Puppy Love
--by Sherri, posted Sep 13, 2006
"Charlie" was a Boxer dog whose life was turned upside-down by divorce. His human parents split, and he went to live with the husband, while his female companion went to live with the wife.
After a few months, the husband left Charlie with friends and left town. After a few weeks, the friends tracked down the wife and she took Charlie to live with her. Unfortunately, the wife lived with her elderly mother, who didn't like Charlie (probably because he belonged to her ex-son-in-law?).
Charlie came into the rescue program that my husband and I volunteer for, and we became his foster family while he waited for his forever home to find him.
At 5 years old, Charlie was pretty set in his ways. He was not a very happy dog, was somewhat overweight, not very active, and was rather bossy. Our two young dogs (both under 2) spent several weeks being snapped at and growled at, and we couldn't really let our guard down around him because we didn't fully trust him either. He wasn't your typical loving, happy Boxer. He didn't like to be hugged or kissed.
After Charlie was with us for about a month, we started noticing some big changes in him. He dropped a few pounds and became more active, was getting along okay with our female dog, but still having a few tiffs with our male dog. He was more at ease around us, letting us give him hugs.
Well, after about two months, you would not have believed it was the same dog. Charlie did a complete 180 and when he was adopted, he WAS now a typical loving Boxer boy, full of happy faces, hugs and kisses, and Boxer wiggles.
Fellow dog lover friends are always telling me and my husband what a great thing we do, and I've had trouble understanding what they mean. I've felt like the rescue group is doing ME a favor by letting me bring these wonderful dogs into my home because the love they give is unconditional. But Charlie has taught me a lot because Charlie's unconditional love was lost somewhere along the way and we had to go looking for it.
I realize now that we really DO do a special thing, we give these dogs a second chance when someone else may not have bothered to try. All it took was some kind words, some pats on the head, lots of hugs and some kisses. What's so hard about that?!
After a few months, the husband left Charlie with friends and left town. After a few weeks, the friends tracked down the wife and she took Charlie to live with her. Unfortunately, the wife lived with her elderly mother, who didn't like Charlie (probably because he belonged to her ex-son-in-law?).
Charlie came into the rescue program that my husband and I volunteer for, and we became his foster family while he waited for his forever home to find him.
At 5 years old, Charlie was pretty set in his ways. He was not a very happy dog, was somewhat overweight, not very active, and was rather bossy. Our two young dogs (both under 2) spent several weeks being snapped at and growled at, and we couldn't really let our guard down around him because we didn't fully trust him either. He wasn't your typical loving, happy Boxer. He didn't like to be hugged or kissed.
After Charlie was with us for about a month, we started noticing some big changes in him. He dropped a few pounds and became more active, was getting along okay with our female dog, but still having a few tiffs with our male dog. He was more at ease around us, letting us give him hugs.
Well, after about two months, you would not have believed it was the same dog. Charlie did a complete 180 and when he was adopted, he WAS now a typical loving Boxer boy, full of happy faces, hugs and kisses, and Boxer wiggles.
Fellow dog lover friends are always telling me and my husband what a great thing we do, and I've had trouble understanding what they mean. I've felt like the rescue group is doing ME a favor by letting me bring these wonderful dogs into my home because the love they give is unconditional. But Charlie has taught me a lot because Charlie's unconditional love was lost somewhere along the way and we had to go looking for it.
I realize now that we really DO do a special thing, we give these dogs a second chance when someone else may not have bothered to try. All it took was some kind words, some pats on the head, lots of hugs and some kisses. What's so hard about that?!
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- Posted by Sherri
- Sep 13, 2006
- Comments (0)
