Tornado Dog?

So I was thinking when I took Sophie for a walk the other day that maybe she is a dog displaced from the tornadoes in May.  Her tail is docked, not normal for a true stray.  She is very, very well mannered.  Housebroken.  Walks on a leash very well.

When we got close to some sprinklers that were on Sophie did not like the sound.  If you think about it, the sprinklers sound like a storm, wind and rain.

So I started thinking about the paperwork we got with Sophie.  Her intake date at the shelter was 6/10/2013.  About 20 days after the tornado, well, one of them, about a week after the other one hit that area.  I really think she was either lost or ran away or her home was lost during the tornado.

I know the shelter posts animals brought into the shelter to attempt to find their owners before being put up for adoption.  I know the Moore Animal Shelter was packed with animals so it's conceivable that whoever found Sophie either was asked to take her to the OKC shelter or did just knowing Moore's was so full.

We adopted Sophie on 8/5/3013 so she had been at the shelter for just shy of 2 months.  I think she was just days away from being euthanized.  That's sad because she is such a loving dog.

It's only been a couple of days and Sophie is so attached to me.  She is always right next to me.  She still doesn't care for treats or toys, just wants to be loved.  She does enjoy her rawhide 'bones'. She will hide them several times a day, just moves it from one room to another.  When she goes in her crate at night she gnaws on it finally.

We did have some pretty strong thunderstorms last night and still not a peep from Sophie.  Doesn't mean she wasn't scared but she didn't make noise about it.

We also decided her birthday is May 5th.  The paperwork says she is 2 years 1 month at in-take so that makes it May...I don't know how they figure age but May 5th, 2011 is as good a day as any.

Sophie

Here is a better picture of Sophie.  She has been wonderful.  She slept all night in her crate without a peep.  She came for a fast walk with me for about 3 miles and did awesome.  She is still exploring the house and yard but did really good in her crate while I was running errands.  No mess, no accidents.  Now if the boys would just leave the poor dog alone for 3 seconds!

Things Happen for a Reason

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am NOT super religious. Never have been. Organized religion never lines up with my beliefs so I do my own thing. Anyway, this post isn't really about that.

2 things in the last week which when going through it I thought "it's got to be happening for a reason but what reason?"

1.  The financial aid fiasco at school. I really want to take sign language but it's just not in the cards right now.  But I NEED to get a Bachelors degree.  So the financial aid stuff sort of forced me in that direction.  I'll find out today if it all works out...fingers crossed!

2.  Dog search.  Tried 2 more local shelters and ended up having to drive, literally across the city.  I kept thinking while driving how much gas we were using getting there. I'm cheap and don't like to waste things, like expensive gas.  We found the perfect dog.  Had someone been at the Mustang shelter or answered the phone at Pets and People we would have looked and maybe gotten a less perfect dog.  Sophie had been at the shelter for over a month, her time was short. I can't believe no one took her home before us. She is so exceptionally well behaved.

I know things happen for a reason, but I'd still like the fast forward  or sneak peak button to see why things are happening a certain way when they aren't working out how I think they should be.

Our New Family Member : Sophie

Sophie in the "get to know you room" at the shelter

Sophie finding a favorite spot to lay beneath my feet

Sophie taking it all in

Sophie is wore out!

It was almost spur of the moment...I've missed having a dog but didn't want a shedding, yappy, peeing in the house dog.

We first went to the Mustang Animal Shelter...no one was there.  Well, 4 other people wanting to go into the shelter were there but not employees. We waited about 30 minutes, no one came. We left.

Next I tried to call Pets and People in Yukon.  No answer. 

Ok, fine. I'll drive 30 minutes to the OKC shelter and have a look.

So we drove through the really bad area of town to come out on the other side at the shelter. I asked to see the dogs and the blue vs white card was explained to me.  And using the 'get to know you' rooms.  So we went in search of a dog.

First the boys saw a small white yappy dog. Male, 1 year old. It was a short hair chihuahua.  Very friendly.  But not quite what I was looking for.  So we continued.  Near the very back was a black and brindle medium size (though she actually fits into the large category somehow...I don't understand that since she is 25lbs, might get to 35lbs if we over feed her and I once had a dog that was 120lbs, that seems large...she seems more small to medium to me *shrugs*)

Her blue card said her name was Sophie.  She is 2 years old. Has been in the shelter since June and came in as a stray.  Another sheet was posted with her picture and some notes from the staff which said she was a favorite of the volunteers to walk, might be house broken.  She was also already spayed.  So we took Sophie to the 'get to know you room' and she didn't bark.  Didn't jump all over.  Came over for loving and gave kisses.  She did bark once when the yappy dog in the next room just.would.not.stop.

$30 later we brought her home. I walked her to the car and she jumped right in and sat down on the rear floorboard and that is where she stayed the whole ride, remember 25-30 minute ride.

Got her home and she explored the house and yard. I put water out for her and the boys and I went to Target to get food, bowls, leash, etc.  $88 later we came back home.  She stays very close to me.  Not sure if it's because I'm female or that I'm the one who took her out of the shelter and into the house.

Jerry got home and she was shy at first but eventually warmed up to him.  So we ate dinner and got her in the car to take her to PetSmart to get a harness and crate.  She did wonderful in the store.  Only barked once when a HUGE dog came suddenly around the corner. She was protecting us.  Got all her stuff plus a dog tag.  $120 Sophie should have everything she needs.

Zac saw the dog tag which has our last name on it and said "You're officially part of the family now."

Sophie sat nicely all the way home and sat with us in the living room as we were winding down for the night. I turned on the tv and she started looking for the sound...it dawned on me that she has never been in a house before.  

Sophie slept all night in her crate without a peep!

I took her for a walk this morning, around 3 miles. She did awesome!  She tried to protect us from our shadows when she looked behind us at one point.  It was hilarious.  We came home, she did her business outside and has been sleeping since.  

It's wonderful to not have to house train her.  She is such a good and sweet dog.  We did buy her a couple of toys but she has no real interest in them yet, she just wants love :)