- Charley
- Scout
- Oils
I guess you could say I'm somewhat predictable, right??
Boy have I got a twist for you!
So it's no surprise that Scout has been influential on my feelings about shelters, lost pet protocols, and the importance of microchipping & collars. Although, I'm not sure any of those things could have brought my baby home -- we make ourselves SO available to find if anyone is looking for who could have possibly owned the most perfect dog... IT'S US AND WE MISS HIM.
So it's no surprise that Scout has been influential on my feelings about shelters, lost pet protocols, and the importance of microchipping & collars. Although, I'm not sure any of those things could have brought my baby home -- we make ourselves SO available to find if anyone is looking for who could have possibly owned the most perfect dog... IT'S US AND WE MISS HIM.
A four legged guy stole my heart a few weeks ago. Almost filling a void that I thought could never be touched. I'm not saying that Scout has a replacement but there is something happening that is making my heart happy, less broken and more hopeful.
Saturday June 20th: Ricky, Charley and I were camping at East Canyon.
Monday June 22nd: I called East Canyon to ask if the black lab from the weekend had been reunited with his family. The girl (not the DNR officer) on the other end of the phone told me "OH! *THAT* black lab. Yeah, he lives on the other side of the dam and he always comes over here and then goes back home." I couldn't have asked for anything more. I am always grateful when a family get's their reunion.
Saturday June 26th: My soon to be SIL tags me in a picture "Linds it's the dog from the weekend!?" We were both confused. Why is the dog from last Saturday sitting in the shelter?? I thought he went home?? he had been there since Monday!? What in the world!!!? I immediately scrolled and scrolled and found everything I could on this guy. He was sitting out, waiting for his family this whole time -- I thought he was home? I suppose there was another friendly black lab from the other side of the dam? I immediately texted the number tied to the post about this lab. His stray hold was up and he was ready to be adopted. He got a LOT of buzz on Facebook, but I texted her to let her know that I will take him if it boils down to his "due out" day. I wasn't looking for another dog. He found me. I begged and begged Ricky to adopt him but we agree'd that we'd ONLY take him if it came down to his freedom or death.
Monday June 29th: This sweet lab had a LOT of action on Facebook. Plenty of people fantasizing about adopting a giant, long haired, young black lab but when it came down to it -- he was still sitting in a shelter. In a shelter where one person besides myself cared about the importance of his life. He had more people encouraging permanent sleep than I even want to know about. I told the animal control officer about Scout. I told her how I appreciated the system and why things have to happen this way. I told her I was grateful for her pleading to keep this guy alive when the "experts" wanted him gone.
He had been described as "aggressive" and "too energetic" he's a 1.5 LABRADOR RETRIEVER. Please tell me what kind of behavior is expected from this 1.5 year old lab?? I didn't (and still don't) buy the aggressive thing (but I'll tell you more in a minute).
Somewhere deep down dislodged in his long body was a microchip tied to a family. I assume it was a family that thought the idea of getting a puppy would be "CUTE" but I don't know for sure. I do know that the must've rehomed him pretty quick because we are his 3rd home and he's 1.5.
Family #2 liked to blame animal control because they kept "picking him up." The funny thing about that is.... if he isn't OUT he wouldn't keep getting "picked up."
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| Buddy's FREEDOM ride |
Do you know how many times I visited EVERY shelter when Scout went missing? Do you know how many times I would have KILLED to walk into a shelter and see him in a kennel losing his sweet little mind? Do you know how many times I would have LOVED for animal control to pick up Scout so I can pay that impound fee? I would have begged for it. BEGGED.
Family #2 didn't want Buddy. They kept him tied up outside, and he chewed off his rope. It was probably 90+ degree's that day. I wonder if he had shade? Water? Food?
It was a small town with only one shelter. If they missed him or even pretended to care they could have gone into the ONE shelter in town and picked him up. They didn't.
That same Monday someone put Buddy (an intact male) in a kennel with ANOTHER intact male. They got into somewhat of a fight (that's the "aggression" they were talking about). The idiot that put him in a kennel with another male HIT BUDDY WITH A SHOVEL and he tried to bite her.
If someone hit me with a shovel, I would bite too!
Because of the stupidity of this person regularly tending animals he would have been euthanized if I didn't head up there in a timely manner and come to his rescue.
I called Ricky. I told him we HAD to go get him. I loaded up Charley in the car. It was about 8pm and it was an hour away. There is NO way I could have lived with myself had the outcome been different.
Myself and the Animal Control Officer were the only ones that saw something in him. Something worth saving. I agree'd to foster him. I didn't know what I was doing but I knew it was the only option.
A few days in I could not believe what a GOOD dog he was. Hardly jumped, never barked and friendly like most labs are. It was refreshing. Our current dog loves dogs, but hate's people. His social skills have dramatically improved but he doesn't exactly scream "I want to be your friend" in the way that buddy does. Ziggy walks up to people with his hair up and his eyes angry. Buddy walks up to people with his tongue out and his tail wagging. I have forgotten in the past year and a half what it's like to have a dog that likes people. Scout loved people. I see the mannerisms in Buddy that I forgot that Scout had.
It was a small town with only one shelter. If they missed him or even pretended to care they could have gone into the ONE shelter in town and picked him up. They didn't.
That same Monday someone put Buddy (an intact male) in a kennel with ANOTHER intact male. They got into somewhat of a fight (that's the "aggression" they were talking about). The idiot that put him in a kennel with another male HIT BUDDY WITH A SHOVEL and he tried to bite her.
If someone hit me with a shovel, I would bite too!
Because of the stupidity of this person regularly tending animals he would have been euthanized if I didn't head up there in a timely manner and come to his rescue.
I called Ricky. I told him we HAD to go get him. I loaded up Charley in the car. It was about 8pm and it was an hour away. There is NO way I could have lived with myself had the outcome been different.
Myself and the Animal Control Officer were the only ones that saw something in him. Something worth saving. I agree'd to foster him. I didn't know what I was doing but I knew it was the only option.
A few days in I could not believe what a GOOD dog he was. Hardly jumped, never barked and friendly like most labs are. It was refreshing. Our current dog loves dogs, but hate's people. His social skills have dramatically improved but he doesn't exactly scream "I want to be your friend" in the way that buddy does. Ziggy walks up to people with his hair up and his eyes angry. Buddy walks up to people with his tongue out and his tail wagging. I have forgotten in the past year and a half what it's like to have a dog that likes people. Scout loved people. I see the mannerisms in Buddy that I forgot that Scout had.
7/6: I became a failure (Foster Fail) for all the right reasons and Buddy became ours.
So I suppose this is some kind of sign from the universe letting me know that it's possible that just maybe Scout did end up in a good home. Maybe it's just as good of a home as mine and maybe miracles do happen. Maybe Buddy is here as a staple that even after so many homes and shelters happy endings CAN happen.
Anyhow,
Buddy is now furever ours.
