Editor’s note: Tara and I have been friends for what seems like forever. We met while working together at a music store and even though many miles separate us now, we keep in touch over email and facebook. When I read this story, I knew I had to share it with you. I’ve been following Tara’s adventures into dog parenthood and I think this is just a wonderful “tail”. (hehe) ~ Liz
A few months ago, Gabe and I decided it would be a useful and thoughtful use of our time to walk dogs at the animal shelter. Truly we were egged on by the fact that his mother was prodding that we do so out of the goodness of our hearts. So one day we suited up and drove to the humane society doorstep. I openly admitted that I never dog walked for the shelter before because I knew full well that if I did, it would end with me being the proud owner of 100 dogs.
I spoke too soon.
I may not own 100 dogs at this point in time, but I sure do own one little beautiful creature named Savannah. She was one of the first faces we saw that day, peering out the window of a solitary confinement room. She’d been brought in by bylaw, no history, just a sweet tan and blond face and a sunny disposition. She shoved her nose at the window and hopped up wanting to greet us. She tossed around a little football squeaker toy to her heart’s content. She made us fall in love.
Fast forward a few weeks – we’d gone back to the shelter time and time again, reciting the redundant refrain of “is Savannah out of isolation?” until finally one day she was out. I remember the first time I walked her she’d only been out in a kennel for a few hours… you could tell all her time alone had led to bottled up energy. She loved people, dogs, the sky, the ground — everything. She gazed up at you while you walked her, as though checking to see if she was doing alright by your standards. She pranced along the street and bounced through the grass like a little blond bunny…
After many conversations, balancing the pros and cons, long walks around the shelter’s industrial area environment and weighing the possibility, Gabe and I adopted her. I took her for a 30 minute walk and by the time I returned, the papers were signed and we were to pick her up the next evening.
Immediately we went and packed our lives with dog food, rawhides, squeaky and non-squeaky toys, blankets and a little black kennel for the end of the bed. It was all for the new member of the family – a 7 month old, mixed breed beauty… scratch that; OUR 7 month old, mixed breed beauty. She excitedly jumped into the car with a cone still fastened to her collar… she explored the house with vigor and quickly realized she was home.
It’s been over a month now and she’s the most amazing thing to come home to…. always happy, loving, adorable, hilarious, yet sometimes a headache, of course. Every time I look at her I’m so overjoyed that we saved her and can walk her every single day now. Her adoration for the snow keeps the winter months bearable and her adoration for us makes it hard to imagine life without her.
Tara McCarthy is a freelance writer, journalist and CBC Radio personality living in Whitehorse, YT.