I’ve been volunteering lately at a wonderful local rescue called Paw’s Place Animal Rescue where I just met “Otis”, also a newcomer here. All of these animals have their own heart wrenching stories, and Otis has his. He was chained up by a 3 foot chain all his life. His owner dropped him off saying he was about to shoot the little guy! Jeeze! And even in the face of that, he’s such a sweetie pie.

Otis isn’t alone of course. Looking through the pictures in “Paw Prints”, a locally published animal adoption monthly, and reading their stories could break your heart.  The often sited reasons for abandoning these pets is sometimes maddening, sometimes just pitiful. Duchess a “delightful Jack Russell Terrier/Lab mix girl” lost her home of seven years when her human parents divorced. (Couldn’t even ONE of these people take responsibility for their dog?) I remember an older issue that featured a sweet looking dog that had spent its whole life being spoiled by her “mama” and was confused, depressed and heart broken when she passed away. Her daughter took it in, but couldn’t afford the little tike, and off to the pound she went. Awgh. Why did life just get so depressing? Then there’s “Oliver” a sweet looking Bull Terrier who was found tethered to a pole behind a house without food or adequate shelter. Dogs are dropped off because their owners moved into new housing that didn’t accept pets. Or are accident victims. Or had owners who couldn’t or wouldn’t pay for needed surgeries, or other care. One sad story after another.

But I have “Otis” to focus on, for the moment. Nancy of Paw’s Place Animal Rescue notified an English springer spaniel rescue so I’m expecting he’ll be only a temporary resident here.  I can’t save them all, but even if I make one or two dogs’ lives a little nicer that’s what I’ll do.

Today was my first real day working with him. Yesterday I wanted to just get to know him. He had such a tough time with his former owner, he didn’t need anything but lovin’ and praisin’ and a good walkin’ full of great stuff to sniff! Today though he had me smiling like a kid at Christmas when he went into his first “automatic sit” on his own. I had just started walking him in “heel”  by my side with my leash draped over my neck to avoid leading with the leash as I walked him; and Otis just dropped into his sit on my left as if he’d been doing it for years. “Good boy! What a good little man”

What was even more exciting was the ear to ear grin on HIS face when he recognized that he did something spectacular! He was looking up at me, tongue hanging out of his mouth with smiling eyes and a happy “Oooh isn’t life wonderful now” smile. I of course was pouring on the happy talk and giddy sounding praise to celebrate his moment with him. I can still feel his glow.

Dogs really love to please. And they thrive when they have a job to do. Not only that, but after all the mental work and focus; they relax into their calm-submissive follower state where they are truly balanced. This is where nature intended them to live. Aren’t dogs awesome?

Otis - English Springer Spaniel