Hello Lisa,

I adopted Spike about a year and two months ago, and you were his foster mom. I just wanted to send you an update and a picture.

First let me say my Mom renamed him, and he is now Ike. Ike is perfectly wonderful, and a truly great kid.

He has completed intermediate obedience training and is loved by everyone who meets him. Sweet, mellow and quite a charming guy.

He is also literally a life saver. Our home was struck by lightning on August 9 and our roof caught on fire (this happened at about 3:50 am). Ike knew something was wrong, so he pulled the covers off of my mother and grabbed her instep in an attempt to wake her.

She told him to go back to sleep (the fire and CO2 alarms had not gone off yet). He again pulled the covers off of her and gently pulled at her instep. The fire department arrived about this time and awakened me. We are all fine, the fire was extinguished and there was only minor damage, which has been repaired. Ike turned out to be far more reliable than our alarm system!!!

Since we adopted Ike, all of our older dogs have died, save one. Ike really grieved, as we all did, when we unexpectedly lost Sampson, my shepherd mix (pancreatic cancer). I adopted an English Bulldog/pug mix when he was 6 weeks old, and a lab pupppy (now 12 weeks) and Ike is their nanny. He is very maternal and protective of both pups.

Ike is a bringer of joy, and we couldn't ask for a better chief dog!