I had a brief phone interview and set up an appointment where his caretaker would bring him to the house.  Pet Haven fosters dogs who have been given up by their families until they can place them in with a new loving owner or they take the fees and donations they receive and rescue other dogs hoping to place them in good homes.   Samson's caretaker brought him over a few days later and told me that Samson born September 24, 1997 was a Christmas gift dog to his first family who had intended on turning Samson into a show dog as he is a purebred Pekingese, attitude and all.  Unfortunately, though lucky for me, a couple of Samson's bottom teeth never erupted out and the fur on his head remained short so they gave him up to a friend's family.  That family had three children and sometimes Pekingese dogs do not handle the activity of children very well - such was the case with Samson.  That family gave him to Pet Haven and his first foster home was, I believe, on a farm with several other dogs but that foster mom's husband had a stroke or heart attack and she couldn't give the right amount of care to the dogs she fostered so they went to other Pet Haven foster homes and that's where I found Samson.

The caretaker spent an hour at the house with me inspecting the house to make sure it was a good home for a dog and she interviewed me again then to make sure I was capable and responsible and intended on properly caring for Samson as a good dog owner should.  She left Samson in my care for a few hours just to see how we both adjusted and when she came back and watched our interaction decided he could stay for a week.  After that week, I was to bring him back to Pet Haven and my final interview and interaction "test" with Samson.  The day I took him back, I was terrified they'd keep him.  Granted he'd peed on every rug in the house and on my bed, pooped once by the kitchen door, and captured my heart in every way possible.  Samson wouldn't even let me put him down when we got to Petco where I was to meet up with the Pet Haven group.  I think he was afraid I leave him there.  They decided we'd bonded quite well and I signed the adoption papers and got all of the papers they had on Samson.

He's a great little dog full of spunk and rowdiness and I often call him "vicious" as he rarely takes a liking to anyone - though he is infamous for proving me wrong time and time again.  After having him a year, he was injured falling down the stairs and I thought I'd lose him.  He couldn't walk, his breathing was labored, but stoically he didn't display any amount of pain.  I couldn't bear the thought of losing him and I took him to the University of Minnesota.  I had to entered in to large debt to get Samson the surgery he needed to save his life and allow him to walk but Samson is far more than a dog to me, he's family and friend.  The neurologist there had to shave the ruptured disk in his middle back which was from a degenerative bone disease he has but was aggravated by his fall.  He probably would've needed surgery at some point but the fall made it an immediate necessity.  The doctor said  Samson would walk on his own maybe in 3-4 months but he'd only be about 85% of the dog he was.  He was wrong.  In 30 days, Samson was hard to keep still.  He wanted to run and jump and play.  He was, however,  "grounded" to say the least.  I slept on the floor with him for three weeks and then each morning barricaded him in the kitchen on a nice cushy down blanket with his water, food, and cookies.  After three weeks my back said enough with sleeping on the floor and we moved to the bed where I more or less imprisoned Samson every day when I went to work so he wouldn't jump down or injury himself.  He came back 125%.  I massaged his back and exercised his legs and hand fed him until he could eat for himself.  It was rough going but worth every minute of it.  He stayed "grounded" for as long as I could fight him and he's still not allowed to do stairs or jump from the couch or the bed if I can prevent it.

Samson has done well over the years with a few pinched nerves and pulled muscles - I think he forgets he has a bad back or he plain refuses to accept that he does.  He has very selective taste in food and people.  He never used to get "people food" but when I went to Alaska in 2005 my mom taught him how to beg.  I'm guessing she caved in to his soft brown eyes and perhaps it was a little revenge for all the "people food" I gave to our dogs when I was younger.  He doesn't like many people and I was pretty worried he wouldn't accept Jon when we started dating.  There were a few times, three for sure, that Samson actually bit Jon but after a good argument between the two over territory - me and the house - and a few tips from TV's dog whisperer Jon won out as alpha dog and now the two are best buddies and love to play and snuggle together.

In June of 2007, Samson had a problem in his neck which is attributed to his bone disease and though rare to present twice in such a small dog, it did.  This time it was in his neck and again I couldn't lose him just because I couldn't afford surgery for him.  After a month of painkillers and vet visits and more pain that a little dog should bear, I once again managed to find the money and once again the University of Minnesota saved his life and took away his pain.  This time our little guy came trotting out of recovery like nothing was wrong except that he was mad because I'd left him there for two days . . . again.  One change though, he lost his hearing.  We're not sure how or if it's just a result of a traumatic experience for an older dog.  The vet says it could just be age but it seemed to be a side effect for him.  After an exam, the vet said it just appeared the ear canals had narrowed and he can pick up certain pitches though they must be loud and high.  He does pretty good for a deaf dog and pays more attention to our actions than he used to so he seems to mind more than he did before.

We're just glad we have more time with Samson.  He is a very special little dog and no matter what life throws his way, he seems to always have a kiss for mommy and daddy.  As winter blows in, he's a little stiffer every year but still likes to chase snowflakes, go for short walks, play as much as he can, and strongly establish his territory to anyone who passes by the front yard.  I firmly believe Samson is training us for parenthood and he's doing a great job of it while he keeps a protective watch over "his territory."