Get Shorty
Last weekend, Jason & I wandered unsuspectingly into our local Petco to get some cat food. It was Adoption Day.
I do not handle Adoption Days very well, because I get all teary-eyed when I think about the animals; animals who were abandoned; animals who were abused; animals who won’t get adopted. It bothers me.
So. There were lots of dogs there for Adoption Day. We both like dogs, but have, on more than one occasion, expressed our gratitude that we didn’t have to worry about a dog. As we were about to leave, I saw him.
Oh, his face! His eyes! His little short legs and adorable and silky brow wrinkle. I don’t know what it was about him, but I got teary-eyed just looking at him. Jason took one look and was in love. I lurched away dripping stupid tears down my shirt, and tried to compose myself in the aquatics section by pretending to be engrossed in a serious decision about whether or not I wanted a pet turtle.
When I came back, Jason was leading him outside. I started tearing up even more. “No!” I said. “Don’t take him outside unless you’re serious about adopting him. I can’t take it if we put him back.”
“I want him.”
So we carried this shivering, scared, slinky-tailed dog outside because he was too skittish to walk. And he was so sweet. We talked for awhile and decided we liked him. After he trotted back inside with Jason, we asked about him. We were told that he was one year old, and a yellow lab/corgi cross named Shortstop. It was his first day with the rescue organization and he hadn’t been vetted or neutered yet, so he wasn’t ready for adoption. That was fine, because we wanted to make our decision based on rational thought and not my sentimental feelings about animals.
So we talked about it, and discussed the cats, and our schedules, and our finances, and filled out the pre-adoption questionnaire and decided to go for it.
We canceled a months-planned camping trip to make sure we were first in line at the next Adoption Day. As people milled around the dogs on display, Jason and I stood in front of Shortstop’s cage, stone-faced sentinels ready to fight to the death to adopt him (some dogs had as many as 8 people fighting to adopt them). I was first in line to take him for a walk and after having the contact person interview us, we were approved to adopt Shortstop, aka Shorty.
He then celebrated his good fortune by taking a gigantic dump on the store floor.
He is nothing but a sweetie. He took to Jason first and clambered into his lap to have his belly rubbed. But I think he’s getting sweet on me too.
We were told he was a very shy and quiet dog, an act he kept up for about 4 hours, until I pretended to chase him around the yard and his amber eyes lit up and he started hopping after us like a deranged kangaroo, his tongue hanging out and his ears perky.
He developed a hacking cough yesterday after running around, and gave us the doggie equivalent of a Time Out by sitting down and coughing before jumping back up and chasing us.
I took him to the vet today. He has a case of kennel cough and a touch of mild pneumonia. He rode in the passenger seat of the car with his face pressed to the air conditioning vents, and when we checked in at the vet’s office, instead of sitting on the floor, he sat upright on the chair next to me, like a person. When I asked him if he wanted a magazine, he exhaled loudly.
The cats are doing well. We’ve been crating Shorty until he gets more comfortable, so the cats have had ample opportunity to approach him on their own terms. Abby seems to be fine about him, even though he chased her once. She set the tone by walking directly up to his crate, hissing loudly at him and walking away. Sunny spent the first day perched on top of the kitchen cabinets, but has been getting braver by the minute. They’ve been nose to nose with no problems. I think his coughing scares them more than anything. In time, I hope they can all be buds.
For now, everyone is getting extra attention, and we are thrilled to play with him, thrilled to give him a home, and thrilled that he is such an easygoing, sweet dog.
I am teary-eyed. You are Puppy Parents!!!! *beaming*
I love, love, love that his front feet are turned outward in the photos. Are they always like that?
Oh, man! I need to come meet your furry family!
Comment by Artemisia — August 11, 2008 @ 4:24 pm
Welcome to the puppy parent ranks. Seems so fitting that a dog with a baseball inspired name gets adopted by you two.
Congratulations to you Shorty! You couldn’t have picked better parents.
Comment by Emily — August 11, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
Artemisia,
Yep, his front paws do that all the time. I think he might have a little Sharpei in him too or something. He is so short! He doesn’t even come up to my kneecaps!
Comment by Shauna — August 11, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
I don’t handle adoption day well, either…..I would have MELTED over Shortstop…and the name? total kismet.
I just saw his corkscrew tail while I was screwing down and I knew he was a cool pup.
He looks like he likes forehead kisses, too.
Comment by Shannon — August 11, 2008 @ 6:14 pm
he is SO! SO! SO! CUTE!!! yay for you guys for adopting him. what a sweetie. as a bona fide cat woman (who also enjoys dogs) i will be requiring about 800 more photos. videos would be helpful as well
Comment by Alice — August 11, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
What a cute dog! Love his tail!
Comment by Fiona Picklebottom — August 11, 2008 @ 7:08 pm
Oh he is so cute!!!
I want a dog so bad but it’s just not possible with our schedules and commute. Please post lots of stories and pictures so I can live vicariously.
Comment by Deni — August 11, 2008 @ 7:32 pm
He’s adorable!!! I know just how you feel at Adoption Days. Our pet store has permanent cages and I have to avert my eyes to pretend there is nothing there. I just cannot handle the awfulness of animals in cages like that.
I also agree with Shannon that with a name like Shortstop, he was meant to be yours. Congrats!!!!
Comment by Shelly — August 11, 2008 @ 7:49 pm
What a lover! I can’t wait to meet my granddog!
Comment by Becky — August 11, 2008 @ 7:58 pm
Oh, he is beautiful! And clearly meant to be yours. I’m so excited for you!
Comment by Jess — August 11, 2008 @ 8:22 pm
He is absolutely adorable! I love how his little paws turn out. I cannot wait to hear about the adventures with “Shorty” and the cats. With a name like shortstop could he be a more perfect dog for you guys?!
Comment by Christina — August 11, 2008 @ 8:37 pm
Awww…I want one! He’s the perfect combo! Are your cats declawed? That is my biggest concern for when we do end up getting a dog. Congrats on the new edition to your family!
Comment by Sara — August 12, 2008 @ 6:16 am
He is SO adorable. Congrats, you two, now let’s see more photos!
PS - Your story is why I cannot walk past Petco on Saturday mornings. I WILL go home with a new doggie friend.
Comment by Stephanie — August 12, 2008 @ 6:58 am
Oh! I can’t see the pictures at work but I’m in love with him already!!!!
Comment by Sarah — August 12, 2008 @ 7:59 am
What a sweetie!! Congrats on your new addition — can’t wait to see more pics!
Comment by LA — August 12, 2008 @ 8:12 am
So, so cute! Sounds like things are working out well. I’m so happy for you guys!
Comment by Shelly — August 12, 2008 @ 8:14 am
Wow! You’re so brave and altruistic! Just watch those flip-flops:
http://meandyouandellie.blogspot.com/2008/08/tale-of-two-flip-flops.html
Comment by Ellie — August 12, 2008 @ 8:16 am
Wait, his name was ALREADY Shortstop? WHOA.
HE IS SO PRECIOUS ZOMG BLERGGGGGGGGGG
Comment by Tessie — August 12, 2008 @ 9:06 am
He’s precious!! Sounds like a friendly little guy, glad the cats are adjusting well.
Comment by nonsoccermom — August 12, 2008 @ 9:15 am
Sara, yep, our cats are declawed (Abby already was when I got her, and we had Sunny declawed so she didn’t have an unfair advantage), but I have no doubt they’ll be able to take care of themselves. They still have back claws, which they use with great kicking [and scar-inducing] success.
Tessie, I KNOW. He was already named that; it’s fate!
Comment by Shauna — August 12, 2008 @ 9:17 am
He is super-cute! Congratulations! I want a dog so badly, but we can’t have one in our apartment, and Ryan wants a cat first…I like cats too, so we’ll probably go that route once we can have a pet. Oh well.
I agree that you should post lots of pictures and stories of all your furry family members!
Comment by Becky — August 12, 2008 @ 9:25 am
Shauna and Jason,
Shorty is so very cute!! Congratulations on the adoption
Comment by Michelle Pierce — August 12, 2008 @ 10:55 am
He is so cute! I wouldn’t have been able to walk away from him, either. I think it’s funny how Jason just decided right then and there that he wanted Shorty. Congratulations!
Comment by Julie — August 12, 2008 @ 11:07 am
What a great name, and so cute! Congratulations on the new addition to your family.
Comment by My Buddy Mimi — August 12, 2008 @ 3:46 pm
Oh he is just PERFECT!!! What a handsome boy! I hope he feels better soon.
Comment by whimsy — August 14, 2008 @ 1:21 am
I had to come back and read this after reading Shorty’s one-year anniversary tribute. This is almost exactly how we got Indy…went to Petsmart, saw him, had to have him. Luckily we didn’t have to wait a month…I don’t know how you guys were able to stand it! <3 x a million to you and Jason and, of course, Shorty.
Comment by velocibadgergirl — September 2, 2009 @ 3:39 pm