From time to time, we foster dogs who are too abused, sick and/or disabled to go right to permanent “forever” homes.

One of our favorites was Merv, pictured here, who had the body of a wiener dog and the coat of a soft shaggy lamb. Cait called Merv a “lap-seeking missile” because you couldn’t sit down without Merv joining you.

In the eight months Merv was at The Cait & Marty Rehab Camp, he blossomed from an emaciated weakling to a strong little hunk, as seen here.

Merv’s transformation made us think of this quote from The Dog Says How by NPR commentator Kevin Kling, who is Gimpy himself: “When I get depressed, I just take a look at our two wiener dogs. You’ll never see more of a can-do attitude - in a more can’t-do body - than a wiener dog.”

Eds. Note: Merv found his forever home with a lovely couple in Appleton, Wisconsin, where he has become the canine mayor and greeter of his town. We hear Merv is so popular he is contemplating a run for the governor’s office in 2009. Go Merv!!!