Yesterday I asked the shelter about a 14yr old dog who’d been an owner surrender.  The owner’s reason for surrendering this senior dog was that “insurance policies didn’t allow them to have her.”  Obviously this was false…she was an overweight shepherd mix with short legs. She was depressed and afraid, and had no idea why her lifelong family had deserted her in such a terribly frighteningly place.  Furious and so sad for her, I emailed to check on her.  Thankfully, another rescue stepped forward and saved her – Hooray!!  I was so relieved and excited for her!

However, there was another Pyrenees at the shelter (the same one that the ‘new crew’ came from).  The rescue liaison said she’d get back to me about the dog, so I said that was fine.  She later emailed me photos of the dog, explaining he was also an owner surrender, 135lbs, a livestock guardian, and depressed.  I asked a few more questions to get some background on him for some prep work (I’m a bit anal about knowing all I can in order to prepare for new dogs correctly here at the house), and she promptly replied.  Admittedly, I assumed he was dumped as most are (like the 14yr old dog), and the shelter was given some lame excuse as to why the owners didn’t want him. However, I was mistaken.

The owners had used this dog for a livestock guardian for their goats, and he did a super job guarding them. Unfortunately, they were an elderly couple, and they had to sell the goats because it became too difficult for them to care for them.  They also had to bring the dog to the pound for the same reason.  Sadly, the elderly man cried when he left his dear friend who had worked so hard for their family.  The shelter liaison said she really felt like he loved the dog, and that he was truly heartbroken.  Naturally, I felt like a huge jerk.

I told her I’d be there shortly to pick him up, so I got ready and headed in that direction.  I also asked her to let the family know he was safe, if at all possible (which she kindly did. 🙂 ).  When I arrived, they showed him to me, patiently waiting in his run, clean from a bath.  I bent down to talk to him, and he looked so sad and confused…so, I reassured him he was safe.  I did the paperwork, he said his goodbye to the staff, and we headed to the car.  Boy, was he thankful to be out of the pound…we hit the door, and his tail started wagging and he started to trot a little. 🙂 He jumped right in the car and made himself comfortable, and we began our journey to surprise “Grandma” and “Aunt” with our new friend.

His name was FIFI, but I opted to change it.  He is now named Paddington because he is such a kind hearted, grandpa disposition, sweet faced teddy bear.  He’s a Pyrenees mix, seemingly to be with Irish Wolfhound. He is very tall and leaner like a wolfhound, however still thick and solid like a Pyr (odd, but true).  He’s been clipped down, but he’ll have a longer, wavy coat, similar to his big, fluffy paws, he has an adorable scruffy face, a little tubby belly, and his eyes are full of expression.  He loves to give you “the paw” to let you know he wants you to keep petting, hugging or kissing him.  He was very tolerant of Benjamin’s obsession with him (a little Benji dog), as he kissed all over Paddington’s face, stepped all over him, and just didn’t leave him alone.  He respected the cat as his 10lbs held up a paw for a swat, making the 135lb dog walk away obediently.  He was obedient, kind, loving, and just down right irresistible.  Oh yes…and did I mention huge? 😉

So, Paddington is sleeping next to Grandma this evening, and I’ll pick him up tomorrow for his vet visit.  After all, Grandpa is out of town and he has to be her “guardian.”  I suppose that makes my mother a goat tonight? Perhaps I shouldn’t mention this to her…. 😉

Meet Paddington…a big teddy bear.

He looks like a polar bear as he sleeps! 😉