Almost ten years ago I saw a flier in the pet store for this guy. He had come into the municipal shelter as a stray, was pulled by a no-kill shelter that failed to adopt him out for several months and then returned him to the kill shelter to make room for more adoptable dogs. The place was overcrowded and his number kept coming up, but he was such a lovely dog that the shelter workers were going to new and different lengths to keep him from being euthanized. When the time came to round up the dogs on the list, they would hide him in the cat room, or move him to a different kennel so he couldn't be found that day. This had been going on for over a month.
Here's his shelter pic:
At the time, Brisbane was under a year old and we were living with my parents who were NOT ok with another dog. My then-boyfriend pulled him from the shelter for me even though his family wasn't ok with a dog either, and the two of us passed him back and forth for a couple of days while figuring out what to do.
Next to Brisbane's vet at the time was an embroidery shop where my sister worked. I was trying to get Briz's weight under control and went to weight him on the scale in the lobby at the vet a couple of times a week. The owners of the embroidery shop were absolutely enamored with Brisbane and wanted a dog just like him. When I came in with Ranger, they immediately recognized him and said they had seen him at the shelter just a few days before. They said they had almost adopted him, but just weren't quite sure what he'd be like outside the shelter. They asked to borrow him for a couple of hours and called less than an hour later to say they were keeping him.
Both the boyfriend and I knew it was the best thing for Ranger, but were sad to see him go. That dog could jump an 8' fence and could have made an amazing agility dog. He also had a really fabulous personality, and overall just fit very well with me and Brisbane. I used to babysit him when his people went out of town, and he and Briz would play until they keeled over.
Fast-forward a few years, and his people had babies. They are both teachers now, and managing an autistic toddler, an infant, and busy teaching jobs hasn't left much time for the dogs. The autistic kid also likes to run up behind Ranger and smack him, which resulted in a couple of face bites (only bruises) before they implemented a total separation strategy. The kid isn't getting any less challenging, the dogs aren't getting any less tolerant, and their people aren't feeling like the dogs get any attention beyond the food bowls being filled.
I've always said I would take Ranger back in a heartbeat if I got the chance, and I'm getting the chance. I've been taking him and his little sister Annie off and on for a few months now, and the plan if for them to join me after I buy a place, hopefully later this year.
Here's his shelter pic:
At the time, Brisbane was under a year old and we were living with my parents who were NOT ok with another dog. My then-boyfriend pulled him from the shelter for me even though his family wasn't ok with a dog either, and the two of us passed him back and forth for a couple of days while figuring out what to do.
Next to Brisbane's vet at the time was an embroidery shop where my sister worked. I was trying to get Briz's weight under control and went to weight him on the scale in the lobby at the vet a couple of times a week. The owners of the embroidery shop were absolutely enamored with Brisbane and wanted a dog just like him. When I came in with Ranger, they immediately recognized him and said they had seen him at the shelter just a few days before. They said they had almost adopted him, but just weren't quite sure what he'd be like outside the shelter. They asked to borrow him for a couple of hours and called less than an hour later to say they were keeping him.
Both the boyfriend and I knew it was the best thing for Ranger, but were sad to see him go. That dog could jump an 8' fence and could have made an amazing agility dog. He also had a really fabulous personality, and overall just fit very well with me and Brisbane. I used to babysit him when his people went out of town, and he and Briz would play until they keeled over.
Fast-forward a few years, and his people had babies. They are both teachers now, and managing an autistic toddler, an infant, and busy teaching jobs hasn't left much time for the dogs. The autistic kid also likes to run up behind Ranger and smack him, which resulted in a couple of face bites (only bruises) before they implemented a total separation strategy. The kid isn't getting any less challenging, the dogs aren't getting any less tolerant, and their people aren't feeling like the dogs get any attention beyond the food bowls being filled.
I've always said I would take Ranger back in a heartbeat if I got the chance, and I'm getting the chance. I've been taking him and his little sister Annie off and on for a few months now, and the plan if for them to join me after I buy a place, hopefully later this year.
