ILSA (Sunday, Puppy Sunday–shamelessly stolen from Phlegmfatale!)

A while ago, I tried to blog specifically about ILSA, but, was unable to properly crop a photo I’d scanned into the computer, correctly.
As I’ve now located a proper cropping tool, here goes.  (Please note – she’s in the laundry basket, because it’s warm, and looks frightened, as I’m pointing a camera!)
We already had one dog, a Spitz mix named Nessie.  (Warning – never name your dog anything monstrous.)  (Just kidding.)  And, she needed a playmate.  So we went to the pound and picked up Ilsa.
Ilsa was knee-height, lean, but not skinny.  A short-haired brown mutt, with a tail in a single curl, with big brown eyes and pointed ears.  She was also neurotic – a perfect fit for our household!  If you looked at her wrong, or pointed a camera in her direction, she’d cower and actually shake.  Not exactly the guard dog I thought I was getting.
But, she was a great dog.  Loyal, friendly, great with the other animals, and with our daughter.  She quickly became Molly’s dog.  In the Second Grade, Molly even took her to school for Pet Day.  The dogs and their owners ran a race (leashed, of course).  And there’s Molly running for all she’s worth with Ilsa in tow, right behind, getting kicked by Molly’s heels in the chops with every pace.  And Ilsa’s loving it!
There was an occasion when I was anxious to leave for work, trying to hurry Molly up to drop her at school, and I thought she was dawdling.  And I began to raise my voice.
Just then, I felt a slight nip on my heel.  Ilsa was crouched, bearing her canine teeth, and quietly growling.  I had to quickly change my tune and praise the dog for being such a good protector!  And, everyone got to school and work on time.
Not very long after the accident, Ilsa seemed to age quickly, and soon passed on.  I’m certain she missed her Molly.
She was a good dog.