My Dog's Name
Chloe
When I Adopted My Dog
May 1995
Where I Found My Dog
Tallahassee Humane Society
About My Adopted Dog
Chloe is a mixed breed black dog who is full of life. Loyal, friendly, smart and affectionate with boundless energy for playing, she brings joy to all around her. Chloe is an amazingly human-like dog. She just has a look in her eyes as if she understands the meaning of life. Many anti-dog people have been converted into dog lovers because of my precious Chloe. Everyone loves her and I am so glad she is mine.
Chloe is a senior dog now. Her hearing is disappearing and she's a bit slow on stairs. But pull out a tennis ball and you'd never know it. She doesn't realize how old she is, and I hope she never does!
My Dog's Adoption Story
I was in college but visiting home when my roommate called and told me about a puppy that had wandered onto our yard. She called the local animal control and when they arrived, they found another puppy. The two were most likely littermates, as they were about the same age and size. One had medium length black and white hair (kind of like a Border Collie) and the other was solid black with a smooth coat.
The puppies went to our local humane society, but it wasn't long before my roommate and I decided we each wanted dogs. In hindsight, it was probably not the best idea. We were young and unpredictable. But it did not seem to matter at the time.
When I got back in town, we took a trip to the shelter and I finally got to meet the puppies. My roommate had already fallen in love with the black and white one. It worked out, because the minute I laid eyes on the black one, I knew she was mine. I named her Chloe and the two of us became the best of friends - and we still are. Along with her came a vast array of health issues. She probably had just about every parasite possible, skin issues and some sort of upper respiratory yuck. But her spirits were high and she recovered quickly. Chloe did her fair share of "acting out", and I had to learn as she grew how to train her and care for her, but I have no regrets. She has seen me through some of the hardest times of my life and her companionship has never faltered.
Chloe lies by my feet as I write. She almost seems to know what I'm doing. I smile and hope we can have this for many more years. But if I lost her tomorrow, I would still say she is the most wonderful dog I have ever known.
Advice
- If you have never had a dog, know that nothing can fully prepare you for it. It will be a lot of work, require tons of patience and exhaust you. But it is absolutely worth it!
- Talk to the people who run the shelter or rescue about the dog's health. Find out if they have tested for parasites, etc and treated for them. If not, ask if they can do it before you take your new dog home. Or, go directly to the vet when leaving the shelter. I did not know and I waited until she got sick a few days later.
- Love and cherish your dog, and care for her well. She's there for you, so be there for her.
