Posted on 03/03/2010 11:38:32 AM PST by JoeProBono
Here’s an ending almost too happy to be believed.
Three years ago, a Washington man surrendered his family dog, a five-year-old shepherd mix named Haley, to the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County.
An unspecified family crisis forced the family to give up the dog, the humane society said.
Though gone, she was not forgotten. The father still kept photos of the dog on his iphone, and his daughter, now 12, was, still missing and talking about the dog they had said goodbye to years earlier.
This week, with their crisis averted and the family having decided to get another dog, the father dropped by the Tacoma Humane Society to look at potential adoptees. Though it’s not uncommon for shelter dogs to start jumping and yapping when people come by, one dog went particularly crazy when the father approached, staff members say.
Taking a closer look, the father was shocked to see that the dog making all the noise was — you guessed it — Haley!
As it turns out, Haley, after being surrendered by the family, was adopted in 2007, but the family that adopted her the second time had so much trouble with her continually running away they’d returned her, just a few days ago.
Very confident dogs will spend their lifetimes trying to get back to you. Less confident dogs will begin to fall apart, they need someone to give them back a sense of stability.
I almost think it's worse for a confident dog to be abandoned because they will never accept anyone else, they will just assume it's their fault they can't find you.
BTW, I had never heard of a Walker Hound, so I looked it up. Beautiful dog.
i am asking for your opinion in this because it appears that you know a thing or two about dogs.
We have a 3-year-old labrador retriever, who we got from a shelter last year. He is a sweet boy and we love him dearly. I have taken to wondering if he would be happier if we had another dog, since they are pack animals by nature.
He seems quite happy with having us as his pack, but I wonder.... Perhaps I am being silly. What do you think?
If you have the energy to keep him happy then another dog is not needed, but if not, then another dog chasing him around the back yard can be a real relief for you and fun for them.
Okay, thanks. Fortunately, we do have the energy for him. He gets 3-4 walks each day and usually 2 fetch sessions every day, so he is never in a situation of having too much pent-up energy.
Then he’ll be just fine. It’s time to get another dog when they start moping around or become destructive.
She is a beautiful girl. I’d describe her as being like a Beagle with Bassett ears, but much leggier and a very erect bearing, about the size of a female Labrador Retriever.
She’s very vocal, with all sorts of warbles and yips, above and beyond the distinctive bay for which the breed is known. She “hugs” me around my neck constantly, even at bedtime, with both paws. Breed trait again, helps them tree their prey. Dewclaws like razors help them with that too, but don’t help my neck, lol. I’m not going to surgically alter her, so they get trimmed.
They all descend from English Foxhounds brought over to Virginia by Thomas Walker in the early-mid 1700’s.
Sounds like each of you got a great deal.
Gosh, where do you find the time to walk your dog that much!? My poor dogs only get walked on the weekends. I guess I’m just lazy. ;-)
No, you’re not lazy. We are retired.
3/31/2010.
Thank You, Lord, for Your gift to me, ten years ago today.
[And what a decade it’s been.]
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.