When Dogs Choose You

Some lines were meant to be crossed. Some dog breeds were not.

The staff at Best Friends Animal Society’s Little Lebanon area grinned as I walked away that frigid January eve. It was the first tine they had given me a dog to take on a sleepover evaluation. Selected from the German Shepherds, Lab mixes and a myriad of over-grown Hines 57’s was my charge. Flipper. They sent Flipper, a pint-sized Westie, Poodle, cotton ball mix overstuffed with teeth and attitude.

Fashion conscious mutt breeders have a name for Flipper’s probable cross – Westiepoo. I also had a name for this affront to nature – absurd-a-poo. Deaf dogs; Dalmatians, Ausies and mutts of substantial size have always been my game. I’d gone so far as turning off Westminster when the Terrier and/or Toy classes entered the ring, tossing popcorn at the screen and shouting, "boo hiss." Yup, big dogs are in my blood.

The Caregivers of Little Lebanon thought they were oh so clever sending Flipper home with me. I read them like a book. They saw Flipper as a good match for me. In their eyes was an older gal who had no dogs. I’d just returned from Asia, apparently with a target on my forehead – shaped like a terrier. "There’s no chance I’ll adopt this dog," I’d rail. Even Flipper ignored me. Once placed in my arms he’d attach himself like a barnacle to a hull. True, Flipper did need someone with no other dogs, someone like me. Why? Because he was 17 lbs of aggression.

I knew I was being subtly tag-teamed. My imagination jumped in on the game. On occasion I thought I heard Flipper speak up. "You’re a zoologist. Overcoming my ravenous bite history will make me an interesting behavioral challenge." Other times I had nightmares about the Caregiver’s ulterior motives. "Get that yipping, dog aggressive, food aggressive, crate aggressive, toilet paper aggressive gremlin out of our canyon. We're running low on band aids."

Full days and long nights took over. The Lebanon dogs, which had been evacuated from Beirut during last fall’s conflict with Israel, were being prepped for a big adoption fair in Phoenix. I took dogs on outings, dogs on overnight and dogs on drives. Observations of behavior, writing notes and vacuuming my Jeep filled every free moment. But, something else began to happen. Every second night Flipper came home with me. First he was suggested, and then to my dismay, he was requested. Had I gone mad?

Okay, so he was kinda cute. And, around me he became friendly, overflowing with exuberant kisses. Even his obsessive unrolling of my toilet paper rolls had a certain charm. And yes, his perfectly round doe eyes had an innocents about them. Still, I would not let the maniacal creature and his care giving conspirators break my will. I laughed at every suggestion that I adopt the little antagonist. No doubt, I was still laughing as I filled out the adoption application. Denial is a hardy foe.

Eight months later it’s all perfectly clear. Letting a dog choose us is one of the best parts about volunteering at Best Friends. I’m on staff now. Since adopting Flipper, I’ve seen families looking to adopt puppies on Monday, leave at week’s end proudly loading a dog from Old Friends into the family station wagon. They couldn’t smile any bigger.

Workshop attendees arrive by plane only to drive rental cars across country when they’ve been chosen by a dog with separation anxiety. Pit mixes charm poodle fans. Even with cats, it happens. Calico aficionados will have a tabby say, "No, I’m the one you want. You may take me home now." Somehow the chosen know to listen.

What better way is there to select, or be selected by, a new family member? With a top-notch volunteer program, thousands of acres to hike and on-site cabin rental the Best Friends sanctuary gives people and animals the gift of time. There is time for you to get to know the real heart of a potential pet regardless of age, size, breed or even initial temperament and time for the right animal to choose your heart, giving you the gift of their love in exchange.

Wanderlust Ink
The official web site of satirist Nola Lee Kelsey!