Chris Hood came to C.A.R.E. to stroll through its cat quarters. He wanted to pick out a cat that he and his wife, Dee, could adopt. Chris changed his plan the moment he walked by a litter of 2-month-old puppies from an abandoned German shepherd mix, brought earlier to C.A.R.E., and he went straight back home to get his wife.

Dee said, "They were all so cute, all extremely different. Black and brown and white, some furry and some with short hair. It was an amazing mix of puppies."

Petey, one of the puppies, caught Chris' and Dee's eyes at the same time.

"We just liked his coloring, all the white with a black eye," Dee said. "He was so sweet."

Petey won their hearts right away, and Dee and Chris signed papers and adopted him.

Petey liked his new home the moment he entered it. He walked all around the house, checking everything out and then took a nap. While Petey adapted quickly to all the newness in his life, his sister Poco wasn't so sure about a new puppy coming into the family. As an older dog of 14 years of age, she had second thoughts about the little bundle of fur but soon took on the role of big sister. Now, her little brother Petey has not only outgrown her but also keeps her young at heart. Being a toy aficionado and having a lot of playthings to spare, Petey often challenges Poco to a game of tug of war with one of his toys. Petey also shares the same room d uring the night with Poco: the master bedroom. Petey, however, doesn't curl up with his sister in her doggy bed on the floor or use his own bed. He sleeps with his parents in the big bed.

During the day, Petey runs around the yard, real fast, plays inside or outside and takes naps. He also follows Dee around the house, always hoping and ready for a hug.

Dee said, "He loves to play, he loves to be cuddled."

Although Petey took over part of the training in his new household, Dee said she was more persistent. One procedure Petey tried but failed to eliminate right from the beginning was bathing. He still hates it and thinks he could very well do without it. He had no problem, though, becoming housebroken, and he has agreed to the other house rules, catching on to them real fast.

Dee said he is such a funny dog to watch. He makes you laugh, and he is getting so big now but is still a puppy, having the big body with a baby's mind. He likes to hang around wherever his parents are.

Dee said, "He is a big love puppy."