Sam & Susie's Blog

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I just have word that TODAY, Friday, December 30th, by popular demand, CNN will be re-airing SAM's video clips!  This will run several times today on CNN during the PAula Zahn Show.  YEAH!  We get to see SAMMIE again!

Did anyone see SAM on AOL home page the other day?  They had a contest for the wildest animal photo of the year.  There were about sixteen entries but our beloved SAM won, gleaning 47% of the vote!  The next closest won only 17%!  I am so happy that he is not being forgotten.   Thank you all for your votes for him.

I am off to LAX to pick up my best friend and sister (same person) and we are off on a very short family mission in the desert of So Cal for New Year's Eve.  I wish you all a very Healthy, Safe, Blessed and Happy New year with your family, your friends and of course, your PETS!!  Thank you for making 2005, the year of SAM!!!!  God Bless Us, Everyone!

Merry Christmas!

I so hope that all of you had a safe and Merry Christmas yesterday!  Or Channukah too!  Or any holiday that you are celebrating!

My sister told me quite a cute tale today!  She was flying out of Detroit and had to go through the security check.  She had to take off her jacket and was wearing a SAM T-shirt underneath.  When the rather stern looking guard saw it, he burst into a smile and said "It's the Ug;y Dog!"  The supervisor then excitedly ran over to see it and to discover that this was SAM's Auntie Annie.  Two other men came, one declaring he was the owner of a SAM magnet.  The line was held up but everyone had a good laugh and a smile...just as SAM would have loved it!  I want to say hello to Patricia and the gang who work so hard in security at the Detroit Metro Airport.  Thanks for all you do so tirelessly to keep us all safe.  God Bless Us Everyone!

SAM's Christmas album

Please enjoy SAM's Christmas shots in the photo gallery.  I am really missing him tonight because putting up these precious pics had me laughing and crying at the same time.  The very odd lump near his rump is his large hernia  and that long skinny, rat-like thing is his tail.  Isn't he just the cutest?!

EVERY single thing is shipped!!!

FINALLY!!!  After much jumping through hoops and long hours of work after a day of work, Mark and I have EVERY single item shipped out!  We only process the T-shirts and mugs so if you have ordered a calendar or magnet, they are hopefully caught up as well.  WE paid extra and sent everything out priority which we were told should get to destinations by Friday or at the latest Saturday...UNLESS you are in New York City.  There is a terrible delay there due to the transit strike.  The mugs and Tshirts ordered for foreign countries were sent airmail.  We decided to pay the more costly ways of shipment, even if it was more than we asked for, to get things out in time for Christmas.  I don't know if they will get to Europe on time but hopefully Canada.
  Once again, the SAM family wants to thank you all for ordering SAM momentos and SAM Christmas and Hannukah gifts.  SAM is donating generously to the three doggie shelters here and a very generous gift is going to Best friends Sanctuary in Utah.
  The gifts are with Santa and should be on their way!

Frustrated with mug/T-shirt order?

  This has been one of the MOST stressful Christmas seasons for Mark and me becuase we SOOOOO want to get everyone their orders by Christmas.  The problem lies with the wait from the suppliers. (I guess they are ovewrwhelmed at this festive time of year.)   We are really jumping through hoops.  We were promised overnight delivery to us last Thursday and lo and behold..they went three day...That puts us at Tuesday which is pretty late for shipping out.  We just sent a currier from Santa Barbara to Las Vegas (NOT cheap!!) to pick up some mugs stuck there. That way we will be able to process them here tonight and Sunday and get a lot out priority on Monday morning.  We are so sorry..it's truly a Mom and Pop business out of the living room (shared with a Christmas tree!) but we are staying up almost all night trying to get these wonderful SAM momentos to you.  Thank you once again for your devotion to the memory of SAM.

  HEY!  CNN just called yesterday and said that the SAM pieces they did were so popular that they may be running them again with updates.  Thank you all!  Susie and Mark

GOLIATH finds a home!

Well.....Mark and I brought home the new rescue dog, Goliath, on Saturday.  He is actually Mark's new ranch dog as I am not ready for a new doggie yet.  SAMMIE made a nice donation to the shelter and we picked upthe new baby...More like baby Huey!  He's HUGE!  Goliath is a mix of mastiff and pit bull with maybe some great dane.  He is about nine months old but the paws are still alrmingly large for the body so we are expecting more growth.  The process of adotion took about a week from the moment the choice is made.  The dog is tested for things like cats, other dogs, children, etc...a sort of barage of doggie psychology tests.  Goliath passed with flying colors and is truly a loving, extremely happy gentle giant.  He adores the little hairless wonders and although he still barks at the cats (it's only been 36 hours....) he does not chase them.  The biggest problem thus far is his interaction with the horses..he thinks they are giant dogs waiting to attack me.  I went out to the pasture this morning to catch them and Goliath was a REAL help!  Just as I would get near, he would run up barking and off they would run...this will take a little more time...  He already LOVES to chase and follow the 4-wheeler that we use to gallivant around the ranch.  I have been doing it to try to wear him out..so far an impossible task!

IMPORTANT!!!  We FINALLY received the SAM T-shirts which were sorely needed from so many back orders.  Off they went today in the USPost so HOPEFULLY they will arrive in plenty of time for the holidays.  Thank you all SOOOOOOOO much for your patience in this.  The mugs are another story but we have our fingers crossed.

Check him out!

I have started a new "photo album" of SAM pictures that haven't been published before..just some fun home and travel pics.  I will add from time to time.
  IMPORTANT!!!  We are overwhelmed with orders for T-shirts and mugs so please be patient.  We are really striving to get these orders out in time for Christmas.  Thank you all SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much for loving SAMMIE!

Carson Daly and the pound

Carson Daly did a really cute tribute to SAM last night with a fun clip from SAM's performance on his show a few months ago.  I think he just became an uncle for the first time so congratulations "Uncle Carson"!

Mark and I spent a few hours today at the three animal shelters here in Santa Barbara.  I am not anywhere near ready to take home a new baby but Mark is seriously considering a big dog for his ranch.  Just this morning there were two coyotes in the front yard!...  They were closer than I had ever seen them and TinkerBelle was outside...I nearly had a heart attack!  SO...Mark is looking for a great, big dog to scare the coyotes away from the house.  We keep two "barn" cats here which have turned into back porch cats and they need protection as well.  We found a fabulous and very handsome boy named...appropriately..."Goliath".  He is a bull-mastiff cross but so sweet and gentle.  We introduced him to the three, little hairless SAM harem and Goliath was playful yet gentle...He actually jumped back in fear from PixieNoodle (weighs 6 pounds)...wonder how he would do with a coyote???  I realized while I was looking at all these lovable babies just how sad it is that people keep irresposibly breeding dogs.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE only breed if you are breeding show dogs..There are SOOOOOO many deserving doggies just waiting for a chance at love.  I was taken in by a 9 year old guy...I have a thing about the old skiddly ones...I just want them to have some peace, warmth and love before they go...like SAM did. 

  We have to have a county inspector come out to OK the ranch for the adoption on Goliath and see how he is around cattle and horses, cats, and of course the hairless harem again.  I will keep you posted.

  PS.  I was very happy to see so many people at the shelters cosidering adoption.  Please consider it and please don't overlook those old guys!!!

CNN "SAM" Video & Angel Wings

Jeanne Moos of CNN does a good segment on SAM's passing.  Check it out at CNN.com/video, scroll down to "Jeanne Moos" and click on "Mourning World's Ugliest Dog."  Jeanne's first video segment on SAM is also there.  Check them both out. 

If you haven't been to SAM's website in awhile, make sure to go there and view SAM's RIP photo (wings and all!).  And if you would like to have SAM around all year, check out his calendar.