Morgan and Scottish Hospitality

So Morgan turns out to be the world’s friendliest dog. He runs up to everybody in the street whether they are drunks or traffic wardens. He tries to get into taxis, he runs into open doors including restaurants. Luckily nearly everybody thinks this is funny. and known up and down Stockbridge here in Edinburgh. I’ve made new friends through Morgan - the dog park people. It’s like a mother and toddler group “He’s not eating his food!” And people always often tell you about their dogs or golden retrievers. He’s a great conversation starter.  I also like to introduce him to children. If some parents are walking along and the child appears interested, I introduce him and tell the child that he likes to get stroked and when he wags his tail, that means he likes it. Some parents make the children  nervous about large dogs unnecessarily so I try to break that down if possible. He’s just a great joy to have as a friend.

Jeb, A Rescue with a Lot of Love Left to Give

Jeb is ten years old, welcomed recently into our home from a rescue shelter. We have learned that he loves to walk, eat, sleep on the couch, sniff, explore, have his tummy rubbed, cuddle, and be hugged and kissed. Jeb also enjoys chasing squirrels, although we think he is just trying to say “Hello” and perhaps give them a little exercise. He also likes to say “Hello” to every person he passes on the street, and is good at breaking the ice. Jeb likes sleeping as close as possible to one of his human companions, and we know that he thinks humans would be much happier if they worried less and spent more time running across fields with a stick in their mouths and their tails wagging. He reminds us always to be cheerful and to take pleasure in everyday things like taking a walk to the park and eating dinner. 

Henry

I met Henry for the first time when he was 5 weeks old when he was living upstairs from where I work. I learned that the owner had left him, his brother and his parents alone for two weeks, and discovered him in a recycling box full of feces when I went into the apartment. I happened to be at the vet and asked him what to do. The vet said you need to take the puppies until he comes back or they could get sick. After the owner came back, a few weeks went by and then he called and said I’m moving and you need to take the dogs right away. So, I adopted him and a friend adopted his brother so that they can stay in touch and have play dates. I recently discovered that his parents never leave the apartment and when I walked Henry’s father, he didn’t know what to do outside since he’d never seen another dog outside the apartment. 

Henry is so loving, so kind and patient with us. He’s a wonderful dog in every way, and we’re so lucky to have him in our family. He’s a herd dog and loves to herd the canada geese at the park. He inspires us with his openness and his playfulness. He’s only seven months old and we look forward to seeing him grow.

Fraser and Me

Not long ago my mom declared that it was time for the family to get a new dog. At first I was quite surprised by this announcement. In the many years since we had owned our last dog, my mom was the defector in the family whenever there were whisperings about possibly adopting a new pooch. My confusion over her reversal of opinion lasted until I realized that, with my younger sister about to graduate from high school, my parents would soon be the only occupants of their home. My mom’s new interest was more than a fleeting curiosity – it was her way of preparing for the potential loneliness of an empty nest.

I was more than willing to help my mom find a new companion. It wasn’t long before I found myself looking at pictures of dogs on the local animal shelter website. After what seemed like only a few minutes of searching, I came across a picture of a small terrier with shaggy blond hair. He seemed to be about the size that my mom was looking for, and he reminded me of our family’s last dog. I scheduled a time when we could see the pooch, whose name was Fraser.

Upon meeting Fraser, the first thing that I noticed about him was the way that he looked at me. While other dogs would simply glance up nonchalantly when I was in their company, Fraser stared me down. His gaze was not threatening or pleading, though. What I saw in his eyes was more of a curiousness, a pondering. It was as though he was studying me; searching my thoughts and motivations and weighing them against his own. It was then, during this staring session, that I fell for Fraser and decided he was the dog for us.

Fraser has been a part of our family for two years and continues to impress us with his perceptiveness and curiosity. No matter what you are doing around the house, you can be sure that he is close by, watching and analyzing. This charming trait, along with his joyful, fun-loving nature, makes him an important part of the household: a pet who has added new meaning to the word.

- Robert Hamilton

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Colby, Our Fifth Family Member

Colby didn’t think he was a dog. We swore that such an attitude was the source of his longevity; a Labrador retriever that lived past his sixteenth birthday who believed our little pack was populated entirely by animals of the same species. He slept on a bed and thought dog bowls were for dogs. Unlike every other Lab in history, he never rushed to his bowl when we poured in his kibble; Colby simply loved human food. We sat eating with a hand raised high out of habit, otherwise Colby would leap up and devour our food. When visitors arrived at the door, Colby greeted them with a shoe in his mouth and carried it around for a minute or two; he kept a collection under the dining room table. One summer we lost a running shoe and the following spring found it in the woods by the lake: a greeting that had gone too long. Colby reminded us that family extends beyond ourselves. He loved completely, without hesitation. Even when he could no longer thump his tail or carry shoes in greeting, his eyebrows wiggled around his head to show his joy at being with us. He is sorely missed.

James Zug

 

Remi, a Puggle Who Makes Everyone Smile

Remi is seven years old, and still has the energy of a puppy. He goes to daycare every day, and loves to play with his friends although he’s not so fond of bigger dogs. We start each day with a morning walk to Dunkin Donuts. I get my coffee and Remi gets a munchkin! Remi loves his munchkins and has even woken us up in the middle of the night and taken us there to try and get one! On the day of the 2013 Boston Marathon, Remi and I were out for a walk enjoying the beautiful day and watching the runners. I wanted to walk to the finish line but for some reason Remi was reluctant, and wanted to go home. I conceded, we went home, and ten minutes later bombs went off at the finish line. Remi saved me and I am so grateful to him. Remi is truly a member of our family.

Mona

Ten days before my birthday, in October of 2011, Sam decided to change our date night to a “let’s find a dog” night. On a whim, we stayed on the F train for a few more stops; we headed to Fort Hamilton Parkway. We arrived and used Google Maps to find Sean Casey Animal Shelter- a no kill shelter in Brooklyn where they take all animals, even the exotic sort.

We went with no idea of whether we would bring home a dog or cat- maybe a bird. The kind people at Sean Casey showed us all of their dogs and cats that were upstairs. We saw some lovely animals, but none of which we felt were “ours.” There were no magic moments.

As we decided to leave and try another day, feeling fully disheartened, one of the workers told us to wait. He asked what we were looking for, and when we stated we needed a small dog, full of personality, which is interested in people, and without aggression issues, he said he had the perfect dog.

We waited in their attached pet store, looking at the birds and kittens. In walked the worker and this lovely little energetic tri-colored dog that upon seeing me, jumped up to lick my hands. She had no fur left over one eye, her coat was very thin, and she was wheezing and coughing. I knew at that moment, she was ours.

It was weeks before they let us take her home because she was so sick from infections and kennel cough they were afraid she would not make it or she would be too sick for us to care for. We went back every day after work to walk her and she would cry every time we left, breaking our hearts. Sam and I began nesting- we bought her a pink heart-shaped metal name tag, a crate, bedding, ceramic dog bowls in an iron stand, researched food and veterinarians, and finally they said we could bring her home.

October 8, 2011 we brought home our little Mona doggy. There have been trials with training and an unexpected awkward period of getting to know each other, but Sean Casey’s behaviorist was there every step of the way. They helped us learn what she needed and wanted and helped us learn to cope with her separation anxiety.

It’s nearly a year later and she is a happy and healthy part of our family who is full of energy and quirks. We love every bit of her, the dog who licks our feet at night and our faces in the mornings, the dog who barks at anything she feels like, running from one side of our Brooklyn floor-through to the other, the dog who has opened our hearts in ways we never imagined.

By Tabitha A. Manwaring

September 18, 2012