Love and A Pet

This weekend, while visiting a friend, I had the fun of meeting four dogs who were also visiting her house, one of whom was a beautiful German Shepherd.  She reminded me of the gentle soul of a shepherd-cross that had once stolen my heart.

When I applied to adopt Storm, a 14-month-old rescue, I rushed down to the SPCA in person, completed forms clasped in hand, and as I dashed across the parking lot, focused on my mission, a dog caught my eye.  Spotting this gorgeous adult, brown and black, big, fuzzy shepherd-like furball who was enjoying some outdoor time in the fenced run, I stopped in my tracks and asked if it was Storm.  He knew his name.  He came bounding over to the fence, put paws up to my shoulder level, and gave me a kiss through the wire.

I was smitten.

I was then told that we were the third application. Applications are reviewed in the order received.

I was suddenly nervous.

I returned home somewhat crestfallen and told my kids that it was unlikely we would get to adopt him, but that I had applied and all we could do was wait.  This was Friday.

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday all came and went.  Crickets.  Not a peep.  Hope was evaporating.  Tuesday morning was also quiet until just before lunch, when I got the most unlikely call.  The first applicants were not a great fit, and the second applicants had no-showed.  Did we still want to adopt Storm?

I pulled my kids from school, and within an hour, we had a freshly neutered, excited, high-energy furball crashing around our house with his post-surgical ‘lampshade’!

It was hilarious.  He was gorgeous.  We were all enchanted

I still drive by that fenced run regularly, and the memory of that first day meeting him still leaves me smiling.  His bounding energy, curiosity, striking thick coat, and gentle lick through the wire fence for this complete stranger melted my heart then and still melts my heart today.  One chance meeting, one look, one kiss led to a lifetime of loyalty and love.  Makes me ‘paws’ to think - How lucky we are when animals choose us!  The trust they place, the love they give, and the energy they bring are such a gift.