Chance

It hadn’t been my intention to get a dog. In fact, I had only wandered through Petfinder.org at the request of a friend – she was searching for a rescued dog to add to her family, after old age claimed the life of her canine companion.

However, when I saw the breed tag line ‘Labrador/Terrier mix’, I felt a sudden pang of nostalgia and sadness. My first family dog had been of this mix and was one of the best friends I had known growing up. So, naturally, I had to succumb to my curiosity and click the link.

The profile that appeared before my eyes, nearly broke my heart. At nine months old, this poor little dog had been discarded. Held in a shelter in New York state, and plagued by a skin condition, she was slated for euthanasia – until the good people of the Pomeranian and Small Breed Rescue saved her.

However, being a medium sized dog with a timid temperament, and still afflicted by bald patches and sores, their efforts to place her to a home was still fruitless after many months.

Even though I promised myself not to become tied down with another animal, I couldn’t help myself. Something about her picture prompted me to fill out the application for adoption.

After a rigorous screening and site inspection, my adoption application was approved – I can remember how anxious and excited I was as we drove out to the boarding kennel that was kindly housing her while she waited for her new home.

The first time I laid eyes on her, I fell in love. Unfortunately, I could see that she needed more than mere love to undo the past.

Timid, fearful and un-trusting, she was hesitant to come near me and barked out of fear. Even when her caretaker called her over to collar her, she whined as though afraid.

I was told it would be months, if not longer, before she would come to me willingly and without fear. I was disheartened – had I just adopted and committed to a problem dog? Could I handle this?

Our first two days together proved to be insightful. Even though she had run of the whole apartment, she stayed within a ‘cage sized’ perimeter in the living room, pacing it like a tiger.  She showed an unnatural fear of strangers (particularly men) and walking into rooms with doors, and flinched every time I moved toward her.

My heart ached. I couldn’t imagine what someone must have done to this beautiful little creature to make her like this. But I was resolved to be patient, and try my best to change her life around.

Although I was expecting it to take weeks, maybe even months, for her to warm up to me – by the third night, she cried when left in the living room alone. I made room for her on my bed, and she never looked back. I was now her friend.

It’s been five years since those first rough days.

The skin condition has improved, changing into a beautiful, shiny coat that gets compliments anywhere she goes.

Her scrawny, gaunt, 22lbs turned into a healthy 35, after it was discovered that her refusal to eat was related to food allergies. Now she eats better than I do.

The timid, eager to please attitude has been replaced by confidence. (In fact, sometimes she’s just downright bossy.)

She’s fit into the family, adopted my parent’s dog as her ‘child’, and has already been credited with scaring off an intruder who tried to break into the house.

I wouldn’t trade her for anything in the world, and it nearly brings me to tears at times to think that the life of this wonderful, beautiful little animal was almost ended.

Our happy tale is still being written, and I look forward to many, many chapters before the ending.