Rescuers: Taking the leap of faith on a shelter doodle

[Patty]

Tell me about the leap of faith you took when you pulled a doodle from the shelter and made him / her part of your pack. Did you know much about your doodle prior to adoption? Or did you take a complete leap of faith? I'd love to hear your stories.

Although my Talullah doodle is a rescue, she came from a foster home and never served "hard time" in a shelter. I once adopted a dalmatian from a shelter, and despite his partial deafness (which became complete) and stubborn nature, my husband and I fell completely in love. Any sane person would have turned around a mile out from the shelter when the dog simply wouldn't shut up. Not me, though :) We brought him home with us, we persevered through the tough moments, and we fell in love. And he never was quiet in the car!

Please tell me your stories. The wilder, the better :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I have really been touched as I read your stories. I think it is a leap of faith even when you take getting a pet seriously - the commitment of time, money, love is the same. The difference, to me when choosing a rescue is dedication and perseverance through any adversity as well as the absolute determination that "it will work." I applaud you.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Nancy,
You have to keep saying "it will work!" That is the only way you can get through some days! Just read Joanne's blogs about Lacey. As hard as some days can be, you can't imagine the feeling that you get when the doodle comes over to you, just because and gives you a lick!! There is no better reward!!!! It is the moment any foster/rescuer lives for!!!
Adrianne


If anyone is interested in fostering, send me a message. The DRC is always looking for foster homes. You can ask me questions so you can make an informed decision if fostering is for you.

[jamiegirl]

The stories here are very heartwarming. I've been looking at petfinders for the last couple of months playing with the idea of getting a companion for Jamie. I don't think we're quite ready as we're going through adolescence right now but I know our next dood would be a rescue. It is nice to see that there a lot of good experiences with it.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

My story is not a doodle, but he led me to doodles so I will answer this question:

In the mid 1990s, I volunteered for GRIN ( Golden Retrievers In Need ). Although I never got a Golden they would bring me labs they had pulled while in the shelters. I already had one chocolate lab so I assumed they felt I needed another. :) Everyone needs another. I had maybe a half dozen from them by this time. All happy healthy labs who went on to forever homes.

At the time I was going through a divorce and my father had just died from Liver Cancer when the last call came. " We saw the most gorgeous chocolate lab while pulling a Golden. We don't know if he will be there after the Labor Day Holiday, but would you consider taking him in for a few days?"
Reluctantly, I said NO. Ten minutes later, I called them back. "I don't want a puppy. I don't want to do this for many weeks. If he is still there on Tuesday, bring him here. I have the room and the love. But don't leave him here long. NO PUPPIES!. I am dealing with death and divorce. I can not handle anything else." They assured me this was NO PUPPY. He looked extremely healthy with a beautiful coat. They thanked me and that was the last I heard from them ( we had no cell phones or internet in those days) until I came home from work on Tuesday. There he was in my garage sitting in a crate. A monster staring at me hunched over in a crate. A HUGE dog. HUGE. Sitting in a cage. He scared me to death. They apologized by saying, we just came from the vet. He is around 6-9 months old. He is not leased trained. He weighs just under 100lbs but he is on the skinny size. The vet feels he has been crated or has been running for a very long time. His hips are so thin. He had funny eyes for a lab. He had funny ears also. Sure he had lab in him. He looked just like one. But no lab is this friggin Big.

For the next several days he sat quietly at my feet. He never moved. He was the best behaved giant puppy. Amazing? NOT. He had kennel cough. As the days progressed I spent night upon night outside or in the shower trying to get him decongested. He coughed and even wheezed almost like croup. All night long I would tie towels around his neck like a bib to catch the snot. I rocked him like I had my babies and patted his chest to loosen up the mucus. It was a true heartbreaking mess.

The vet finally told me, " I'm sorry. He is not going to make it through. Resolve to the fact that he is dying."

At first I was upset and then I got mad. This huge beast was not going to die on my watch! I continued with his meds and our nightly treatments. He later gained 40-50 lbs ( after his puppyhood ). My lab/mastiff mix.

After that ...................... :) he went to obedience school. He was so big and crazy he beat the heck out of me just taking a walk. Actually they came out to my car with a choke chain and a leather leash and taught this unruly monster in the parking lot.

He died in my arms on Easter Sunday 14 years later. I was his forever foster. He was my true love.

[Frannie & Callie]

Joanne - that's such a sweet story and I'm sitting at my desk crying (always such a professional!). That giant baby was incredibly lucky to have you...most would not have perservered through that.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Most of us would :) How can you not? You just take it one moment at a time.

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Jo, I already had a ton and a half of respect for you and now I have about 2 tons more. I am crying here, too. That is the most beautiful, unselfish story of rescue I ever heard (and I have heard many). You are truly a Rescue Angel and I am proud to call you...friend. Big hugs to you. That's exactly why we do what we do!

[Patty]

Oh Joanne. You're such a good soul. Tears in my eyes.

My labby boy (a relatively small 100 lbs, compared to your giant!) went to the vet to have an ear hematoma fixed 5 days after my mother died. My hero vet found a 10 lb tumor on Henry's spleen as soon as he sedated him. Out came the tumor (and the spleen!).

What's the expectancy? I asked. Two, maybe three months, my vet responded with such sadness in his eyes.

Henry hung on for another 8 months. He just wouldn't leave me during my lowest of ows.

Funny how the animals who touch our lives manage to find us -- and to hang on -- when we need them most.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I love all the stories. I love you all too! Am I menopausal or have I spent the last month on this site crying just because................... :) Good Cries though.
Lynne, coming from you, I am truly honored. :) Thank you.

[Sandy]

Jo-anne - what a lovely, loving story. I am sure he knew you saved him, and loved you forever for it. I have tears in my eyes.

[Suzanne & Jack]

I loved your story. That's all I can say

[shelly]

OH JOANNE!! Took me a while to write this. Have to wait for the tears in my eyes to clear.... YOU ARE ONE SPECIAL person!!!! Now I know why I spend so much time on here.... It's because of people like you (and everyone else) that truly keeps them bond of ourselves and doodles so strong. I never saw ANY of you in person, but yet, we share one of the things most precious to us. Something that people we see EVERY day will never be able to understand!!!!!