Shelter stories
Working at the shelter as a volunteer has afforded me the opportunity to meet some truly fantastic dogs. Some of them come with baggage that means they stay at the shelter for longer then they deserve. It's a sad truth that less then ideal circumstances become a temporary home for these critters, but we do all we can to make them content while they're with us.
One of our current long term residents is a GORGEOUS blue pit bull lady named Garbo.
Garbo is young- about a year old- and a total goofball. She loves to play and be snuggled. She's very smart, and is truly a prefect example of all the positives of her breed. She's built for speed, but would rather sit on your foot. We've been working on her training and she has a solid Sit, and her Stay is getting rather good as well. The only Crime this lovely lady has committed was being born a breed that gets a bad rap. Yes, there are bad and vicious pit bulls- some because they were abused violently once they arrived on the planet, some are just born that way. The fact is the same can be said of ANY breed of dog. Or Human, for that matter. The only thing different about this breed is the tendency humans have to abuse them into becoming violent, and their ability to do damage based on their size and physicality.
They are also loyal, gentle, and very smart. They will happily grow fat and old and be doted upon. They will make sure your house and family are protected while allowing your kids to yank, pull and play all over them without a flinch. The key to all of it is picking the right dog for the right family, regardless of size, shape or breed.
On the day I spent a long chunk of alone time with Garbo, we went into the play yard to get some exercise. She was so eager to go, she practically pulled me there like a sled dog (they don't get out every day, so every chance they have becomes a moment of GREAT ENTHUSIASM, which can be...... humorous). We spent some time just running in circles and sniffing every spot any dog had touched earlier that day.
Then it was Toy time.
The best time EVER.
Garbo very carefully selected her first toy out of the toy basket we keep in the yard. She played with it for a few minutes, I threw it around for her a bit, and a grand old time was had.
Then that got old.
So, she went and got another toy- more playing, more throwing, more running around.
And another.
And another.
By the time she had 4 toys out, I started trying to pick up the discarded ones, putting them on the bench, on their way back to the bucket.
This was totally uncool.
Garbo was very offended by my efforts to take away her carefully selected options. She wasn't truly content until she had about 7 toys actively being enjoyed. We played for almost a half hour, with toys being interchanged in the game as if they were all part of one bigger game.
I was able to reach into the mouth of this big scary 'dangerous' dog and yank toys out with no trouble at all. The only negative result was my being covered in a LOT of dog slobber. Not my favorite part of the job, but you get used to it.
Her ability to identify individual toys, and know that I had moved them, even while she was off doing something else really impressed me. She showed an intellect beyond what most young children have. Even while she was playing, when I asked her to sit for a toy, her butt hit the ground promptly. She had figured out very quickly that when I asked her to sit, she got to chase a toy, and was totally in for it.
Obviously, I have fallen a little bit in love with this dog. I find her to be absolutely gorgeous on every level. Her eyes are filled with intellect and a sad sweetness- she wants to bond with a family so very much. When she has her faced rubbed, she relaxes and I immediately conjure up an image of her sleeping by someone's feet, snoring and happy. She has committed no crime, and she deserves to be broken out of this shelter SOON. She will be an excellent hiking buddy, and friend. She represents a lot of other dogs I've encountered as well. Really lovely creatures who need space to run and people to understand their quirks and challenges.
This face deserves to be looked upon with love every day. She is a dear creature and I have such a strong desire to see good things for her. I want good things for all our... I'm gonna call them tenants.... but some in particular find a way into your heart and become special projects. Garbo has become that for me, as well as many other people who work at the shelter. We all adore her.
The true crime here is that not enough people outside of our staff have realized how great she is....
(see what I did there, I turned the "crime" thing on its head... Yep, I did it. And I meant it.)
