Here comes Hogan

So, going back to January 2006 we got our first shelter dog, Hogan.  Walking into PetSmart, I didn't know they were having pet adoptions on that day.    There he was....the most beautiful dog with the saddest eyes lying in a crate.  Oh, there were other dogs that day, but Hogan grabbed at my heart.  The woman who ran the shelter said he was a German Shepherd mix; a black and golden color.  He looked dirty and I could tell he had been at the shelter for a while.  I told my son to walk Hogan just to see what he was like.  So he walked around the store with Hogan by his side, and he looked so happy with his waggy tail.   I really liked this dog, but I thought we would go to other shelters too.  So we spent most of the day travelling around Las Vegas animal shelters, but I kept thinking about Hogan.  So we went home, brought my daughter with us and adopted him.   As I was signing the paperwork, one of the women working at the shelter told me that Hogan had been adopted several weeks before, but the people dumped him and his adoption paperwork over the fence at the shelter one night.  When the shelter found him in the morning, they called the adopters and they explained that Hogan was aggressive and they didn't want him anymore. I just didn't see him having a mean bone in his body.  We finalized the paperwork, they gave us a leash, and away we went to purchase some things he needed.  After spending about $400 on several dog bowls, food, a leash, dog treats and a crate, we were on our way home.   Since we had so much to put in the car, my daughter wanted to walk Hogan and my son and I carried everything else.    You have to realize she never walked a dog before, and so right in the middle of the parking lot she was face first on the ground with Hogan still pulling her.  I guess it wasn't a good idea that she wore flip flops that day.  Needless to say, we were all laughing real hard looking like fools!   So begins the story of Hogan, our first shelter dog.

Ah……There’s nothing like a shelter dog!!

Life with mutts, life with shelter dogs…whatever you want to call it doesn’t matter.   Shelter dogs are usually a mixed breed, and they’re the best kind of dog!!!   Shelter dogs look at you with those loving eyes, and of course, show off their many talents when you walk past the pens in the shelter hoping that someone will fall in love and take them to a real home with toys and food and rugs and grass….shall I go on?  From the moment a shelter dog enters your home, they know they belong there and will do anything to please you.  They are the most loving and grateful because they’ve endured sometimes years of not knowing what it’s like to be loved by a human being.   It sure beats sitting in a pen lying on cold concrete.  We waited years until the kids were almost grown to get a dog.  We were too busy in life raising the kids, working, going to school….in general we didn’t have the time.  Then one day back in 2006, I looked at my son and told him we were getting a dog.  He looked surprised because I never wanted to make that commitment.  And this is important; my daughter was scared to death of dogs.  She was never chased or bit by one, but she would shudder with fear when she saw one.  Then why would we want to live with all the slobber and smells, and a daughter who probably wouldn’t even look at the dog for goodness sake.   I’m not sure why, but I was ready to have a loyal companion come into our home and I’m glad because I never looked back.   This blog is to share all of the antics of our shelter dogs; all the joy they bring and heartbreak at times.