My Dog's Name
Cody, Bear, Boo, Pippin, Katie & Sam
When I Adopted My Dog
Various times over the last 15 years
Where I Found My Dog
Cody, Katie & Sam were from rescue groups, Bear was from the Humane Society, Boo & Pippin were on their way to animal control.
About My Adopted Dog
Cody (Jack Russell Terrier) is alpha & my best buddy for 13 years.
Bear (small terrier mix) was the group Gonzo--strange, quirky but lovable. We lost him several years ago to congestive heart failure.
Boo (lab-chow) at 40 pounds is the big floppy, goofy one. A sweetie with a deep scary bark
Pippin (chihuahua mix) is our heat-seeking missile, always ready to dive onto a lap.
Katie (schipperke) is a 100 lb dog in a 10 lb body & shows why they are called little black devils. Fave game is to slap Boo on the nose, then run.
Sam (pomeranian mix) is a whirling dervish & Katie's partner in crime & playfighting.
My Dog's Adoption Story
I found Cody when I went to a small breed rescue to look at another dog they had. Cody would not leave me alone & demanded that I choose him. So I did. On the way home, I swear he even told me his name. We were sitting at a light, I looked over to see if he was doing OK. Plain as anything, I heard a voice say "My name is Cody." I feel a bond with all my pets, but Cody is someone special. He seems to understand everything I say to him. He has been such a help through various troubles over the years.
Bear we adopted to because we wanted another dog & liked him from the moment we saw him. He was the same size as Cody so we thought they would be good companions. When we went into the visit room to meet him, he was so frightened that he piddled on me. It took several years, but the submissive peeing stopped, mostly. Six years later, when Bear died, I was devastated. Everyone grieved over him. It was very quiet here without his sparkling personality (OK, barking).
Boo (8 weeks old when brought home on Halloween, hence the name) & Pippin were unplanned puppies. But their owners didn't want them any longer because Boo's owner had cats and Pippin's wanted to travel. Their loss, my family's gain. Pippin is our alert dog. Boo is the "enforcer." She doesn't bark much, but when she does, people listen.
Katie's story really touched my heart. She had been a breeder in a puppy mill. She had heartworms, kennel cough & was very frightened of people. After many negotiations & background checks, I went to see her. I knew I couldn't leave without her. At first, while she did well with the other dogs, she wasn't very eager for human contact. Over the course of a year, that changed completely. Several years later & healthy now, she is a friendly spitfire & a testament to the forgiving nature of dogs.
Sam was another troubled pup. Only a year old, he had been given up for adoption, then adopted & returned twice because of behavior issues. I could tell that he had a good disposition, just needed discipline. Two years, several shoes & a number of couch pillows later, he is the sweet guy I thought he could be.
Advice
- I don't have anything I would change about the adoption experience. I can't recommend it highly enough. However, adopters should do their homework about the breed of dog they want to adopt & observe the dog they're considering. Be sure it fits in with their lifestyle. Some breeds are NOT for first time dog owners, no matter how tempting they may be. Be ready to make the long-term commitment it takes to have any pet. Some rescue dogs have issues that need to be dealt with. It takes patience, consistency, firmness, kindness, love & understanding to handle them. Chaos & fun will ensue.
