Meeting Dylan

I received a reply to my inquiry about Dylan very quickly from his "foster dad" stating that he was still very shy, and had leveled out in his progress. Their family had numerous dogs between their own beloved Shelties and the many others that they fostered, and Dylan was in need of much more time and attention than was available for a special needs dog. He had progressed enough to be able to come in and out of the house, and to lay in his "safe spot" on the sofa and to let you pet him. But he did not often seek out affection of his foster family. I responded to Dylan's foster dad, Glen with a few more questions. Did he get along well with other dogs? How did he think Dylan would respond to a cat? How would he be as a walking companion? Would he be able to stay home alone for 8-9 hours while I was at work? Glen responded positively to all of my save the one about a walking companion. Dylan had not been a pet for most of his life, and had never been walked on a leash before. But he thought that perhaps with some time and the use of a harness (as the collar tightening around Dylan's throat would frighten him) he may be able to enjoy a walk. Glen agreed to bring Dylan to the up coming "Adopt-A-Pet" day a the local Petco, and I asked my Mom and Dad to come with me as "impartial" parties.

As planned, we met Duncan and the members of the LL Dog Rescue at the local Petco on Saturday morning January 20th for the "Adopt-A-Pet" day. The store was bustling busy when we walked in, and the sound of happy yelps and barking echoed from the back. We walked past shelves of pet food and toys toward the noise. The group of rescue volunteers came into view around the aisles as we approached, and then we saw the wire cages on the floor that held dozens of dogs all in need of loving homes. There was a variety of different breeds, but there eight to ten Shetland Sheepdogs. I recognized Dylan from his picture almost immediately in a kennel at the end of a row. My Mom was looking at the names posted on the top of the kennels, but I walked right over to where the small sable and white Sheltie cowered and trembled. I watched as his bottom jaw quivered severely, and his eyes darted back and forth at all the voices, barking and activity. I as I sat down next to his cage my Mom appeared at my side and said "There's Dylan!" He looked over at me, and made as if to sniff at me through the wires of the cage but then seemed to think better of it. As I sat there he glanced at me occasionally, but continued to quiver and tremble, his ears laid back against his tiny head. His dark brown eyes were wide, but they were bright and shiny, even if fearful.

I stood to locate Glen to introduce myself and he soon came over and shook my hand. I introduced him to my Mother as he opened Dylan's cage and reached in to clip a leash to his collar. Understandably, he had to reach in and pull Dylan out to lay on the tile floor and the three of us sat down around him caressing his shivering body as we talked. His little head would dip and duck each time one of our hands came forward for a stroke of his fur. I wanted to put my arms around him and comfort him, and to tell him it was all going to be ok. But this of course would have scared him even more. Glen indicated that he believed Dylan had allot of potential to become a normal dog, if he could find a home where he could get more individual attention. My small two bedroom house with large back yard seemed to be the perfect place for him, I thought. It would be calm and quiet, and he would be an only dog; plus Gracie of course. Glen believed that Dylan would have no problem with my cat, and since Gracie already got along with my parent's little Tibetan Terrier, Hannah, I believed she would adjust to Dylan as well.

After a few moments my Mom looked up at me and asked, "What do you think?"
I responded "I'm thinkin' so..." And that was it. I decided to adopt that poor, sweet, deserving little dog and see if I could give him a home where he could be happy.

I filled out an adoption application right then and there, and made arrangements for Glen to check my vet reference as well as my fence later that week. We said good-bye to him and to Dylan and headed out of the store (after stopping to visit some of the other adorable dogs who also needed homes of course.) As I got in the car and shut the door I sighed in excitement. I was going to be a "Momma" again!