Hi! My name is Baxter, and I'm now a happy boy with a new home, new friends (that's my new collie pal Asa in the picture with me), and a bright future ahead of me. That's quite a change from my outlook of 5 months ago...

I was a very sick boy, and after a lot of tests, the doctors said I had something called Addison's Disease, and told my owners that I would have to be on medication for the rest of my life. Well, being only two years old, they thought that would be a pretty long time, and decided that I should be put to sleep. I was so scared. At the vet's office worked a very nice girl, who pleaded that she be allowed to take over ownership of me, to hopefully find a home for me where they wouldn't mind paying for and making sure I got my medicine.

My newly found rescuer and her friend tried for 4 months to find somebody who would want me for my good looks and sparkling personality, only to run into difficulties. You see, most people don't know much at all about Addison's Disease, and are hesitant to bring someone like me into their home. If they only knew that it was a completely manageable disease, and can be treated fairly inexpensively. Fortunately, in their quest for my new home, they posted me on a Disabled Pets list, where I was miraculously found by my new mom, who had had a dog with Addison's Disease, and was actually very happy to find me and be able to welcome me into her home and family.

So I was shipped all the way from California to Minnesota, where I now know I am safe and will never have to worry about my future again. See, my mom knew that all I needed was love, and about 50 cents a day worth of medicine. Everybody who has met me has commented on how handsome I am, and are amazed at how I run and play with my new doggie pals. Even though I supposedly have this disease, nobody could ever tell by looking at me or watching me romp.

I'd sure like everybody to hear my story, so that they are aware that adopting a dog, or having their own dog diagnosed with Addison's Disease is not a big deal. With a little education on the disease, and the willingness to make sure we get our medicine and check-ups, we're exactly like every other dog in the world.....we just want love, security, and a place to call our own. We will always show our love and appreciation for the care we get.

Oh - the one thing I can't get used to, though, is that when my new mom throws a ball, my pal Asa has told me HE is the one who retrieves it and brings it back, not me. I tried to tell him that I was the "retriever", and he was the "herder", but apparently he makes the rules. A collie retrieving balls with a black lab in the same yard watching - who'd of ever thought?