Second Chance

(Meant to be, Too)

            My girlfriend Barb and I have developed this habit of meeting for lunch on Tuesdays and then stopping by the pound if we had time afterwards

The day was a Monday and my path took me right by the pound, so I decided to stop in and see what was there a day early.  I thought, what the heck, I cant hurt to swing by.

My husband and I had talked about getting another Australian Shepherd as a companion for our other Aussie, Fibi.  She seemed to be quite lonely in the kennel while we were at work, despite our efforts to wear her out and giving her new toys and treats all the time to try and help keep her entertained, I could see that many days the toys sat untouched. 

Now, my husband wasnt really keen on the idea of a second dog.  He wasnt originally excited about the first one, though he had grown to adore her, some days she was about all he could take, but Dale did realize that his little girl needed a friend. 

So, on this early spring, mid-Monday, strolling through the pound with no purpose other than to peruse, I saw him. 

His coat was dull and needed to be brushed, but his eyes shone brightly.  The card on the pen read: Aussie X, Male, Black with White, 1 year, Andy.  Under comments it read: seems very nervous on slick floors.

He was an owner surrender and was available immediately. 

I decided to take him out to the observation area and see how he was.  There must be a reason he was surrendered.

After letting him run around and sniff the area and relieve himself I knelt down and called him to me.  He bolted over to me at once and sat in front of me, laid his head on my chest, and briefly stared deeply into my eyes.  I was smitten, that legendary Aussie eye contact had me in its grasp.

I want home and debated for a couple hours whether or not to even ask my husband.  He had quite a time deciding to get the first dog and I wasnt sure if he was ready for another one, or if I wanted to go through what we had the first time.  I finally decided that I would go to his job and ask him to go look at the dog, not to make any decisions, just take a look.

When I arrived at the job he was almost done and in a good mood, while he finished up, I explained the situation.  I asked him to go and take a look to see what he thought.  Maybe he wouldnt like his coloring or the way he looked, I didnt know.

We got to the pound about ten minutes before they closed and sadly my poor Andy had been adopted some twenty minutes earlier.  I tried to be happy that hed gotten a home, although I would never know if it were a good one.  One of the shelter workers informed me then, that Andy had been there all weekend without much interest and so by Monday evening he was living on borrowed time anyway.

Dale and I went home and discussed again getting a pal for Fibi, but still no firm decisions, but thats not the end of the story

The next day Barb called and we met for lunch, while we ate I told her all about the previous days events and she told me she would keep her eyes peeled for a good Aussie.  She had some time left when we were done eating and was heading that direction, so we headed for the pound.

We started in the cat room like always, sticking our fingers through the bars and playing with all the wonderful kitties, wiggling the papers in the cage or scratching an ear, then on to the dog room.  We did our best to pet and scratch the doggies, but its kind of difficult through the chain-link gates.  Its hard to ignore the urge to take them all home, but if I can be the one who tells a friend about a dog and they decide to go get it, it gives me the greatest feeling of joy, even saving just one.

On our way out of the dog area after loving all the pooches, a guy was bringing in a mid-sized scruffy black dog.  Barb commented, "How sad", meaning how sad is it that someone wasnt willing to make a real commitment to their pet.  I said nonchalantly "That dog looks kind-of like Andy."  Then it hit me "That dog is Andy!" I exclaimed.  I ran over to the man, startling him, the shelter worker and most of all Andy.  "Ill take him!" I blurted and realizing how rude I was being, completely forgetting that Dale and I still hadnt decided on whether or not to get another dog, "Are you bringing him back", I clamored.  I wasnt going to miss out on this dog again.  The man, still a little startled and beginning to look confused, replied, "Yes."  I took a deep breath and tried to calm down a bit and said again, "Ill take him."  The shelter worker asked if I was able to adopt a dog and I answered with a resounding, "Yes!" 

As I filled out the paperwork, I explained the previous days events to the man and the Shelter worker.  When I asked why he was bringing Andy back, the guy said his four year old daughter was scared of him and he wasnt sure why, because their previous dog was a much larger Husky.  The Shelter worker then informed me that I could contact the previous owners if I wanted and gave me their phone number.

Just now, you might be thinking, what an exhilarating ending, it must have been kismet, but I still had my husband to explain this to. 

I got home and as soon as I let Andy loose in the house he bounded up and over the recliner, across the back of the couch and down the hall, leaping into the middle of the bed and wiggling all over.  I could tell I would have my work cut out for me, I had just brought home Encino Dog. 

When Dale got home I asked him, "Please, be patient."  Generally, before we make any big decisions we consult each other, but it doesnt always happen.  My husband has been known to buy things without any prior discussion, but its usually something like golf clubs or maybe a new game for the computer or Playstation, not a living being.  I explained that Barb and I had made our usual journey to the pound and as we were leaving, the guy who had adopted Andy was bringing him back and I just couldnt take the chance of loosing him again.

Dale sighed, rolled his eyes and said, "Let me see him."  I brought Andy out of the house (where he was already becoming much more sedate) and stood on our patio.  Dale looked him over and I asked, "What do you think?  If you really dont like him, Ill take him back, I just wasnt going to miss out on my second chance."  Dale sighed again and thought for a minute, as he looked Andy over again, "I just cant let the little guy think hes had a home twice and take that away, he can stay." 

It was a little rough at first between Dale and Encino Dog.  I think Dale resented me a bit at first for getting him, but Fibi absolutely loved him, they are like littermates.  I could see immediately that Fibi was so much happier.  Dale could see it too and slowly Andy became his "Little Buddy". 

Recently I was going to a Flyball tournament.  I was taking both dogs and if things worked out right, it was going to be Andys first time to run in a tournament.  Dale asked before I left, "Are you really taking Andy?" and I replied, "Yes, hes supposed to run."  Dale said, "Well, Im gonna miss my Little Buddy, were not gonna have our male bonding time."

Andy is almost two and has been with us for just about a year now, hes become an integral part of our family.  We cant imagine life without him.  He hasnt acquired any Flyball titles yet, but his second tournament is coming up soon and the rest of our team and I are sure it wont be long.  It just must have been meant to be too.

Tanya J. Barker

Update: On March 27^th 2003, Andy turned three years old.  The weekend of April 4 & 5th, 2002 Andy earned his first three Flyball titles FD, FDX and FDCh (Flyball Dog, Flyball Dog Excellent and Flyball Dog Champion) not unheard of, but a feat no less, and on November 17^th 2002 Andy earned his Canine Good Citizen (CGC).  Andy is now titled, Andys Little Piglet CGC FDCh.