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For everyone reading this words and is
considering bringing a four legged creature into their family I
urge you- please visit a shelter. Recently I had to put my
beloved Tasha- a gorgeous Shepherd/Collie mix to sleep- as her
kidneys had shut down. I was gutted and the last thing on my
mind was bringing a new dog into my life.
However on
Saturday we ended up at Orange County Animal Shelter. Seeing the
number of Shepherd mixes there tore at my heart strings—I was
beginning to think that I was going to bring one of those home.
But, somewhere deep inside of me, I knew that would be an
attempt to replace Tasha—and she was irreplaceable. It was in
one of the final cages we saw him. He was huddled at the back as
far away from the front bars as possible. Most dogs are eager to
be up front as people walked by doing their utmost to get your
attention. But not this dog. We read that he was a two year old
stray called Benji. They had him down as a bearded collie.
Eventually after a little coaxing we encouraged him to come and
say hello. He was a bundle of overgrown matted fur—but in
amongst that fur were two little eyes peering up at me. There
was a level of sadness and desperation in those eyes I had not
seen in a long time. I wanted to meet with him- but as the
shelter was closing in an hour the visitation area had been
closed.
We went back to
the office department and waited in line to get as much
information on Benji as we could. However before our turn we
decided that it was not fare to our other dog Chester—another
rescue—and that we needed to seriously consider this decision.
My fifteen year
old son started to tear up.
That night at
home our thoughts kept going back to Benji. By the time Sunday
morning rolled around we had not only made up our mind to adopt
him but we had re-named him. He was going to be Sir Winston…
We raced down to
the shelter and this time we got to meet him. He looked even
more pitiful that we remembered. His coat was in such an
abysmal mess. After visiting for him for a couple of minutes we
knew we were making the right decision.
With our hearts
all racing we went back to the office to complete the paperwork.
We had already made an appointment to get him groomed that
afternoon. But there was a snag. He had yet to have been
neutered. We were disheartened a little—but naturally
understanding. We were advised that it would be up to ten
days—but most likely on Wednesday.
On the way back
home we made a stop at the pet store and loaded up the cart. New
bed, collar, leash, bowls etc. etc.
It was at seven
thirty that same night we received the phone call. Sir Winston
had been cleaned up and operated on- and would be ready the
following morning. We were also advised that they now considered
him to be a Lhasa Apso.
We were overrun
with excitement!
That next
morning—after a few hours restless sleep, my son and I went back
to the shelter.
The girl in the
office took our information and clicked on the screen. Her eyes
lit up with joy.
“You are not
going to recognize him!” she said excitedly.
Minutes later we
watched as a dog appearing half the size of the one we had
adopted, we being carried out. They were the same eyes as I had
seen yesterday- only now the sadness was gone!
Despite coming in
at a meager eleven pounds—Sir Winston dragged us out of there.
It was like a completely different dog! The shelter had done him
proud- they had to shave him completely- accept his face, which
they neatly trimmed and cleaned up. He is absolutely adorable.
That was a couple
of days ago—and Sir Winston quickly made himself at home. He is
an extremely mellow- and highly affectionate- little dog.
Chester who is eight times his size— took to him immediately. As
I work from home Sir Winston never leaves my side, as I type he
is snoring away underneath my office chair.
Whereas there
could only ever be one dog as special as Tasha—we also now know
there is only one dog as special as Sir Winston.
PSGifford
psgifford@earthlink.net
www.psgifford.com
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