My Dog's Name
Babe & Smiler
When I Adopted My Dog
Babe - May 1999
Smiler - June 2010
Where I Found My Dog
Babe, an Australian Shepherd - in remote backcountry of Owyhee County Idaho
Smiler, an Akita or Akita-cross - beside a lonely highway in Malheur County Oregon
About My Adopted Dog
Both have tremendous dignity, are loving, intelligent & have "baggage" from past mistreatment.
Babe's reserved, distant with strangers, especially mistrustful of men. She's a one-woman-dog, goes where I go. When I'm repairing a stock tank out on the desert, she "guards" me, not allowing cattle to approach too closely. She's an alpha, but easily trained. At 14 she's going deaf but still leaps & plays like a puppy.
Smiler is always cheerful, loves everyone. Feeding time or playtime excite her so much her teeth chatter! Neglect & abuse didn't embitter her. Learns quickly, eager to please. Sensitive, but not fearful.
My Dog's Adoption Story
Both dogs were dumped miles from anywhere. Babe was found by my son on a campout. Smiler was a mile from my house down the highway, travellers told me about her. They both were starved, dirty, thirsty,exhausted, wary. Attitude was what drew me to them, both were like "I'm starving but I don't know you & I refuse to fawn over a stranger for food!" It took a long time and a lot of patience to win their trust. Babe was very slow to warm up to me, but Smiler has been amazingly trusting. Took both to the vet right away for a checkup. They were treated for parasites, given shots, spayed. (Smiler's not yet spayed, but it's scheduled). Babe needs clipped every summer but it took 3 years & a really patient groomer to get her accustomed to it. Smiler's long Akita hair was severely matted. When clipped off, she was covered with scars! One ear's split, front leg & pelvis have been broken, her face is scarred so she grins lopsidedly. She walks funny, runs like an elephant. What she's gone thru we can't even imagine! Vet says she's about 5 yrs. but she looks ancient. She might be a puppy mill reject or even a pit-bull-training-center-survivor. She's learning to stay out of Babe's space, so things are settling down here. Both dogs tolerate Boss, my husband's pup.
I might not have adopted just any dog, but these 2 caught me by the heart. They are both outstanding individuals who got a bad break and I'm glad I was there when they needed me, because Babe is my best dog friend and Smiler is best-dog-friend-in-training! They make us laugh everyday. The joy far outweighs the exasperation of things like coffee spilled on the carpet by Smiler's exuberant tail, or the time when Babe got impatient waiting in the car and ate the seatbelts!
Advice
- I've had more adopted dogs than otherwise in 52 yrs. of living. They were always worth it! If you want to adopt, my advice is:
- It's like having a child, you MUST commit for the lifetime of that living thing! Plan ahead, do your research, understand the effort you'll have to put out.
- Remember that an adopted dog may not understand what's obvious to you. Extra patience is essential to help dogs "unlearn" bad habits.
- Be sure everyone in the family is on board before you adopt. If one family member is against it, everyone will be upset.
- Local shelters are good resources. Use them! (We have none here)
