Shelley

Sometimes, it seems like certain dogs come in and are gone again without anyone really noticing. Shelley was not large, not loud, not overly cute and not outgoing - very little to grab your attention. Most of the time, she sat in her kennel, shaking anxiously and shying away from anyone trying to interact with her. Of course, that's pretty much exactly the kind of dog that I'm drawn to.

After sitting with her a while, I decided to try taking her out with Engel; not only because I thought she'd be a good influence, though. The shelter was filling up quickly - so many new dogs and cats were being brought in or dropped off, and precious few were being reclaimed, rescued or adopted. When I had arrived that day, I had no idea that Engel was going to be rescued. All I knew was that it was her last day there, come what may. And come what may, I was determined that her last day would not be a lonely one.

The first time Engel boldly stuck her nose in Shelley's face, Shelley snarled and gave a menacing growl. I calmly told her to stop, and she did so instantly. Looking from me to the large German Shepherd and back, it took her a moment to realize that all three of us were de facto in the same "pack," and she was the youngest and newest. As soon as it "clicked" with her, she relaxed and fell in stride with us as we walked outside. The difference between "outside the pack" and "inside the pack" was so drastic with her, I honestly got a lump in my throat. Engel wasn't going to make it easy on her, though, and repaid Shelley's earlier bad attitude by merrily jumping over the shorter dog again and again as we ambled along.

After their initial rocky start, I kept a weather eye on the two dogs as we started to play. At one point, the usually shy Engel boldly strode up to Shelley and unexpectedly asserted her higher status. Even more surprising, Shelley assumed the attitude of "yep, you're the bigger dog," without any hesitation or fuss (I actually managed to catch that exchange on video). And by the time we were ready to head back inside, Shelley was timidly smiling, face-licking and wagging her tail.

I was shocked to find a couple of days later that Shelley had been put to sleep; kennel space had again become a rare commodity, and apparently she hadn't warmed up to anyone else enough to make adoption appear even a remote possibility. All in all, she'd only been there a few days, and she didn't really even make a significant impression on the majority of the people who passed through.

But I noticed.

That's the main reason for this web log. For the ones here who embark on a new life with a rescue, foster family, or a lifetime adopted pack, this is just a chapter for them in a much longer story. I cherish every footprint they leave here, make no mistake. The others, however, don't get to keep writing their stories; this is their final chapter. And no matter how the story unfolded from one animal to the next, the last line should be the same for all: "In the end, they were loved, and they will be remembered."

Romney

While reading up on bulldog breeds the other day, I read that Bull Terriers are usually either wonderful or horrible - not much falling in the middle ground. So I was naturally a bit concerned with Romney, the ringleader of a threesome of strays that made their way into the shelter. He seemed fearless - even bossing around a boxer twice his size - making me worry he fell into the latter category. Over the past two days, though, he's staunchly proven my concern unnecessary.

Romney isn't a big fan of cats or other small animals, which is natural for most terrier breeds - originally bred to hunt small animals. When it comes to dogs, Romney seems curious and affable. He'll sniff around and gladly meet other animals, but woe betide the schmoe who tries to bully him around or bogart his food dish while he's dining. All the same, he'll eat out of your hand graciously.

Although we haven't had him out and about with other male dogs (Bull Terriers aren't famous for playing well with others, so we'll try to check on that), he had a great time palling around with Freya (see earlier post). And after a very short while, the playful, fun nature of the breed bubbled to the surface in him. He very much likes his toys extra-durable, and his people extra-happy.

UPDATE: Took Romney and Remo out for some playtime together today. Although there was an ongoing game of "I'm the big dog" between them (which is hilarious, given that they both stand about a foot tall), it seemed very good-natured and playful. They walked around together, racing each other over to me anytime it looked like there was some affection to be had. At one point, Romney even leaned over and gave Remo a cursory lick on the side of the nose, as if to say, "Eh, you're pretty OK, kid."

UPDATE: Thanks to the hard work of some amazing rescue and volunteer folks, Romney got himself a family all his own. He was neutered yesterday, and came out of the surgery happy, energetic, and hungry; his new family came and picked up their new best pal today. Here's lookin' at you, kid!