In honor of Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month and the beginning of the 2nd Annual New York Week for Animals, I could think of no more fitting way to promote Adoption-over-Shoppin’ than by sharing with my readers my experiences with adoption – especially since senior adoptions have a special place in my heart. I will share them in installments since there have been several wonderful pups in my life. I encourage you all to share your experiences...100 stories in honor of Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog-Month.
It was 1987. That January, during a wicked NYC snow storm, I had lost my first dog, a poodle named Heidi. I remember, I was getting dressed for school and she was not in my bedroom with me. My mother had called out to me to come into the livingroom because “she was going”. I didn’t believe it since, Heidi hadn’t been sick or anything, she was just old. When I came into the livingroom she had taken a breath and closed her eyes. I picked her up, she opened her eyes, took 3 shallow breaths and closed her eyes again. She passed peacefully in my arms.
Max Headroom |
Later that year, my mother asked if I wanted another dog. I told her that I didn’t since I was leaving for college. We lived in a two-family with my grandparents on the first floor and we on the second. On May 6, my birthday, I came home from school and as usual, my grandmother, Ma P. greeted me at her door. She was beaming but she wouldn’t let me into her apartment as I was accustomed to doing when I got home from school. In fact, she was pushing me to go upstairs to our apartment. “You must be so tired!” she kept saying…so finally I gave in, because I was really tired. As I ascended the stairs of our then 80 year old house, coming from the top of the stairs, I started to hear a little chinging sound, that was almost inaudible to the point where I wasn't exactly sure I was actually hearing it. To be honest, I panicked a little bit because I had always believed that our house was haunted, so this was definitely a very obvious sign of haunting. I couldn't see anything yet, but as I got higher on the staircase, the sound became much clearer to me and much more familiar to me. It was the sound of dog tags clanging together. I was now convinced that Heidi was still "here". I proceeded cautiously up the stairs preparing to see her apparition...seriously.
When I reached the top of the stairs, I was greeted at the door by the tiniest little ball of white fluff. I melted. I scooped him up into my arms and immediately started playing with him and loving him. Being a teen of the 80’s my now-husband and I named him Max Headroom after one of my favorite characters of the time.
When I reached the top of the stairs, I was greeted at the door by the tiniest little ball of white fluff. I melted. I scooped him up into my arms and immediately started playing with him and loving him. Being a teen of the 80’s my now-husband and I named him Max Headroom after one of my favorite characters of the time.
It turned out that my mother had registered with the ASPCA and, without planning it this way, it just happened that the most perfect little puppy became available on my birthday. My little Max was with me for 17 years. My next “pup” was a 12 year old named Morby.
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4 comments:
What a great story of puppy love! Appreciated and retweeted.
Shelter dogs are not to be pitied as they hold the key to total love - they seem to know more than other dogs just what you have done for them.
The love of a dog and the love of a child are prerequisites to any existence.
Thanks
Laine D
http://www.thoughtsfromabroad.net
I got my dog from a shelter and don't know what my life would be without him! Thanks for sharing. xxx
Loved your story, very sweet :) Dogs are the best!
Ah, Max Headroom looks so cute! :)
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