Minnie’s Story


Hello, I am a Long Coated Chihuahua, my name is Habbie (Arabic word that means sweetheart) My Minnie Angel. But my human mom calls me different names; Minnie sometimes, other times, my life, sweetheart, small baby, my love, my sunshine, Cuculina or doll, this doesn't confuse me, because as I know her voice, and also I know she loves me very much, so when she speaks I run to see if she needs a wet kiss or a doggy caress.
Today I have a story to tell all you, I hope you like. It is the story of my life, although it is even short, because I only have almost 11 months old, I have a lot to tell. I will begin to tell you my story since I was in the belly of my canine mom. Her name is Rosalita. I know that we were many in her belly, because I felt very tight there. It was a relief to leave that dark, hot and tight place, because I have a free spirit.In March 10, 2002 my brothers and I were born. We were 7, 2 females and 5 males. Regrettably 2 were not able to live for a long time.

My human mom was very happy the day that we were born. She assisted my canine mom during her labor. That same day she began to call us with different names. She looked each one and called us names. The blue one of the group was called " Blue ", the identical twins were "Twin G" y " Tweety "; my other brother was " Canito". I was the only female that was able to survive and like I have a mark in a side that likens a Mickey Mouse, Minnie she called me.

From the first day my human moms knows I will be special. I was always a little slow for everything. I slept more than my brothers did, I moved less, mom need to take special care of me, because I forgot sometimes to take my milk. So she check me closely.

When we had as 8 days, a man called Vicente; mom’s friend came to the house. He was looking for a female dog that can make company to Vito, his male long hair Chihuahua. Once he saw me, he was in love with me. But my mom told him, she needs to watch me closely because my development was not similar to my brothers, I was "slow".

That week she calls a doctor that cures animals, and told him the slow thing about my development and other things about my head. He told my mom not to be busy with me that she should put me to "sleep", because I will be "a heavy load". I don’t understand that, so stay in the bed and I slept the whole day...

The following week she takes myself to other veterinarian, the doctor that cures the animals, as I learned. There they weighed me, they compared me with my brothers and then they gave the news to my mom. Her suspicions were certain... I had been born with a condition called Hydrocephalus. My head was full of water, that's why it weighs a lot and was soo heavy. The doctor showed her a page on his computer and mom read an information. He explains to mom that although there is not a cure for my condition, I can have a "normal" life, that if it was willing to have certain cares towards me.

He told mom that I was very small to have the medicine I need. I was 3 weeks old and hardships weighed 3/4 of a pound. He gave her a prescription to buy, but that she began to give me the medicine when I reach 1 month or 1 pound.

My eyes were still closed, it opened up to the 4 weeks, and I didn't walk and slept a lot of time. My big and heavy head, bothered me a lot, it hurtled me... it could hardly move a bit it, because it was too heavy for my little body. When mom started me on the medication I began to feel better. The heaviness of my head began to lower little by little. But it still weighed a lot. My mom takes me to another doctor. She was a very nice one. In her childhood she has a surgery her head because a condition like mine, but She achieve to overcome it and now she is a doctor that makes sick animals feel better. She told mom to gave me the medicine 2 times per day and also to look for some natural diuretic, you know medicine to reduce the amount of water on my body.

Vicente lends mom some books of natural medicine that she read and looks for very well. She learned that the coconut water is a good natural diuretic, so she began to give me this to take.It is sweet and I like it a lot, the same as my medicine, so I don't protest when they give it to me.

My mom read all the articles she found about my condition, and look for information in the Internet. There she found a group of people that loves my breed. In their bulleting board mom wrote on about my condition. There she met a very special person, sweet and affectionate. Her name is Janie Walker. You maybe also know her. She is Honeybunch‘s mom, a short hair Chihuahua that has the same condition that I have. Although personally they are not known, they are very good friends. They have many things in common, dogs with the same health condition, raise short and long hair Chihuahuas, they love the animals, rescue stray dogs, and they are very beautiful people.

I give thanks to God every day for the opportunity he gives me, He let’s me born in this home were mom loves me a lot. My mom loves me and spoils me a lot. I remember that in the visit to Dr Padovani’s office, she told mom to touch me a lot so she can stimulate me, that way my brain has some stimulus and that can help me to progress. My mom began a daily routine, she caught me in her arms and it rocked me in the armchair. I like this a lot, because she gave me massages in the paws and the tummy. She also curled me up near her face and sang me the sunshine song …you're my sunshine my only sunshine...I adore that song; it makes me feel relaxed. But it seems that it is not the same way with mom, because she cries every time that she sings it to me. She can hardly ever finish to sing the complete song. I don’t know why… I think that the sun harms her, or so… but I know that I love my song. Other times she sings me other songs, rocks me, and kisses tenderly.
Another thing we enjoy together is my birthdays... Yea, I'm only 11 months old, but we celebrate the 10th of each month a birthday party. We have a cup cake with a candle to blow and some ice cream, yummy... Mom say we need to celebrate each day because I'm a miracle girl, don't understand that....
Although people say that I am ugly physically (I don’t know if this is true, because I am partially blind and I don't see well), my mom loves me and I adore her. We all have defects, I have mine, but the important things are the feelings. Mine are pure, clean and good, reason why mom loves me a lot. The love is what makes us grow, and I feel like an elephant, big and fat, although I weight only 4 lbs. Some day I will be like Amparo, my mom’s Therapy dog. And in spite of my physical limitations I will help and stimulate others.

sheesh im slipping! how did i miss this so long.

minnie i luv ur story ~n~ ur not ugly at all. the peeps that say that r the one that r blind. my lil. b. ~n~ i luv u! muah!!!

thanks. For me , Minnie is an angel God send to take care for. She is beautiful to me and I try to keep her in the best shape possible. Now accupuncture is helping her a lot. She is , as her name ( Habbie- arabic for sweetheart My Minnie Angel) a sweet hearted mini angel, a special soul to care for. I love her to death.

Happygroomerlady, That is such a good story you wrote about little Minnie, It touched my heart. Take good care of her , I know you will,Keep in touch and let us know how she is doing.

She is 17 months old now. I take good care of her. She is on prednisone, for her brain and also monthly accupuncture to help her manage her hyperactivity and aggresive behavior. I made her a promise to take good care and to love her, I will keep my promise to her.

Touching story. Minnie is a special gift from above sent to a special person who has the kindness, patience, love and devotion Minnie needs from her owner to have a happy life. You are both blessed to have each other.

She is a very special soul.Free-spirited and happy girl.

very touching and loving story!!!!