A New Home for the Holidays

Even though it wasn't the change I was referring to yesterday, things certainly got shaken up this morning. Sam woke me up at 7 am barking at a stray dog who was roaming the street in front of our house. I got up, grabbed a couple milkbones, and spent the next twenty minutes sitting at the end of the driveway convincing the stray I wouldn't hurt him.

He trusted me pretty quickly, and I let Sam out to sniff him. They greeted each other, then followed me into the yard. I fed the stray boy a cup of kibble, which he wolfed down, and a few chicken treats from Sam's stash. He was skittish for an hour or two, so I put Sam inside when the new boy was getting overwhelmed and let him figure things out at his own pace. I showed him where the water dish was and he drank, and then I sat down in the yard with him and he immediately crawled into my lap. Definitely a sweetheart.

The stray kid

I took the stray to the vet and he checked out okay--no heartworms or intestinal parasites. He was covered in ticks, and he smelled like a zoo, but other than being a little thin he was in good health. He's around a year and a half old, and probably 40-50 pounds.

Playing with Sam

I called my parents to see if we could foster him, but with the surprise that's happening on Friday, that wasn't an option. So I took him to the Jacksonville ACPS, and it really wrenched my heartstrings to hand him over. He was afraid and trying to get back into my lap, and the workers there treated him as though he might attack at any moment. He's a chow mix, and he's got that big strong head, but not once in the five hours I had him did he show any sign of aggression, even when Sam was jumping all over him and knocking him down trying to play.

Give this boy a chance!

So if any of you readers live in the Jacksonville area and are looking for a new family member for the holidays, please give this boy a shot. You can reach ACPS at 904-255-7387. Thank you!