May 30, 2009: Hello! My Name Is Gump. Bubba Gump. I am 11 years old and my owners can no longer take care of me.

What a day I have had! Rescue Angel #1 picked me up from my home and hoisted me into her van and drove me from Hemet to Temecula. I got in that van and barked "Hit it lady - I am out of here!!!" BOL. On the drive we stopped and shared a bit of lunch. Lunch sure perked me up a bit...before that I was just too tired to walk. And at a 112 lbs, even the Rescue Angels have a hard time picking me up, and they are professional dog lifters!

From Rescue Angel #1, I transferred to Rescue Angel #2 (RA2). I was so tired I could barely walk from the van to the SUV...they were parked right next to each other. Boy did they get a giggle out of trying to roll me up into the SUV. I made it - they broke a sweat doing it but I just gave a little wag.  I then traveled down to San Marcos to land at ABC Vet. Another giggle or two as the vet tech and RA2 lifted me out of the SUV. Then it was a historic moment I took: 15 steps to get into the vet's office. See above? That is me smiling after landing in a heap at the end of my walk.

Then I had my vet visit. The vet was very sad when he saw my growths, ticks, fleas, horribly matted hair and, oh yeah, the extra weight I am carrying around. I was so tired I fell asleep during my exam. RA2 went to sleep very worried about me.

May 31st: A new day has arrived. I had a little scrub a dub dub, a bit of a shave and a nice hair comb - and the vet said I was coming out of myself and becoming a little social butterfly. I like to wag and and smile. The walking thing is a challenge but Attitude is Everything. My labs came back and it turns out I have a thyroid condition...not too surprising when you look at my weight and age. Also pretty easy to manage with daily meds. They want to keep an eye on me for a bit longer - so I am in Recovery.

Now I am on a mission to teach everyone that fat boys need love too. Can you love a fat boy?