Meet Landon's Sheltie Sister, Hannah

When Landon was adopted into his family in 2009, he immediately gained five new sheltie sisters: Cosette, Molly, Mishka, Shelby, and the youngest dog of the bunch, Hannah -- a beautiful blue merle sheltie who had been adopted only about a month before Landon. These two newcomers were also close to the same age (just over a year old), while the other shelties were seniors. Landon seemed to like all of his new sheltie sisters, but his favorite was definitely Hannah, and their bond remains very strong to this day.

Landon arrived at his new home as an injured dog who had a lot of healing to do after being hit by a car and abandoned. He was clad in bandages and casts, and was traumatized by not only the accident, but also by the confusing time that he spent in an animal shelter. Right away, Hannah seemed to worry about Landon. During Landon's months of recovery, Hannah stayed near him and looked out for him.

When Landon had healed enough to be introduced to soccer, Hannah (who is the family soccer star) was careful with him and watched his every move. As Landon grew stronger, so did his bond with Hannah. They played together, kissed each other, and slept by each other. Over the next few years, as Cosette, Molly, Mishka, and Shelby aged and passed away, Hannah grew even closer to Landon. They hung out together, and Hannah even accompanied Landon to some of his community and charity events.   ​

Hannah, however, has her own story of survival and success. Hannah had been the victim of an unethical breeder, who abandoned her and two of her older half-siblings in an animal shelter. All three of the animals had under-bites and/or scissor bites, making them less "sellable," so the breeder did not want them. Hannah's half-brother was adopted from the shelter by a family, and Hannah and her half-sister were rescued by Southland Sheltie Rescue. Hannah ended up being adopted by her new mom, and Hannah's half-sister, Olivia, was adopted by another Southland Sheltie Rescue volunteer.

When Hannah arrived in her new home, she did not seem to know what a house was, as she had likely been kept outside for her entire young life. She had an innate sweetness about her and was also innocently wild, running and jumping around like a gazelle in her own little world. She had a lot of learning to do, but it was apparent early on that she was sensitive and very wise. She seemed very aware of human emotions and she aimed to please. To learn how to walk on a leash, she was teamed with Cosette (who was an amazing walker, having been trained for dog shows by her breeder, prior to the breeder abandoning her).  Hannah learned well, and she herself became an expert walker, who served as a walking mentor for Landon and also later on, for her newest sheltie sister, Tessa. ​​Hannah is quite shy around new people and dogs, but she braved going to obedience school, even graduating with honors. 

Hannah's favorite human is her dad. She loves her mom, but it is "daddy" who she adores the most. Every day before her dad leaves for work, he and Hannah cuddle at the top of the staircase. Then, every night when dad comes home, cuddling ensues on dad's lounge chair. Also, Hannah often gives her dad "googly eyes" while he is watching tv — her not-so-subtle signal that she wants to join him on the chair and cuddle again. 

Hannah's favorite things are soft toys and playballs, and her favorite foods are salmon, chicken, broccoli, and blueberries. She loves to snuggle, lay on the couch, and most of all, play soccer. She has an amazing ability to move the ball clear across a field and even sometimes across the goal line. Hannah is so sweet that she even cooperates well with not-so-fun activities like having her teeth brushed, getting her nails trimmed, and being bathed. She is a bundle of fluffy adorableness and sweetness, yet she is also very protective of her house and family. She has an incredibly strong sense of hearing, and she regularly sounds the alert at any strange outside noises. These alerts also extend to inside noises, such as those coming from blenders, dishwashers, disposals, or hairdryers. In general, Hannah does not like household appliances. She also sounds the alert whenever someone sneezes. Despite (and maybe partially because of) her quirks, Hannah is dearly loved.