Another Dog

 

We met on a blustery We met on a blustery November Sunday in the parking lot of Hermantown’s Wal-Mart.

Through a series of twists and bends in life’s road, he’d traveled from South Carolina to northern Minnesota. Through a series of Internet searches and numerous phone calls, we had driven from Grand Marais to Duluth.

Standing there on the asphalt with a northwest wind freezing off my ears, I eagerly scanned the area for a red Fiesta which would be transporting him. Once again, my life as well as my husband’s, was going to change. We were there to meet and take home a rescue dog.

Since Mr. Magoo, the pug, passed last summer, I’d gone through the usual “dog” grieving progression. First, I vowed never to get another dog and go through the dying process again. This vow began eroding when I kept noticing dogs—other people’s dogs.

I almost missed all the inconveniences— the dog hair on the floor —the walks through rain and shine, hot and cold.

Several weeks ago, when Dick and I both admitted we missed a dog in our lives, we acted. At my age, which is my 7th decade, I’m not about to get a puppy whose life expectancy might exceed mine, leaving a lonely and bewildered dog. Next best, I figured, was to adopt an older dog.

There’s no shortage of older dogs needing homes. This fact is noticeably obvious if you go to animal shelter websites. I spent some time researching, starting with the local Arrowhead Animal Rescue, finally finding a dog at Contented Critters Animal Shelter on the Iron Range.

I called and connected with the woman who was fostering him. He sounded perfect for our situation, a 78-pound male retriever mix and fine with children and people in general. He was a couch potato with a sweet disposition. It all sounded good, so we agreed to meet and make the exchange in Duluth.

The red Fiesta, carrying a young woman and a largish dog arrived. We greeted and talked. When time came for big dog to leave her car and enter mine, he wasn’t all that enthused, but we settled him in our vehicle and headed up the shore.

Now, a week or so later, Ky is adapting to our house and lifestyle. He was panicky for the first few days but is now comfortable with us.

Contented Critters Animal Shelter has the following guidelines for adopted dogs:

Three days to decompress.

Three weeks to learn the routine.

Three months to feel at home.

It’s working for us.