Denver

When a litter of puppies comes in to the shelter the first reaction is often "OH NO!" However it quickly becomes "They are so cute, so little." "How many boys? How many girls?" "Darn! Lots of fleas!" "Quick, get some food for them. Do we have enough canned puppy food on hand?" "Make a trip to Wal-Mart!" Towels and blankets and newspapers appear quickly as we find a place to settle them in warmth and comfort until we can assess the situation and get them processed.

I don't remember the details of Denver's arrival, but they were dropped off at the shelter. This means that they do not have to be held for five days to see if someone claims them. Someone did not want them. The staff says it was not a really healthy litter. One little fellow was very good looking, truly a German Shepherd look to him, and he was adopted within a day or two.

The shelter was crowded and the rest of the group was put in the men's bathroom, where sometimes the overflow of pups must be housed. People looked at them, but no more were adopted. One little skinny guy looked a little peaked and was removed to see if he could get some extra food and make some progress.

It's distressing when we begin to note signs of sickness in pups and decisions must be made about care, contagious aspects of the illness, and who will go where for care. We call volunteer foster persons to see who can take a pup or two. The little skinny guy was sent home with volunteer Jewel, who is a nurse at Wolfsons Childrens Hospital. She kept him for the weekend, nursing him, and holding him and keeping him warm and hydrated. On Monday he was doing pretty well and Jewel brought him back to the shelter before she headed to Jacksonville and Wolfsons for her long shifts in the childrens emergency room.

The pup was okay at the shelter at first, but soon was stressed and vomiting his food. A volunteer was requested to take him home and see what could be done, and that's how little Denver, a black German Shepherd with a little trimming of brown, came to be my foster puppy for nearly a month. It was a repeat of my Jimmy. I knew I could not keep him, but he needed a name, and no one at the shelter had told me if he had one when I picked him up. I was sitting in my recliner rocking him and a John Denver song came on the radio. Ahh! A strong good name for this little guy, and I always love to hear John Denver's music. Denver it is, I said.

This was a smart little guy. He was sick, but he knew how to behave himself. He even tried to tell me when he needed to go outside! Food and sleep and plenty of fresh water and even more plenty of love put Denver back on his feet in a couple weeks. Soon he had a little harness, and was learning to walk on a leash, and going for drives in the car. He loved both! I knew that he'd have to be put up on our website for adoption soon. That is the purpose of foster care. Get them healthy and love them to bits, and find them a new forever home.

Lucky little Denver and lucky lucky me! I found a message on our website email and I felt in my heart that home was just right. A young couple starting out, after his stint in the armed forces - and looking for a German Shepherd type dog a puppy - to share their life. We made the plans; they came the day after the young man got home to the States, and visited Denver. They fell in love, I felt a deep satisfaction and sense of joy, and Denver got his new bandana tied on - a Nassau shelter tradition - colorful bandanas made by Volunteer Sandra - they really dress up our dogs - and when they go home to their new forever families that is certainly cause to celebrate!