Tales & Tails of New York

  "I came here today to adopt a dog and I will not leave without one."  

So were my words in 1987 to a kennel attendant (or adoption counselor) when visiting the ASPCA which then had the contract for "animal control" in New York City.  

I was looking to adopt a German Shepherd or Shepherd mix that day.  A few months before, we had lost our wonderful, Harlem-rescued, German Shepherd, Heidi to cancer.  Heidi was only nine-years-old.  

But, at this particularly time, it seemed that I had gone to the ASPCA on the only day in their entire history that they had no German Shepherds or even a Shepherd mix for adoption!  

"All I am saying is that we get Shepherd mixes all the time. You're welcome to come back another day," the attendant assured me.   

I got the feeling the ASPCA staffer wasn't all that interested in seeing any of the 30 or so dogs in the dreary adoption ward that day get adopted.  

I was with my daughter, Tara who was then about 12-years-old.  She asked if we could see a five-month-old mixed breed puppy in one of the cages.   

The attendant removed the exuberant puppy from the cage.  He was sweet and adorable. But, while Tara played with the puppy, my eyes wandered over to a very scared looking, blonde Dingo-type adult dog in one of the cages.  She was frozen in the back of her cage and her eyes looked terrified.  

"Can we see that dog?" I asked the attendant.  

"Oh, I wouldn't take that dog," the man said with a note of disdain in his voice.  "She's too timid."  

"Well, let me decide that," I told him.  "Please take her out of the cage."  

The dog, who appeared to be an odd mixture of Lab and Whippet or ten other breeds was about a year-old and extremely thin.  She seemed gentle, but extremely shy.  

"Do you think she will be good with cats?" I asked the attendant.  

"We have no way of knowing that," the man told me. "I think you should take the puppy."  

Perhaps the fact that the kennel staffer seemed so unsympathetic to the large, skinny mutt I was petting, or perhaps because I sensed the outgoing puppy would have a better chance of adoption, I finally told the ASPCA worker that I wanted to adopt the shy Lab or whatever mix.  

Although Tara seemed to like the puppy better, I assured her that the puppy would probably be adopted by other people.   

"I don't think anyone is going to adopt this poor girl." I said to Tara, pointing to the Lab cross.  

Then, after petting the skinny dog's head, Tara agreed.   "Yes, Mom, she seems to need us more."  

The kennel worker seemed scornful of our decision, "Whatever you say, Ma'am, but I still think you'd be better off with the pup."  

The thin, blonde dog reacted with sheer terror when the kennel worker slipped a leash over her head and tried to lead her out of the adoption ward.   She pulled backwards with all the seeming strength in her thin body.  

"You still sure you want that dog, Ma'am?" my reluctant adoption counselor said to me.  

"I'm sure," I told him emphatically.  

During those days the ASPCA was then "euthanizing" more than 85% of the animals that came into its shelters.   I wondered to myself if this frightened dog I was just adopting "sensed" the ominous atmosphere around her?   

I imagined the perceptive dog would have fought with all her might, a trip to the euthanasia room.  

"It's OK" I whispered in my mind watching the dog struggle, almost violently against being pulled out of the adoption ward.   "You're not being pulled to your death.  You are being freed from here."  

After completing paper work, Tara and I left the ASPCA that day with the blonde dog with the long, thin face we named, "Fawn" (because she looked so much like a deer).  

We would have Fawn for the next 12 years.  From the day we brought her home, Fawn was the closest thing to being the perfect dog.   She was great with cats, wonderful and devoted to my daughter, my Mother and me. To this day, Fawn ranks as one of the smartest and most sensitive dogs I ever had (along with Heidi, our previous German Shepherd).  

There is little doubt in my mind that Fawn's incredible intuition, sensitivity and intelligence warned her of the dangers she was facing while at the ASPCA.  

While I never, for a moment, regretted the adoption of Fawn, I often wondered of the puppy we almost adopted that day.  Did the sweet, little male, black and tan mutt get adopted?  I sure hope so.  

The reason why I think of all this now, is because I am constantly struck by how many people these days, "shop around" for animals.  

They search adoption sites, visit shelters or rescue groups and ask dozens of questions -- as if searching for some kind of "guarantees" with animals.  

But, I recall on that day in 1987, the ASPCA couldn't seem to answer any questions I had or give any "guarantees."   Nor, did the animal attendant even promote the dog I was interested in.  Moreover, I seemed to go to the shelter on the only day they didn't have what I was seeking: A Shepherd or Shepherd mix.  

Look somewhere else or "come back another day?"  

No way.  

In the end, it was all a matter of adopting the dog who seemed to most need my daughter and myself that day.  

Fawn was forever grateful and devoted to us.  

And never for a second was the decision to adopt Fawn one to look back on or regret in the slightest way.  

It indeed, was the right one.  

Seek not the fantasy, nor necessarily what you want:   Seek what needs and appreciates you most. That you will find and it will be right.                                                   

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• #2 Comment from a5150petlover 
  12/21/05 11:00 PM | Permalink

  I'm very sad to hear your frustration, well deserved, of course, about he cats/dogs no one wants to bother with.  I only wish I was close so I could take the Siberian (?) whatever cat to foster.  I myself have three cats, I adopted two older cats and one kitten.  They all are special, but must admit, at my age, I leave the kittens to the young ones!!!!!
  I work for a local humane shelter and am appalled by the lack of respect and dignity give to animals.  How they want to pawn them off to some one else.  Unbelieveable.
  I just hope that you have more good days than bad.  The phone call about the cat disturb me so much.  I wished I could help.
  Take care and God bless you and all the animals.
  TJ
• #1 Comment from taramarina1 
  12/13/05 3:53 PM | Permalink

  What a touching story about adopting an animal.  Your point is well taken about how much of matter of commitment is made when we decide to take an animal into our home.  It is interesting how we seem to focus so much on the "external" characteristics of an animal, as opposed to the more important "internal" characteristics of one.  Thank you for sharing this sweet story.