Today, my foster pup found his forever home. He was surrendered 2 and a half weeks ago and I've lost a lot of sleep during that time. Is it just because I knew him with all of his siblings during his first weeks? Is it because I have his brother at home? Is it because he looked at me with those sad puppy eyes? I don't know. I guess sometimes, a person or a dog just strikes you and you feel drawn to them for some unexplainable reason. That's what happened with Zorr.
His story amazes me...
He started life with his 11 siblings on a concrete patio in Salinas. One didn’t make it through the night. A shelter took them all in, but had to find a foster situation after a few weeks. Through the incredible dog rescue network, they made their way to my laundry room. The next 8 weeks was a blur of food, poop, puppy kisses and exhaustion! Zorr went to a home, just like all the others. But then, 7 months later, his owner couldn’t deal with him any longer. She made the right decision and returned him before she neglected him. So he came to the shelter undamaged, trained, wanting and needing a family.
Since the puppies left, I’ve concentrated on training my puppy and retraining my older dog. I’m so glad to have hooked up with some great trainers who have become good friends... These months later, my boys started school and I had time on my hands. I decided to answer a volunteer call to help at the shelter with reactive dogs. Well, that’s required me to be there almost every day. And I’ve been LOVING it. I love working with dogs and making a difference in their lives. And to work with people so committed to the welfare of needy animals is just a dream.
So I was there at the shelter when a woman decided to drop off a 9 month old brown puppy from my foster litter. From that moment, this boy was under my wing, in my house, by my side, under my skin.
My wonderful trainer friends let me take him to class for free. I went this morning. I almost didn’t go – it had been a long week, I’d already walked both of my dogs and just couldn’t imagine giving more to another canine. But I slogged through. Halfway through class, Zorr got restless; we went outside for a pee break. He didn’t need to pee. He layed down on the cool sidewalk in the shade just happy to be alive and out of the barking chaos that is the shelter. He and I were just basking in the glory of the moment together. A woman in a pickup commented on how beautiful he was. I agreed and said he was available for adoption. She laughed and drove on. But she circled the block, stopped and fell in love.
She met us back at the shelter, with her husband and her son and her business partner from the ranch they all live on. They immediately took to this dog.
Anywhere along the timeline of Zorr's life, someone could have said ‘no’. No – the shelter would not find a foster home. No – I couldn’t possibly give up 8 weeks of my life for these needy creatures. No – we wouldn’t take him back. No – he can’t go to a training class. No – she wouldn’t circle the block and at least think about it. No – this family couldn’t possibly change their lives to accommodate some unknown situation.
But we all said yes, to the unknown, to the possibilities, to life. And our lives are changed forever because of it. Sleep well tonight. I know I will.
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