POUND PUPPY Part Poodle-mix, the paper said under her adorable picture in the local paper. In reality, she was a matted, scared orphan who had passed her allotted time at the city pound. They saw her potential and hoped their last ditch effort at advertising her for adoption might bring in a generous heart. It did -- me. I have been a dog lover forever, though I haven't had one the last few years. My struggles with MS had left me with my hands full meeting my own needs. I had feared I could not care for the needs of another dog, after releasing custody of our last one into the hands of our daughter and grandsons. He was a Siberian Husky and had been more than I could manage. He loved our grandsons anyway and found their home to be more to his liking and not as confining as ours with my limited abilities. At my insistence, we visited the pound and brought home what later turned out to be, after bathing and grooming, a Dandi Dinmont Terrier -- at least an owner of the breed assured us. Being limited as I was, it was not always easy to accommodate her needs after first bringing her home to join my husband and me. However, she proved to be a loyal and helpful companion while I was alone and my husband was at work. One day, my husband Bill, was home working on the deck and Missy, as she came to be called, was keeping him company. Inside the house, I accidentally fell off of my three-wheel scooter and called to Bill, who was unable to hear me over the sounds of his tools. I crawled a few feet, the best I could, and called again. He still couldn't hear my cries for help. But Missy did. I heard her insistent barking. Someone knew my dilemma. "Thank you God," I sighed with relief. My husband was soon at my side and Missy was drowning me with her wet kisses. He said she had been determined that he follow her as she ran back and forth between him and the door. She had heard and sensed my predicament. She has summoned my husband on other such occasions. Missy is truly my watchdog, my constant companion, my "pound puppy to the rescue". Of all the dogs who have shared our home, she is the first we have ever allowed to share our bed. If my husband oversleeps, she becomes his alarm clock. She prefers my back when going to sleep at night. Not only do I accommodate her because she is part of the family, but the pressure she applies to my back supports and relieves my discomfort and pain. Whether or not she is really a Dandi Dinmont or a pound puppy, she is loved. She now looks after me and keeps me company. I can't imagine living without her. She senses my inabilities and limitations and loves me in spite of them. She provides more than therapy and does more for me than some medicines the doctors order. I might add she is treated like the Queen that she is, in the King household.