The Humane Society of Delaware County: Alumni Stories

Merlin

HSDC Alumni Merlin (AKA Tiger)

My Story (by Merlin Beaulieu)

Hi! I'm an HSDC alumni who went by the name of 'Tiger', but my new forever name is Merlin!

I like it: It sounds real neat when my new forever family calls me by my new name.

But, I'm getting a little ahead of myself.

I am a handsome young Shiba Inu male (so I've been told), a month or so shy of being one year old. I arrived at The Humane Society of Delaware County on November 19, 2009 with a cast on my leg that was cutting into my flesh, leaving an open sore on my leg. The nice people at the Humane Society carefully removed the old cast and replaced it with another.

But then I heard them talking among themselves that the injury was quite severe and that the leg might have to be amputated!

I loudly told them that I haven't had a chance to really use that leg for very long---wasn't there something else that they could do?

They didn't seem to hear me, and I thought that they couldn't understand Shiba Inu.

I was real worried!

However, a week or so went by and I was transported to The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine so they could get a better look at my leg and offer another opinion. The Vets at OSU took a few pictures ( X-Rays) examined them and concluded that the bone was healing quite well, although not as straight as it could be, and with a little more rest ( UGH--- that cage again ) the leg should serve me quite well after it completely heals.

Things were really looking up !!!

On December 8 I was sulking in my cage in the infirmary when a stranger came in, talked to me and scratched my nose and ears. Man, that felt good. I was wearing that danged collar that prevented me from licking the wound on my leg (or anything else) . A while later I was taken out of my cage and was brought out front to meet the stranger, his wife and ( Drum Roll Please) an older Shiba Inu . We sniffed each other and then he turned away from me. Didn't he like me ?????? Back to my cage.

Three days later I was taken out of my cage and brought to the lobby . The man and his wife were there, filling out papers and on the floor was a smaller cage that I didn't recognize. I heard the word "foster home" a couple of times. I didn't really know what it meant, but it didn't sound anything like "Forever Home" . Wade came out and talked to my foster people. He helped me into that small cage and carried it out to their car. He said good bye and something like "behave yourself".

I was just getting comfortable in that little cage when the man stopped the car and we all got out and went inside. It didn't look like a foster home, although I'm not an expert at things like that. The people were all friendly, gave me treats , scratched me behind my ears and made me feel quite comfortable. I even showed them that I would sit when asked ( and promised a treat). Angie took me in the back and weighed me. Wow, 16 pounds. Inside a little room I met Dr. Ann who talked to me while she gave me an examination to make sure I would be OK in my Foster Home. Dr Ann's opinion on my leg was very encouraging. Should not be a problem. We all thanked Dr. Ann and continued on to my new Foster Home

For three weeks I really tried to be on my best behavior. The old Shiba (his name is Eddie) seems to be more tolerant of some of my puppy antics, although he still growls when I come too close. My bathroom manners are excellent. My Foster People play with me and teach me new things all of the time. Sometimes I forget, but they remind me. I really think that this Foster thing isn't that bad at all.

This morning my Foster People put me in the car ( first time ) and we went for a ride. We stopped at Dr. Ann's place and she examined me again. She said that my leg was doing better than we had anticipated.

Back in the car, another short ride and we are back at the Humane Society of Delaware County. My heart jumped into my throat. Why are we here ? Wasn't I good enough? Am I too wild ??? I thought that I had done everything that was expected of me .

We went inside. Everyone greeted us and seemed happy to see me . Even Wade came out to say hello. I heard the word "ADOPT"

We went back into the car, me and my Adopted Family, and took a ride all the way to my FOREVER HOME.

That was today --- What a day ---- Now I can go to sleep.
-Merlin

Reese

HSDC Alumni Reese (AKA Nappy)

Adoption Day (by Reese Brink)

Living at the Humane Society of Delaware, only a few years after the opening of the facility, I was curled up comfortably in my favorite chair alongside a low window preparing for my afternoon nap. A glimpse of the sun would peer though the window every few moments, just enough to warm the corner of my chair. Oh how I love that warm yellow ball that seems to hang effortlessly in the sky!

Just as I started to doze off with my front feet cradled ever so daintily under my chest, my head bobbing downward toward the seat of the chair, the door knob begins to rattle ...then turn!

In walks a young girl with big hair and the roundest, biggest glasses I had ever seen! It was a sight, let me tell you! The young girl was accompanied by her mother, whom was so sweet and accepting of all of us.

In an attempt to act interested, without immediately giving up my chair, I changed my positioning with a giant back stretch. I ended my attention grabber with the most poised lady-like posture. My long tail was wrapped so delicately around my feet, anxiously flicking only at the tip.

My attention getter must have worked, because within seconds the young girl and her mother only had eyes for me. At least that's what I thought anyway. They sat on the floor and raced their hands around quickly in an attempt to provoke my pouncing instinct. For their amusement, I dashed off the chair and played along (though I would have preferred a feather toy, but I made do).

When play time ended, they walked to the sink, washed their hands, and left the room without a second look. I couldn't help but wonder if my efforts had gone unnoticed. Oh well, I thought, it's happened before...maybe the next time it will work out in my favor. I moseyed back to my chair, which of course by this point was occupied by Big Orange - at least, that's what us felines here at HSDC called her.

As I began to groom human smell off of my paws, the door suddenly swung open! It was the young girl and her mother again, carrying huge smiles upon their faces and pointing in my direction. Could it be? I thought. Is this going to be my future family?

But I was still sitting fairly close to Big Orange, so the attention could have rightfully been directed to either one of us. When a special volunteer approached me to check my neck band, it was at that moment, I new I finally had a family to call my own!
- Reese

It was the next day that Nappy officially became a member of our family for what was to be the next 20 years.

Ahh! Baby's Breath

Nappy, later going by the name of Reese, was our families first ever adopted cat. She taught us numerous things about the ways of the feline world.

For instance, simple behaviors like sitting on the window pane, chattering at the wild birds, and the importance of having a squirt gun handy during Christmas.

Reese, outliving four dogs in her lifetime, was the hen that ruled the nest "purr se" and each dog in the household over the years quickly discovered that. After getting kitty boxed in the face a few times, the dogs quickly learned to give this queen kitty her space.

Although ruling over the dogs in our household, Reese herself had to quickly learn the ways of cohabitating with a variety of creatures, including birds. If her fuzzy kitty paw entered the parrot cage she could pull back a nub or at least a paw with a lot less fur. She learned fast: The return of one furless toe was all it took!

Not only was it an experience to learn basic behaviors, but so too was learning her humorous feline antics that so perfectly expressed her personality. There were hundreds of memorable moments over the years far surpassing the usual curtain climbing and tearing around the house as if she'd been shot out of a cannon.

An annual memory, almost like clock work, was the climbing of the Christmas tree. In her younger years, it was not a graceful skilled climb as she later developed! Instead, we became accustomed to the sound of the Christmas tree hitting the floor in the middle of the night!

Another memory was Reese's adventure in the outside world. Reese was an indoor cat and only one time ventured loose in the neighborhood when a door was left open during a furniture delivery. We searched frantically high and low, and just as we had about given up hope, a small black and white head popped up over the door frame accompanied by a neighbor cat. The two had developed a nose to nose relationship over the years through the window; he must have found her and brought her home.

maybe just a little snooze...

Reese not only provided us with gracious memories while being an intricate part of our family, but also provided us various levels of comfort over the years. As many times as we were there for her through injuries, teeth cleanings, vaccinations, and oh boy, BATHS, she was doubly there for us!

Right there on dad's lap the minute he returned home from the hospital after suffering a heart attack, always attentive to mom's needs as she spent sleepless nights home while dad was hospitalized, and providing gracious head rubs across my leg after the death of my spouse, is only a fraction of the loving comfort she provided to our family.

She saw 20 birthdays, 19 of them with us. I wouldn't change one curtain climb, tree tipping, toe bite, pounce in the middle of the night, or one ruined bouquet of flowers. These are the things that made Reese not just our cat, but our family member whom we will miss dearly and will for all time be in our hearts!

Our thanks go to The Humane Society of Delaware County for their placement of such wonderful well deserving animals!

- Lisa Brink (The Vogel Family)

Mason

HSDC Alumni Mason (AKA Sam)

Mason's Story

We just wanted to let you know that we are still in love with the dog we adopted from your facility last September! You called him Sam, we've named him Mason (after Steve Mason, the Blue Jackets goalie!)--he's going on 2, is black, and a boxer/lab mix.

Mason is just the sweetest natured dog and wants so much to please.

He is, however, very obsessed with our cat, but restrains himself from chasing it--most of the time!

And yes, he has stolen a few shoes and chewed them up, but it's hard to get mad at him. You only need to sound disappointed in him, and he becomes very repentent!

He doesn't jump up on people, ever, but he can't resist just sitting close to you, putting a paw on your Knee, and looking at you as if you were the most wonderful person in the world.

We installed an electric dog fence around our five acres, and he just loves exploring and running laps around the property.

Then he comes in and crashes in his crate (his happy place) for hours.

Mason was adopted, primarily, for our nine year old son. I was concerned that the novelty of dog ownership would wear off, and our son might get bored with Mason, but the two just adore each other and are the best of friends.

We feel that God has given us the perfect dog for our family, and we thank HSDC for being so honest and helpful as we evaluated different dogs.

You do a great job in caring for and learning about your animals, and in our case, that has made for a very happy ending. - The Chesney Family

Jynx

<1-- Recv. march 21, 2010 -->

Got your voicemail Friday. We've been super busy with the dogs...such a great few days of weather and we certainly took advantage. Jinx (formerly known as the dog Prince) has fallen right into the family with just a couple of rough patches, but not anything that we didn't expect. Wall-E (our 2 yr old adopted from Animal Friends in Trenton/Hamilton, OH) and Jinx are the best of friends and wear each other out. They are both crashed under the dining room table from a FULL morning of rough housing as I type this email. Toy sharing is fine as long as they are bones and balls. Soft toys are an issue...so they've been eliminated for now. We may try to work them back in at a later date. Meal time is another non-sharing time, but I think that will straighten itself out as well as they are perfectly happy to drink out of the same water dish AT THE SAME TIME :) Jinx has established a very special bond with my 12 year old daughter. He sleeps with her and has to be at her side whenever she is home. I believe she will be the "trainer" when he goes to puppy school (hoping to get him in with the gentleman that worked with Wall-E next month). He really has great inside manners. He sits on command, will "give" when asked to surrender a toy and is learning the "ah-ah" for "no". Also, he is potty trained! A wonderful surprise. He doesn't have a visual queue yet, but he is starting to figure out that if he wanders over to the back door he'll get to go out. Thank you again for taking so much time with us and letting us really get a feel for Jinx. Our experience with HSDC was fantastic and we will certainly recommend HSDC to any friends we know that are looking to be a forever family for a pet. Please feel free to forward my email to the team at HSDC so that they can be assured that Jinx (Prince) is happy and doing well. -- Thanks, The Waddell Family PS I've tried to take some pictures of Jinx since he's been home, but he is "on the go" constantly and the camera on my phone doesn't take "action shots". I'll pull out the Kodak sometime this week and send some pics for you and the volunteers at HSDC.