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| Name: |
Ethan
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Age: |
Eleven months old
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| Gender: |
Male |
Breed: |
Whippet mix |
| Home: |
Arkansas, USA |
First
of all, I was rescued from a horrible owner that kept me cooped up
in a crate all day and night inside a house with 60 other dogs! It stunk
so badly. He never cleaned and I never felt loved. Some nice people
finally noticed the condition we were being kept in and came to rescue
us. I wasn't immediately put up for adoption because I was in dire need
to gain quite a few extra pounds. Eventually I was well enough to go to
Petco with a few other dogs, so people would adopt me! I had so much
hope that I would be adopted, but no one seemed to pick me over the
little puppies running around. Barely anyone even glanced at me while
they were awing over the babies. Yes, I did eventually get adopted.
Quite a few times in fact, but no one ever kept me for good. They always
brought me back to the shelter, saying that I was too shy. I couldn't
help it if I didn't feel very secure in new places. Anyhow, on September
18th a family came. They immediately saw me and went up to me instead of
the puppies. I actually felt like these people were okay, so I allowed
them to pet me. They had even brought their dog that they already had, a
pug/rat terrier mix, to meet whomever they were to adopt. I just knew
this was the right family that would have enough patience with me. They
were. After they finished filling out some paper work we were ready to
go to my new home. They said that they were just fostering, but later I
was told that I was going to stay with my new family - forever.
They were completely patient with me my first few weeks. It took me
quite some time to open up to them. In fact, I wouldn't even leave the
couch for the first week or so, but Frisk-man, the pug/rat terrier mix,
showed me that it's okay to have a little fun sometimes. I was soon
exploring the house and getting acquainted with the rest of the family -
or at least trying to. There was only one that didn't accept me until
over a month later - Melani. She is one vicious cat! She wouldn't leave
me alone for weeks! She would constantly hiss and swat at me with her
claws out, leaving he trembling in a corner. She eventually got used to
me.
I have really had a great time at my new home. I still am really timid
around strangers, but I love to go for my daily walk around the
neighborhood, there are so many nice people here that tell me how cute I
am! I don't trust people who pet me on top of the head; it makes me feel
like they are more powerful than me. I really prefer it when others pet
me on my chin or on my back. Frisk-man has become my best friend, and my
leader. When I am outside, and not on a leash, I never venture more than
ten feet away from him. Sometimes I get on his nerves when I act a little
too playful, but he always gives me a warning before he loses his
temper with me. He might be shorter than me, but he can produce a pretty
powerful tackle!
I am extremely protective over my family now. I feel that since they
saved me from spending the rest of my life in that shelter, I should
protect them even more. I send out my bark that sends any intruder
running. Those squirrels don't stand a chance! I even stand up to things
bigger than me, like when Ally, a neighboring black lab, started getting
sassy with me, I lunged to the end of the leash and snarled. She didn't
bark at me for days! (Don't worry, I didn't even get within eight feet of
her, I just gave her a warning.)
I still haven't gotten this "potty training" thing under control, but I
am working on it. My mum also says that I have a chewing problem. How
was I supposed to know that the brand new Trace Adkins CD wasn't a
chew toy?
Anyhow, I am really grateful that I was adopted into such a loving home.
And I really appreciate the nice people at the shelter that took care of
me for as long as they did.
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