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I'm running a little behind this week because, not only is DST playing havoc with my circadian rhythm, we spent most of yesterday at the dog shelter. Every Sunday morning, while I'm making my cards for soldiers, the local TV news highlights a pet of the week. In January we saw the sweetest little dog, Jessie -- part hound, part dobi, plus maybe some dachshund, they think -- who looked almost like Allie the Wonder Hiker, the hound/springer mix we lost about seven years ago to bone cancer. We seriously considered adopting Jessie, but talked ourselves out of it for all sorts of practical reasons. (Such as we already have two rescued dogs, Toby and Shadow.)
But then yesterday, there she was again! The shelter guy said he had no idea why she hadn't been adopted because she was a perfect little dog. Then he said studies have shown that black dogs are the last to get adopted. And although everyone at the shelter really loved her, she'd been there two months and it was time for her to have a home. She was so sweet. Lying down to get her tummy rubbed, then as if she didn't want people to think she was a lazy girl, sitting up and looking around with great interest, while still being a perfect lady.
Well, needless to say, as any dog lover knows, her being back on our TV was a sign!!
So, we rushed to get ready, then showed up at the shelter an hour before they opened, sitting on a bench outside the door just so we'd be the first in line. (We took our kindles, but were too excited to concentrate on reading.) As a stream of people began to show up, we became more and more worried. What if they wanted our Jessie? Because she WAS ours. I'd already decided that I'd be rude if I had to, and point out that, excuse me, we'd gotten there first. Plus, I'd brought pictures of Allie the Wonder Hiker -- one on Santa's lap and the other hiking in AZ -- to show what super parents we'd be.
Well, fortunately, we didn't have to fight off anyone for her. And after a few hours of meet and greet, form filling out, check writing, watching the required adoption video, etc, and a side trip to PetSmart, we brought our darling Jessie home. Where she was greeted with great joy by Shadow, and lesser enthusiasm by Toby. (The one having the very bad hair day in the above pic.) Though, within a couple minutes they were all romping in the back yard together.
She'd been home ten minutes before she showed that along with knowing sit, come, and down, she also knows other tricks. Like drinking out of toilets and -- yikes! -- opening the door handle that leads into the garage, then the unfenced front yard!! My sweetie just finished installing door knobs that will hopefully be beyond her doggie cleverness.
Here's a picture of her zoning out after her long and eventful day. As you'll see, she's already staked out her fave chair (actually the only one that doesn't already have a dog on it) and seems totally unaware of the drama surrounding Scott Hamilton's ousting on Celebrity Apprentice.I'm going to try to get the promised teaser that's going into the back of Breakpoint posted here tomorrow. So, check back for sexy Cajun SEAL Sax Douchett!
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22 comments:
What a sweetie! (And brains too [g].) I want a dog so bad. Maybe once we get our house the DH and the cat will let me. I think a rescue dog is the way to go.
We've always had rescued, or, in this case, humane society dogs, our entire marriage. I think they're, hands down, the very best kind. And there are so many dogs out there already needing homes, I just don't want to do anything to contribute to more puppies being born!
I think I'm in love. What a great post, JoAnn. I've got a picture in my mind of the two of you sitting on the bench, Kindles ignored, anxious...
Jessie doesn't know how lucky she is! She'll fit right in, I'm sure.
Congrats.
Aw, she's adorable!! I have a daschund, Copper. I love the little rascal, he's my buddy :)
Elen, what was funny -- but added to the stress -- was that my sweetie started asking EVERY person who came up to the doors if they were there for a specific dog.
I finally told him he HAD to stop doing that, because if someone actually answered they were there for Jessie, we could have a confrontation. Better I just race in and claim her the minute the door opened. Which is what I did. :)
Barbara, we had a little copper-colored daschund for about 13 years. She was really, really sweet, but wow, the most stubborn dog we've ever had! Oh, and of course, as you undoubtedly know, it is IMPOSSIBLE to outrun a daschund! I've no idea how they go so fast on their little short legs; I suspect it's mostly willpower. LOL
JoAnn--
Great post and adorable dogs--all three of them.
We lost our dog a couple of years ago, but she was a shelter girl, too. Best decision we ever made was to bring her into our lives.
Alexis -- I'm sorry about your dog. We ALWAYS swear we're not going to get another, then, of course, we do.
I believe it says something about the human spirit that we're willing to give our hearts to furry babies, knowing they'll eventually be broken.
JoAnn, she's beautiful! Good for you for giving her a home.
I can't see her too well, but she looks a bit like my Blue.
Tori, if Blue's a hound, then she probably looks like him. She looks a lot like UT's Smoky mascot (a blue-tick hound), which is why I got her an orange and white UT bone-shaped identification tag for her collar. :)
OH...so darling! And so good for you--she needed you and you knew it!
And yeah, black cats are also the last to be adopted. Sad, huh?
Yazza
JoAnn,
Our little Oreo came to us through unusual circumstances. We'd heard the "parent" had suffered "problems" and had this puppy to go to a good home.
We arrived to check her out. She immediately came over to me and nuzzled my knees. Just a ball of back and white fur, so much her eyes were covered. The woman suggested we take her home to see if our disabled son approved and if not we could bring her back. "Throw her over the fence," the owner said, we'll be gone then."
Needless to say, we wrote the check. No one was going to throw that little darlin' over any fence. She's been the perfect little lady since and steals every heart that comes her way.
Yasmine, I guess I kind sorta understand black cats because people have such a weird negative witchy prejudice (they always tell on the news to keep your black cats in on Halloween), but the dogs surprised me. Then I realized that our last five rescued dogs were either black or mostly black. And all were ones the shelters were surprised no one had taken home. The guy on the TV said people just don't see them and walk right by.
I have a hard time believing that, but maybe it's true. I do know that when we had our cocker, I'd gone in with a taffy color one in mind, but came home with the perfect -- albeit surprisingly pregnant -- black one.
Mary Jo -- Talk about rescuing your Oreo! What a horrible family she must have been with. Sometimes -- well, a lot -- I wonder why on earth people even bother to have doggies or kitties when they're not prepare to be responsible for them and return the love our furry babies give us so unconditionally.
I am now writing with three doggies sleeping in my office while Jay power washes the deck. Life is sweet. :)
What a darlin' indeed! Such a tidy pile they make when they curl up like that. We got our pup from a rescue too. She has a few issues but don't we all? :)
Love the new baby. And your other pups are adorable, too.
I have two Humane Society terrier mix mutts now. Adopted two rescue greyhounds before them, both of whom have now passed on. (I still miss my big girls.) I always seem to choose the "three-time loser" returnees. Then I stubbornly refuse to give up on them. Every one has, with love, patience, and attention, turned out to be a great dog.
I'm glad to hear you're another rescue dog lover! Hope the transition to having three is nice and smooth.
Both of our dogs are rescues. Ky was born at the shelter over five years ago. They were a funky looking bunch. Then a few months ago we adopted Casey twelve hours before he was due to have his front leg amputated. He was hit by a car and his owner called the cops to come shoot him. They took him back to the detachment( I do love the Mounties!)while they looked for a rescue agency. We've had him almost six months. Thanks to chiropractic, accupuncture and hydrotherapy(as well as hours of physio I do with him) he has feeling all the way down to his foot. He now has a brace and a boot that helps him walk. And the biggest brown eyes that are so full of love that it's worth all the effort.
Phew that was long :D
Awesome!! I have been in animal rescue for some time, although we take the ones who are agressive to other animals or humans. So we ususally have one at a time. With lots of love and work they become less agressive, and even more loveable. Rescues are the only way to go. They always provide stories for our weekly letters to the soldiers :) You do such awesome work with your books, your soldiers, your rescues, you are a true blessing! Thank you!!
Hi Ms. Ross,
I just wanted to say what a cutie Jessie is...Now you just have to talk Patrick and Laura into rescuing a dog. I'm sure the kids would love it. Laura's Aunt Bruna is rescuing one in the summer when she is off from school. Her beloved Laddie passed away of cancer and Mom is lonely. Not that having my 3 and Mark's dog is not enough. Enjoy your family of four legs.
Blessings, Wendy (Laura's cousin)
Oh, I am so lovely the rescued doggie stories!
We've always had rescued dogs. Before there were adoption groups, we'd just get them at the humane society. Yes, they often come with issues (Toby took two years before he quit behaving as if he had doggie autism, he was so disconnected from people) , but I'm convinced they also somehow know they landed in a good place and give you even more love.
So, thanks to all of you who open your hearts and homes to abandoned furry babies.
Hey, Wendy --Didn't we meet at the wedding? As for Patrick and Laura getting the kids a dog, well, Jessie's picture is now their computer screensaver, so that's a start. LOL
I'm so sorry about your mom's Laddie. I've always thought it says something about the human spirit that we'll embrace our dear doggies and kitties, knowing that eventually we'll end up getting our hearts broken. Again.
Three is a good number of canine kids to have! We have three corgis - royally spoiled, rotten creatures who rule our lives! Congratulations on your new addition. It was meant to be.
A few years back I answered an ad in the paper: "18 month old male corgi, $100." I ended up meeting this woman in the middle of nowhere South Carolina at a truck stop only to find he wasn't a corgi at all. He was however, a total love. So.... he couldn've been part dingo-hyena- chi-wa-wa and green eggs and ham and I still would've brought him home! He is happy and healthy and has lived with my parents ever since!! Needless to say I didn't pay the woman $100, I gave the money to the local shelter instead.
Corgi hugs all around!
JoAnn, we just returned from 9 days in Phoenix and didn't take Buddy our little fur heart. By mid way through the time I was I asking everyone that I say with a dog if I could pet their dog (I drew the line at pit bulls, you just don't know about the people that raise them sometimes). Buddy was so glad to see me when we picked up him up at the vet's office where we kennel him. I think that if he could have crawled into my skin with me he would have. I know how it is with animals. I will likely speak to the animal before I address the human. Doesn't matter, dog, cat, horse, bird................ you get the picture.
Buddy is sporting a green checked bandana for St. Pat's tomorrow when we will all be going to a parade (my husband has a thing for parades).
My son-in-law had two large dogs that he got for hunting, but my daughter wanted a small dog that she could hold in her hands and pet; so shortly before Christmas my daughter went to the pound and adopted a cute little mutt and named her "Cinnamon." It is an apt name, for the dog is the color of cinnamon. My daughter is spending a fortune on that little dog, buying all sorts of items. One is an outfit that says, "Being cute is a full time job." Everyone laughs when they see that outfit.
Good for you for adopting from a shelter! We're on our second "rescue" greyhound - hounds have such funny personalities. They do have minds of their own, though - especially the clever ones.
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