True-life tails
Adopting a Rescued Dog
Melissa Reardon
Spot Magazine - November 2007
When our doggy companion of 18 years passed away, we were lost. Our home and our hearts
were empty without her. After a few weeks of allowing space for our grief, we decided to
start looking for another dog. We began online at Petfinder.com, which connected us to
local humane societies and rescue agencies.
Early on it became clear that we needed to define our perfect dog. We wanted one we
could lift into the car when it was older, so it should be no more than 60 pounds. We
wanted one smart enough to learn commands, liked walks, camping and hiking. We didn’t
want another Chow mix; coat maintenance was too demanding.
We decided on either a Border Collie or Australian Shepherd. While it wouldn’t be doing
any herding (what they’re bred for), we liked the easy-care coat, the athleticism, high
intelligence and overall look.
To ensure we understood what our dog would need to adapt quickly and happily, we did a
little research at the library. Visiting county humane societies, we were heartbroken to
see so many abandoned, lonely animals, and wanted to adopt them all. We seriously
considered adopting a beautiful husky named Chico, ultimately resumed our search
for a Border Collie.
Then we found eight-month-old Mick on the Second Chance Companions (SCC) Web site. We had
never known anyone who had adopted from a rescue and wondered if there was a difference
between these dogs and those from other agencies. We found there was: these animals were
getting special attention. And not only were they examined by a vet, counselors worked
with them to learn their strengths and limitations to ensure a perfect match for them.
Some were with foster families, who gave them attention and comfort in their homes while
they waited for their new owners.
We made application to SCC. There were many questions specific to the dog’s needs which,
while impressive, felt weirdly like a dating service. “The dog will enjoy long walks on the
beach and in the forest, snuggling by the fire and rolling in the grass.” There were
questions about who we were as dog owners, the living conditions we offered, and whether
we would be loving masters or leave the dog outside all day. For example:
Why do you want a dog? (Because we can’t live without one)
What has your experience been with pets in the past? (They are an important part of our family.)
How long are you willing to give your dog to adapt to its new home? (As long as it takes!)
What has happened to pets owned in the past? (Lived full happy lives.)
Will your dog get daily walks if not in a fenced yard? (We are replacing our fence now and use walking as part of our exercise program.)
How many hours will the dog be home alone in the day on average? (Since I work from home, the dog would be alone no more than 4-5 hours a day.)
The next day an SCC counselor asked us a few questions and arranged for us to meet Mick at a local Petco the day after Christmas.
We were nervous and excited. What if he didn’t like us or we didn’t like him? What if we
didn’t come across as the dog lovers we really are? What will we do when he first comes home?
Our worries were unfounded. Mick, the SCC counselor and his foster parents were there when we
arrived. As we talked, we discovered he was born in a rodeo in Idaho, had four different homes
in the first eight months of his life, and that all he really wanted was a big fluffy pillow
of his own. He was friendly and open to us, and we quickly warmed up to him. The deciding
point was when he laid down on the floor next to us. The counselor was
ecstatic. “He likes you!” she exclaimed as we beamed with joy.
After the requisite fees and paperwork, we led Mick to our truck. His foster mother cried a
little, it was hard for her to let him go. Mick whined too but we reassured him with gentle
pats. With his crate, food, blanket and toys, we set out on our new life together. We were
delighted to discover that he loved being in the truck; clearly he would be a
great “road trip” dog!
As most adoption books recommend, we had arranged to be home for Mick’s first 48 hours. It
took about a week to fine-tune our communication, with Mick adapting beautifully. On arrival he
was housetrained, and knew tug, catch and find it, how to shake, sit and lie down. He loved his
new soccer ball. We did everything we could to let him know he was home for good.
Getting acquainted, we found Mick had some separation anxiety, strained on leash and barked
at other dogs in the car and on walks. We found long-term solutions in the
book “The Dog Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training” by Paul Owens.
Mick learned quickly and was eager to please. We gave him Bach Flower Rescue Remedy to help
him relax. After completing a nonviolent obedience class at Happy Go Lucky Dog Training,
we were on our way to communicating effectively and having lots of fun.
We are convinced that through our honesty, research and brilliant luck, we found the perfect
dog for us. It has been almost two years now, and we’ve never looked back.
Questions to consider before adopting a dog:
How big of a dog do we really want? How old do we want our new friend to be? Does male or female matter? Do we want it to be smart enough to learn tricks, or are we just seeking a companion? What kind of grooming would be needed; would we have time for it? What kind of activities do we plan with the dog? If the dog is naturally high energy, how can we integrate its needs into our current lifestyle?
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