Mel was adopted in 1999,and is 11yrs old, going on 12.   These photos were taken recently at her home in North Carolina.    Even though Mel loves the cold she is moving a lot slower lately.  Her owner writes:  "I can hear her snoring right now from the next room. ..  Mel has been healthy since the day I picked her up nine and a half years ago.  I had one scare during her whole life with us and that was over onions.  I gave her some left overs and it had a few onions attached.  Little did I know they were lethal to her.  She recovered and has never worried me again.  She has always had her yearly exams and shots and the vets have always been impressed by her ideal weight and good health.  I have been blessed over and over by this girl of mine.  Thank you all again for giving me the opportunity to be a part of her life.  If I recall this right...I was her third home in the first 18 months of her life.  I guess when they say the third time is the charm then it sure was for me and my family.  Mel is now sharing her space with a little Westie we call Feather and true to Mel she loved her from the start.  Mel won't even eat her own food if the Westie wants it.  I have even witnessed her letting the puppy chew on her bone while it sat between those big paws of hers.   Again,  how blessed we are... I wrote one year to tell you how Mel actually  "rescued" our little grand daughter McKenzie from getting hit by a car. I can go on and on about her.  Please keep up your wonderful work and I hope and pray others are as blessed as we have been. "