It was my little boy's "Gotcha Day" today!First I will share his story for those who don't know it, then we'll get to the good stuff.. the pictures!
A little over three years ago, this little Sheltie was allowed to wander his neighborhood very frequently. Neighbors knew about him and contacted the pound as he was soiling in their yards. The pound made many attempts to try to catch this boy but he always got away. One day, he wandered into a neighbor's backyard and was cornered and stayed with the person until animal control picked him up.
Animal control has a 7 day holding policy. Strays are able to be claimed for up to 7 days. After that, they're put up for adoption and kept at the pound until they find a home (this is a no-kill shelter). He had a license so his family was contacted. They said they would get him, but never did. He even got two free rides home (they normally only get one).
I needed volunteer hours for school, so my friends and I decided on volunteering at the pound. My first day as a volunteer, I walked into the kennel area. All I heard was barking. I looked into the second kennel and that was it. I was in love. I saw a tiny Sheltie, hiding at the end of his kennel. It was Day 2 for him. The dogs surrounding him were barking and jumping up on the kennel asking me to love them too. But this guy.. he didn't trust me. He had a look of emptiness in his eyes. He didn't know what it was to be loved. That was it. I knew I had to take him home.
Day 4 my family and I went back to see him. We weren't really looking for another dog.. but I told my mom we HAD to see this guy. She didn't want another dog.. but saw him and filled out the paperwork immediately. We found out 6 other people filled out the paperwork for him.
Day 7 rolled around.. and we got a call. HE WAS OURS! He came home at 16 pounds and was ALL skin and bones. He was matted, filthy, had HORRIBLE teeth and DID NOT want to get along with Kai. He didn't know how to trust.
We recently started seeing a natural healer. She did some readings on the dogs. Though I normally don't believe in that type of thing, everything she said made sense, and she said things that were true but I had never told her. She said Kaedyn has been through three other homes. The first was a family. He was obtained as a gift (probably Christmas gift). He was later given to a man. Kaedyn tried bonding to this man but he DID NOT want to bond with him. He was struggling financially and couldn't feed his dog regularly. He was an alcoholic and emotionally detached. He would kick his dog aside if he ever got in his way. His dog was regularly left alone in the house for days at a time. He was then given to a neighbor who wanted to give this dog a better life, but didn't do very well. She let him wander, and as such, he was left to fend for himself. He also didn't eat regularly in this "home".
Here he is now.. three years later. There have been SO many ups and downs, but I can say that he has found his forever home. He has helped me discover my love for dog training and helping others with their dogs. It has been amazing seeing him transform from a disgustingly thin, distrusting dog to a spunky 9(?) year old in better health than most dogs half his age, who shows a great big grin when he works with mum in obedience and agility.
Pics coming up in the next post
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