Olivia or "Livvy"

From: Rita Lockwood
Subject: [KBL] - Miss Olivia -
Date: December 12, 2006 11:42:35 AM PST

Miss Olivia was doing great when she first got here from the Shelbina Express Rescue last spring.

Then the trauma of changes, health issues, including a bladder infection, and a pregnancy, followed by motherhood and spaying sort of overwhelmed her.

As you know she was a wonderful mother to her Magnificent 7 puppies. She continues to relate well to other dogs and cats, but she felt a strong need to just take some quiet time, recuperate, learn about this new world she lives in, and learn to trust and relate to humans.

Livvy is amazing. She now knows there is nothing likely to happen that she can't handle successfully. She does not always stand as proud as some Kerries, but at her current rate of change, I'm guessing that will take about 3 more days.

She sleeps in a crate, and is fed in a crate. If I am late with her meals, she is likely to go into her crate and wait. If the food is not being prepared fast enough, she may bark to chastise the tardy servant. Otherwise, she rarely barks.

Her method of asking for attention or "outside" is a bit unusual, at least for our house. She dances back and forth fairly near the door if she wants out.

She gets directly in front of you and crouches if she wants to be picked up, and loves to be held and brushed or petted. She may or may not prefer men, I'm not certain, but she definitely likes them.

She is still wary of strangers, but the only time she has ever displayed any aggression was when I tried to force a pill down her. I now dissolve any meds and mix it with her food.

Very low key - she generally spends her days in the house, often in the same room with me. Outside she romps with the other Kerries, inside she may nap near them, or occasionally nuzzle one, licking eyes, ears, or just nap overlapped. Charlie Cat, and other neighborhood cats, get little to no attention from her at all. If Charlie chooses to lie down near Olivia, Livvy doesn't even twitch.

From: my3kerries@COMCAST.NET
Subject: [KBL] A note from Sky
Date: October 25, 2007 1:51:39 PM PDT

This note is forwarded from John & Lorna Jennings, Sky and Olivia (now Ms. Livvy)

To All the Fine Folks who are part of the Kerry Blue Foundation:

I would like to introduce myself - my name is Sky. I am an eleven year old Kerry Blue Terrier and I live with my Mom and Dad, John and Lorna Jennings and their grandson Bradley.

Early in January, we were visited by a lovely lady whose name is Eileen Andrade. She arrived in her van and my Mom and I went out to greet her as she pulled up outside our house. After my initial examination of a stranger and deciding that Eileen was very acceptable, I proceeded to explore her van. It seemed very attractive to me with a crate, toys and treats for us canine fellows and I decided to jump in and make myself comfortable! Actually, I would have been quite happy to have been taken for a ride!

After we came back into the house, my Mom and Eileen had a good talk and Eileen informed Mom that she was going to Oregon and would be back in two weeks.

As she promised, Eileen arrived back in Sacramento from Oregon and she brought with her a beautiful little Kerry Blue Terrier, very pretty, whose name is Olivia. I became very excited as I thought at first that Eileen had brought me a new wife and I attempted to become somewhat amorous with Olivia! After a quiet but firm admonishment from my Mom and Dad, I realised that Olivia was to be my little sister and not my wife. I became quite vocal and barked excitedly but soon settled down and laid down at Eileen's feet and she petted me.

Poor little Olivia had been through a lot of trauma during her young life having been rescued from a puppy mill in Missouri in March of 2006 and was at first VERY timid and nervous. She also had some tummy problems and became very upset when she had some 'accidents'. Her tummy seemed to settle down for a while but then she bacame sick again about a month ago and spent a day at the Vet's - Dr. Zack Morgan. He is a very kind, wonderful man and he cradled Olivia in his arms and gently spoke to her to help settle her down and after treating her successfully, Dr. Morgan put Olivia on a special diet and she is doing very well now.

For the first few weeks, I had to learn to adjust to Olivia's presence as I had had my Mom and Dad and Bradley to myself and I must admit, I have been pampered. Olivia 'glued' herself to me and followed me everywhere and sometimes I felt I needed some privacy and I would hide in the walk-in closet in my Mom and Dad's bedroom! Olivia would lay down by the closet and patiently wait for me. She follows me around everywhere and watches me chase squirrels in the back yard. I have now become accustomed to this adorable little girl and know that she is here to stay and is very much a part of our family.

Olivia has a fear of plates, bowls, dishes, paper bags, boxes and so on. At first, my Mom had to hand feed Olivia and we were very worried because she would not go near a drinking bowl. Since it rained quite a lot when she first came to us, she would lick the water off the grass in the back yard! She has now progressed to a little plastic dish and drinks but still approaches the dish cautiously. She is however, continuing to make steady progress in every way, I am happy to say.

We all love Olivia very much and no one will ever hurt her again. She has gained 10lbs in weight and her tail is not clamped between her legs so much anymore. She barks excitedly and jumps around me when we first go outside in the mornings. It takes me a while to wake up as I am quite a 'lump' compared to our darling Olivia. I in fact weigh 62lbs!! Like Olivia, I am now on a special high fiber diet and doing well also.

My Mom and Dad, Bradley and I would like to convey our heartfelt thanks to the Kerry Blue Foundation for bringing Olivia into our hearts and our home and we feel that in time, Olivia will heal emotionally and become the fiesty little girl that we think she is capable of becoming and of course will do the Kerry Blue breed proud!!!

Love and best wishes from us all - Sky

From: lornajennings2@YAHOO.COM
Subject: Livvy
Date: September 4, 2009 11:46:58 AM PDT
To: KERRYBLUES-L@APPLE.EASE.LSOFT.COM

I was delighted to read the update on Aiofe. She sounds a lot like her mommy, our beloved Olivia (Livvy). Like Aiofe, Livvy is small weighing in at 29 lbs and has blossomed into the 'full blown Kerry' she was meant to be, so playful, runs as fast as any greyhound, bossy (with Blu and Buddy), prima donna, CEO (as Rita said), very loving, gives kisses, pretends to be shy and timid when she wants to be,steals Buddies bones and toys and then has him chasing her to retrieve them, gets groomed and then goes out and rolls in the sticky leaves and looks at me knowing full well I can't get mad at her!

Yes, you guessed it - she can't do anything wrong and as we observe her in her contentment and happiness, we thank God and the Kerry Blue Foundation for rescueing her 3 years ago. I wonder how she would be if she met up
with her 7 puppies??? Would love to see recent pictures of them.

Lorna with Blu, Buddy and Livvy in Sacramento, CA

From: lornajennings2@YAHOO.COM
Subject: Livvy
Date: March 25, 2011 6:06:48 PM PDT
To: KERRYBLUES-L@APPLE.EASE.LSOFT.COM

Livvy is healthy, happy and glad to be alive and adores her two "brothers", Blu (KBT) and Buddy (Wheaten). She is quite the "Miss Bossy Boots" around this house and we wouldn't have it any other way. We love her dearly and no one will ever hurt her again.

[...]

Lorna, John, Blu, Livvy and Buddy in Sacramento