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| Name: |
Dobby
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Age: |
Unknown
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| Gender: |
Female |
Breed: |
Border Collie/Rat Terrier Mix
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| Home: |
Fishers, Indiana, USA |
I sat staring at this prompt for a couple minutes, "What makes [my] dog special?" I couldn't even think of a place to start. Everything about her is special. That being said, I decided to start with where I started with her; adoption day.
The day before I got her, I found her through Petfinder, where I had been spending three to five hours a week trying to find a new dog. This had gone on for months before I found her. I saw her and immediately got a warm and fuzzy feeling that told me how I needed her. I called the shelter and asked if she could be reserved until four days later, when I would be off of work and able to make the couple-hour drive. They said that they couldn't, even though they would love to. They did, however, allow me to come in well before hours so that I could see her the next day and take her home if it went well. They said she was about 5-6 years old, but did not know for sure.
I got there, and they warned me up front that she never really showed interest in her visitors, and that they hadn't ever heard her bark. I went in the little play room they have, and she immediately went to the door, trying to get to the staff she knew was there. I kept trying to interact, but she would only notice me for a few seconds at a time. That is, until I found the tennis ball in the toy bin. That got her going. She started wagging her tail, playing, and even let out the first of many barks I would hear since getting her.
I ended up bringing her home, where she was very stressed. For weeks, about three actually, she paced and panted almost nonstop. She warmed up to me and my then partner, but never stopped stressing. Right as she finally started to feel comfortable in our bed, stopped stress panting all the time, and started acting like a dog, my partner and I broke up. This causes me to have to move back home briefly, with a mother that did not want a dog.
Despite it breaking my heart, I had no choice. I had to have a place to live. The shelter said they would take her back and that they understood. My mom went to get her and take her to the shelter, as I did not have the heart to do so. My mom and stepdad went to get her, and take her potty before the couple-hour trip, when she did something she always did. She kicked behind herself after going potty, which, by the way, she does on command. My stepdad fell in love and convinced my mom to keep her.
Since then, I've seen more and more strides. I've learned that she loves to swim and play in puddles, and that car rides are a blast. She still has an undying love of tennis balls, and she'll mimic a human when begging for food. She is still scared of storms, and is scared that every time I leave, I won't come back. But she's such an amazing dog with a such a sweet personality, and I am incredibly lucky to have her. I love and cherish every minute I have with her, and hopefully this story and the pictures have made you fall in love too.
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