-time member of the "Couch Potato Club". So, he turned his back and jumped up on the couch and took a nap. He ignored Bruno then and has continued to ignore him since.

Scooby- After going from long term 1st home with 2 other buddies to 2nd home ( for 3 days) and ending up in quarantine for 10 days ( never been around children and nipped after being startled awake by 5 yr old in 2nd home and wasn't current on shots). When he was released his 2nd mom picked up, took him for his shots and brought to our house. Originally, she had planned to have him put down as no one would want a senior dog especially one that nipped children. But, thankfully that changed while he was in isolation. Thinking he was just on a social visit, he greeted Willie and Bruno. Then his 2nd mom left. He jumped up on the back of the couch and sat looking out the front window for the next 2 hours. He was waiting for her to return. Finally, I took him in my arms, gave him many hugs and gently told him "Scooby, she isn't coming back...this is your new "Forever Home". He looked at me, gave me the slightest Dachshund kiss and resumed his vigil at the window. That night, we put his very own blanket on the end of our bed and covered him with it; this was familiar to him as this is where he had always slept before. This helped to convince him that, although he had never been around Guardian Dads before, that Guardian Dads could give hugs, had laps to crawl into and chests that he could stand on and give Dachshund kisses to.

Gus-learning to ask to come up on the couch and be cuddled. Seeing a squirrel for the first time. Touching grass for the first time.

Grace-going potty outside!!!

I crack up when my pet:

Bruno - when he jumps into shower and bites at the water.

Willie - He got a thorn in his foot one night. He jumped down from the bed and went screaming down the hall. I couldn't see anything and finally got him quieted down. First thing next morning, I notifed work I would be late and took him to see Dr. Brunner. He got out of the car and trotted across the parking lot on his leash. The minute I opened the door, he walked a foot into the waiting room, fell on his side and began screaming again. The two receiptionists know Willie and have experienced his dramatic performances in the past. One of them looked at him and said " Oh, Willie are you still trying to win your Oscar?"! Willie, with all the dignity he could muster, got up from the floor and quietly took his place by my chair. As I have mentioned before he is a Drama Queen .

Scooby - He is 100% jokester. So whether it is his prancing happy walk, his visits to Mr and Mrs. Bunny, barking at Miss Cat or trying to climb up at tree to get at the squirrel, his daily antics bring smiles and laughter.

Gus-does his "Gussie Dinner Dance". Looks like he is doing the "Mashed Potato" with his rear feet.

Grace- gives wet sloppy kisses.

My pet is unique because:

Bruno- Being rescued instead of being killed, allowed me to experience his uncondtional love. Now, as a very elderly senior, he has taught me how to age with dignity and grace.

Willie- I have learned that if you whine long enough and loud enough, you will generally get you way. UPDATE: On Sunday, April 13, 2008, Willie went to wait at the Bridge.

Scooby- Has taught me that no matter what life throws at you, keep on smiling and laughing because things will get better. AND because of him, I learned about today's animal rescue groups and most recently became a volunteer for Dakota Dachshund Rescue; I hope to make a difference "One Wiener Dog at a time"!

Gus-Because, although you can still see the pain in his eyes from his life in a puppy mill, he still found out how to love and trust.

Grace- She survived against all odds!