In 2004, I lost my soul-mate (furmate) Shadow unexpectedly. Shadow was a wonderful loving very special white GSD. I knew she could never be replaced. I had her only offspring, Gypsy and Lil Chris a cocker spaniel, who was actually older than Shadow. In Aug. 2006 the time came for me to say good-bye to Lil Chris at the age of 18 years. She had a good long life. Now Gypsy was all alone and I was concerned. She now just lay around and did nothing. She wasn’t much interested in playing. By November she was getting extra pounds, a GSD/Golden Retriever does not wear extra weight well. Shadow had hip dysplasia and I suspect Gypsy would as well. In December I finally decided to get another dog, an older rescue, a pal for Gypsy.
I started out by searching online, going to several White Shepherd Rescue sites and filling out pages and pages of forms. Next, I went to Petfinder.com and searched “Shepherd” in hope of finding a Gypsy pal. I found a couple that I was VERY interested in, with the help of some Animal Attractions members who called and asked about the dogs local to them, I was able to determine if they were right for my household. They didn’t get along with Cats, so they weren’t for me. I never heard anything from the White Shepherd Rescues.
At Petfinder.com I saw a pittbull puppy that looked like Petey from Little Rascals. I didn’t want a pittbull, I didn’t want a puppy, but there was something about this little dog and he was at my local pound, so what would it hurt to go look, right? I had no idea where the pound was, and since I wasn’t really interested in the puppy that much I decided that I would drive in the general direction and if I found the place without asking, I would go in. Needless to say I drove right to the place. I went in and asked if I could see the pup.
The big heavy door swung open and I could see the little puppy sitting at the front of the cage as sweet as could be, BUT there was one awesome bark coming from the back of the stalls. I stepped through the door and there SHE was! Just the dog I had been looking for! A beautiful black and tan female GSD I guessed to be maybe 3 years old from her size. She was very under weight and had bad cuts across her front legs. I asked them about her and why she hadn’t been listed on Petfinder. They said they couldn’t get her to sit still long enough to get a picture of her. I was told that they had chased her in a wooded area for a week trying to catch her. I suspect that is how her legs were cut, barbed wire across a field. They have to hold capture/pickups for at least 3 business days, since it had been a holiday week where the office had been closed made a long week end she had already been there 6 days but couldn’t be released until the next day.
I was there at 8AM the next day, an hour before the Pound opened. I left at the proud owner of a gorgeous dog. I went to a local farm supply and bought the biggest crate they had (believe me, it’s BIG) and had a friend bring it home in their truck, had to take it apart to get it in the house. I called right away and made an appointment with a vet, my Vet was out of town and I had to get her checked out because of my other animals. I was happy to learn she was worm and parasite free. But we sure had a time getting her to hold still for her heartworm blood draw. She weighed 74 pounds!
I have to thank everyone in Animal Attraction Chat for helping me with names. There were some awesome suggestions and input from everyone. I settled on a name I had picked out “Tala” Native American for “wolf” pronounced “tal-la”. I say it “Tay-la” though, or just Tay-Tay.