Daisy poses in her new home last spring (2005)

When we adopted Daisy in March, 2005, she'd been living with a foster family in Northern California for about a month. We wanted to know more about her original family and her upbringing, but we weren't able to learn much. She had been neglected and ran away from home often, we were told. Fortunately for her, a Saint Bernard Rescue Foundation volunteer was able to bail her out from animal control and put her up for adoption. We found her on the SBRF website where they list all the dogs they have for placement with new "forever homes," as they like to call them.

When you adopt a dog under these circumstances, it requires a leap of faith. The rescue organization certifies that the animal is neutered and up to date with shots. But the descriptions of the dogs on the website may be a stretch. Take Daisy's: "She is a very sweet girl and it appears she gets along with strange dogs and cats."

Yes, she is a sweet, affectionate dog who is happiest when she's curled up on your lap. I'm not complaining, mind you. But you do need a large lap to accommodate this cuddlesome, 125-pound baby.

Strange dogs are another matter. We soon learned after bringing her home that she descends into panic around other dogs. In fact, she can spot (and worry about) other animals even when they are mere dots on the horizon. We work with her every day and take her to weekly socialization training classes every Saturday to help her overcome her fear. She's come a long way, but still needs a lot of training. We'll be sharing her progress with you as we go.