when they get a forever family

rescue work is bitter sweet sometimes.

i so love the work and it makes my heart sing when one of our rescues gets adopted and joins a forever family. i love the feedback we get when they tell us of how well the pet is fitting within the family dynamic.

but i miss them all the same.

i bond with all our rescues, they love us and are joyful to be around us. when we enter the shelter, they are so happy to see us, they give us kisses and jump for joy upon our arrival and the attention we give them.

rescue animals know from whence they came. they remember what it was like out there on the streets, they know the difference between love/affection and disdain/indifference/anger. therefore, they truly love us.

but when they leave the shelter to go to a home, I would like to think that they miss me, even if they don't want to live in the shelter.

usually when they go from the shelter to a home, they won't bark for the first three weeks. studies suggest that is because they are not sure if they are in THEIR home for about that long, so they won't bark until they are comfortable with what they know is THEIR family and home.


this past weekend one of our rescues was adopted by a family who had adopted from us previously. they had adopted one of our waveland mississippi - hurricane rescue dogs. BUDDY. Buddy is a large silly black lab. he has been so very happy with them, but he wanted a playmate. they listened to him and came back to us to find him the perfect playmate. GIZMO won their heart.

so. gizmo left on saturday when i was out of the shelter. he spent the weekend getting to know them and understanding cats. he loves everyone; espicially the child and BUDDY. he follows buddy everywhere and is learning very quickly when and where they are allowed to play. which is everywhere.

ANYWAY. to make a long story longer.

he went in for his wellness check up we do for all our rescues on monday. I happened to be in the vets on monday and since i had not had a chance to tell him goodbye when he left the shelter I went to speak to him. he was resting comfortably in his cage and when I walked in and spoke his name he looked up, stood up and looked down at the ground.

I got him out of the cage expecting him to greet me happily as he had so many days in a row at the shelter. however, instead, his tail was down, and when I tried to hug and love on him he just started walking toward the door with his tail down.

THE DOG WAS THINKING I WAS TAKING HIM BACK TO THE SHELTER.

he had gotten comfortable in his home, he was happy there and i think that he thought that they had returned him and i was picking him up to take him back. I got a bit teary eyed, put him back in his cage and gave him one last kiss goodbye. told him i loved him and wanted him to have a fine life with his new family. i know he will, it is the perfect home for any pet.

last night I got an email, he was so happy to be back home, he barked happily.

posted by Elizabeth @ 9:39 AM