After taking a few weeks off, it was such a pleasure to come back and walk a new shelter dog. Many of the dogs that I knew had been adopted in the five weeks I had been absent and it was both strange and exciting to see so many new faces. After making my usual rounds through the kennels, I came upon Horton: a handsome boy with a large head and a cute pink nose. Horton hadn't been out for a walk yet that day, so I gladly turned over his walk card and leashed him up.
Horton is a happy dog. The kind of dog that puts the tiniest of smiles on your face for the rest of the day. The kind of dog that you know enjoys your company by the way he subtly nudges your thigh with his snout on a walk; or the way he'll lick your fiinger tips as you cuddle in the grass. Utterly content with everything in the world, Horton is care-free and just glad to simply BE.
Sitting beside one another on the pier in Aquatic Park was almost soothing. His calm energy and demeanor made me feel relaxed, happy and sure that all was right with the world-- even if only for the short time that we were together.
Horton was often picking up pine cones on our walk together-- every several feet he would find a new one, leading him to drop his current one because he had found something better. Horton finally settled on one though-- the biggest of them all. A pine cone roughly the size of a football that he gladly chewed apart while he lay in the grass.
Oh Horton, you're just so sweet!
Text and photos by Sam.
5 comments:
These pictures are sooo cute! Thanks for sharing them. And it looks like an adoption is pending for Horton, right?
I am completely and utterly in love with this dog. He is the best dog I have ever met in my life, and it totally breaks my heart that he will be adopted by somebody else. I kept on hoping and praying that he would stick around long enough for us to find a new place to live that allows big dogs, and I took him out every time I went. I worked hard to develop a strong bond with him, but apparently it wasn't meant to be. *Sigh*, I just hope he will be happy.
-Maya
Wow, Horton sure made a lot of friends in his short time at the shelter! I thought it was just Patsy and I who were sharing "walk custody" of him, but it looks like he had an even broader fan base. Good luck Horton -- you're a great breed ambassador.
Horton's face makes me laugh - he IS a Dr. Seuss pit bull if I ever saw one - I bet he hears the Whos all the time, which would explain his merry grin... :D
I know exactly how you feel, Maya. It truly is bitter sweet to see a dog that you love go into someone else's home. I looked for MONTHS to find an apt that I could live in so I could adopt my favorite dog, Higgins. It wasn't meant to be.
You're happy that he's in a home, but sad that's it's not yours. I completely understand. If you love volunteering at the shelter like I do, it is something that you will learn to accept with time.
He won't forget you, Maya.
-- Sam
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