Friday, December 09, 2005
The Sensitive Soul
There are people who are very sensitive to crowds and strangers. You may be one of these folks. Parties are exhausting, chatting with strangers is stressful, and you would really rather just kick back somewhere quiet with a good friend and relax.Not everyone is a party animal and the dogs here in our shelter are no different. As you walk down the aisle of kennels you may be met with friendly tail wagging wiggly dogs, excited dogs ready to play, barking dogs, shy quiet-in-the-back-of-the run dogs, or growly grumpy dogs.
Today in our kennels is a dog named "Elmer". He is a wonderful rottie mix who is a deep and sensitive soul. He does not like living in a kennel where it is loud and busy. All those people coming in to stare at him makes him very nervous. He has decided that being growly and barky is the best coping strategy. This is unfortunate since it makes many people just walk right by. No one wants a dog that is scary.
But wait, folks! This is just Elmer when he is in his kennel. Out with the volunteers or trainers he is a very sweet boy. His quiet and gentle demeanor lends itself to spending time sitting outside just enjoying a sunny day or watching the squirrels. He loves to ride in the car, is good with other dogs, and will offer his paw for shake hands.
If you are planning to adopt this season from a shelter, and you meet a dog like Elmer in the kennel, ask someone more about the dog. Maybe he is a wonderful dog who finds himself in a very difficult situation. Maybe he is the friend you have been looking for.
