If you had asked me two weeks ago if I had planned to add a new dog to the pack in the very near future I probably would have laughed. I had plans, yes, but they were weeks, months and even years in the future. I wasn’t in the thought process that the future and new dog were only a short time away or in the circumstance in which they happened to happen in.
When I first saw Gus (then Pugsley) and his photo on Facebook, my heart took a flying leap into my throat. Here was this sweet, old pit bull mix staring at me from the depths of my computer screen across the Internet. I cursed at the state he had arrived at the shelter in and wondered how this stately gentleman had ended up bitten to ribbons with sores and cuts all over his body even though I know the streets aren’t kind to any dog, especially an old guy with nubs for most of his teeth. This sweet guy and I would be seeing one another soon as there was no other option because he had landed himself at the very shelter I spend most of my time at. Just my luck, right?
It started off innocently enough. I offered to take this poor guy into the vet. I steeled myself against falling in love pretty successfully until he climbed into my lap as I sat on the floor of the
exam room. That final tightening of the love noose came when he laid his greying head on my shoulder and let out a deep, relaxed sigh. I knew that it was the beginning of the end. He had to come home. My…no, our home would and must be his.
The rest of the week (since he came on with a black quick release collar) while he was on stray hold was pure agony. I waited to see if my sweet old man would be returned to his former home…but no one came and part of me was sad. Someone had to be missing him, right? I couldn’t dwell on it. He had served his mandatory seven day hold and was a stray no longer.
Officially available, I collected him from the shelter he had called home. Never again, I vowed, would he want or need for anything. His golden years will be full of love and care for as long as he is with us. He will be loved, cherished and spoiled utterly rotten. He will be able to call a place his forever home.
Happy Gotcha Day, Gus. Here is to many more years in the Work-A-Bull pack.
Name: Lady
obedience or agility here!). She’s shown no interest in the currently available kitty, Boots, and is gentle with other dogs. There’ve not had any kids to introduce her to but if her temperament with everything else she’s met holds true, there are no doubts she will do fine with them as well. Lady could, in theory, go into just about any home and is seeking that forever home right now with a family who will love and cherish her for many years to come.
Many folks who know me personally know how long and hard I have campaigned in the ADBA with Ryker, my brindle guy. In a conformation ring where conditioning matters, a brindle dog is at a disadvantage under many judges because it’s a million times harder to see the muscle tone in the coat pattern unless it’s a really light brindle color. To add insult to injury, I didn’t really get started in the ADBA ring until he was in one of the hardest classes around – the 2-3 year old class.
males his own age doing just the same thing it was a hard pick. We started to get noticed finally, though. I got better at conditioning and handling in that venue and he learned how to conduct himself better and hold a free stack longer while running off at the mouth (which he enjoys doing at every corner!).
conformation Champion.
