Description:
Jia Li is a darling little Shih Tzu with perhaps a touch of Lhasa Apso. What a lovely girl she is! We rescued her after we received a phone call from Mary Beth, the administrator of the Seminole County Animal Shelter. Mary Beth is so good ~ she works soooo hard trying to save the lives of as many of the animals in her care as she can. She thought that surely we could find a home for this little girl. Well, she isn't all that little right now. She is carrying about 5 extra pounds that she should lose, but who am I to talk? I named her Jia Li because it means Good and Beautiful, and she truly is!
Are you unfamiliar with the Shih Tzu breed? Pronounced SHEET-sue, they are known as alert, spunky, happy and hardy. They are bred with an underbite which gives them a constant "smile." Traditionally, their coat is kept long, with ears blending into the body, distinct mustache, and a top knot secured with a bow. However, in our Florida climate, many are clipped short to relieve them of the heat. An alert watch dog, Shih Tzus like to bark but are usually quiet in the house. Originally from China, they were a favorite of the Imperial Chinese court and so revered that for many years after the Chinese began trading with the West, they refused to sell, or even give away, any of the little dogs. It was not until 1930 that the first pair was imported to England. The life expectancy of Shih Tzus in 16 years.