Gabriella
by Tanya M. Jackson
Goodness! More black puppies! That is our reaction when it rains puppies on us. Many of them are black, which is not a bad thing, of course. But statistics show that black dogs are just a little harder to adopt. Especially big black dogs! We try to get them adopted while they are young.
When this litter of four came in, the shelter was definitely on overload, so I took the “four little black guys” home for foster care. I called them “the four little black guys” for several hours before my grandson Cody said, “Nana! This one is a girl!!”
We set about naming them in the days to come. The little girl became Gabriella, or “Gabby” since she was very vocal and yippy, always having a comment from their pen in the midst of our home. The laid back solid all black one became Sailor. We figured he’d like water; obviously the litter was a black lab mix. The two little boys who remained were very active and full of it. We called them Tornado and Cyclone. Of course, these names are temporary. The adopting families may rename their pet anything they would like.
I had not had these little ones very long before I got called north by the illness of my elderly mom, and I had to leave them behind for another foster mama. But before that happened, “Gabby” had made herself known by way of email to a relative who had recently lost his 15 year old black lab mix, Jamaica. His wife convinced him to take a look at Gabby, and he fell in love. “We’ll take her!” he said. “Bring her when you come and don’t be afraid to start “potty” training!”
So the “four little black guys” went back to the shelter and then on to foster care. Unfortunately, as happens many times, they all came down with parvo disease. Before it was over, we had lost Tornado and Cyclone. Gabby and Sailor made it through and went on to be fostered by Ashley. One of the wonderful things she taught them was to ring a bell hanging on the doorknob when they needed to go out!
When I returned, I picked up Gabby to spend some more time with us before we drove north to deliver her to her new family. She’s a perfectly wonderful black dog! She loves water, plays wildly in it whenever she gets the chance. “You may never be able to water a garden again!” I emailed our niece. She developed good manners on a leash, and was totally “potty trained” and loved to ride. Good thing, since we were about to head out on 1200 mile trip to Vermont.
After three days on the road with three dogs and a cat, we arrived at Gabby’s new home and turned her over to Dale and Ann. They are thrilled, she is a wonderful dog, and another happy ending for the little shelter in Fernandina is logged up!
