THESE SHELTER DOGS AREN’T SO SHELTERED AFTER ALL. Successful adoption stories from the American Humane Society.
Django Submitted by Rob D. We decided to adopt a retired racing greyhound after our beloved Afghan/ golden retriever mix, Sophie, died. We contacted the greyhound adoption group and they decided we should meet Wishbone. We had seen him at a meetand-greet for greyhounds and been struck by what a beautiful black-andwhite dog he was, but we were told that someone else was already planning to adopt him. It turned out that several others had first shot at adopting him, but they were all put off by his having
to be dragged from the back room of his foster home, obviously terrified. He was waiting just for us, it seemed. It took an hour before we could sit by him and touch him, but we decided he just needed a home and love, and he would be alright. The truth is, it took a lot of effort after he came home with us, and there were times we almost gave up. Finally, we decided to accept him on his terms. He needed a quiet home where he could lay peacefully on the couch and run circles in the backyard and have unconditional love. We accepted that he would never be able to even go on a simple walk with us,
as he found the world too scary. But Django (his new name) became the perfect dog in so many ways. He is the sweetest and most gentle dog I have ever known, and our lives have been enriched greatly by sharing our home with him. He is beloved by all our friends now, even the ones who suggested we give up on him. As a greyhound who relaxes peacefully on his couch all day but needs to run, our backyard has suffered greatly. Where there had been a lawn, there is now just a dirt “racetrack.” There are also large holes where he engages in his life’s happiest moments — digging. We just let it be for now.
