Ok, we do a LOT of talking about how fostering is the greatest thing in the world and it's so "bittersweet" and how seeing our fosters off to their forever homes is the best thing ever and blah blah blah. Ok, well, I guess it's not ALWAYS like that. I'm going to take a moment to reason with you here and give you the complete, 100% honest truth... The majority of us have at least one "failed" foster. One sweety that we just could not give up. This story is about the dog that I gave up but could not give up again. His name is Zylo.
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| Zylo's SCAC intake photo |
Zylo was picked up as a stray by the Summit County Animal Control (SCAC) back in December of 2009. He earned the nickname "Mr. 004" from his pound number 12-004 and the fact that he was so reserved yet charming that they swore he was a doggie Bond. At the time, I had been assigned the task of cross-posting the dogs that had been at the SCAC the longest in hopes that by listing them on our site we could get them adopted before they would even need to be brought into rescue, but that's another story.
I was on a theme: "A New Beginning." 12-004 was a rugged and manly looking dog, maybe even a little scary. This "akita mix" needed a manly name to commence his new beginning. I settled on Denovo, italian for "anew."
Denovo sat at the pound for a WHILE. Two months, to be exact. I had just adopted out my latest foster, Romeo, a nutty but loveable mastiff pup, so was looking for my next project. Denovo was the top of the list, having been at the pound for weeks longer than anyone else. To be honest, a part of me didn't want to take him. He was kind of scary looking in his pictures and it made me nervous. Fortunately, in rescue you don't pick and choose who you take, you take whomever is in the most need! So, Cory and I trekked down to SCAC to meet Denovo.
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| Zylo seeing Momma Mary Shelley through delivery |
I was secretly hoping that Cory would be frightened by him too and we could just tell Jen (at this time our President) and have someone else take the scary dog. Hey, we were new fosters then! When we arrived at the pound we found that Denovo was currently being prepped for his neuter: there would be no seeing him today. So Cory and I strode around, leisurely looking at the other cats and dogs not about to have their genitals whacked, and then left.
Denovo was still on our site so when we got home, I decided to show Cory Big-Scary-Dog and sure enough, Cory decided he WAS scary looking! But in an awesome way. He declared that Big-Scary-Dog looked like a WEREWOLF! And with boyish enthusiasm, Cory asked if he could name him. I knew I didn't have a chance. Cory chose the wereworlf name, Zylo, from a video game called Shining Force.
The next day I drove back down to the pound to pick up Zylo. I was somewhat relieved to see he was much smaller than I had anticipated, which in turn, made him much less intimidating. He didn't seem too interested in me, was just taking in his surroundings, happy to be outside in the sun and able to sniff around the comfortably cool winter air. We did a little walk around so he could go potty before he made his way into my car. He wasn't a "puller" so I kept the leash pretty lax in my hands and just enjoyed the short walk right along with him.
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| One of Zylo's many clown faces! |
When it was time to turn to the car, the leash slipped from between my fingers and Zylo was off at a slow trot towards the gate! I followed after him and my heart slowed as he started to hit North Street. Luckily the cars had seen him coming and came to a stop. I was able to catch up, plant a firm foot on his leash and sheepishly lug myself and Zylo back into the gated parking lot. I never told anyone that story until now because I was afraid I would never be allowed to pick up a dog from the pound again! A little sweat and some flushing of my cheeks became the first bit of mortar that was going to bind us.
Cory was excited to see Zylo when he got home from work. The sweet boy met Ari, our personal dog, and two foster puppies we had at the time, Tifa and Yuna. He fit in like he had always belonged. As Cory walked through the door Zylo stole one of the puppy's toys and began tossing it to himself. Just one of his many silly whimsies that I would come to enjoy.
That weekend was the first weekend of many adoption events to come. We sat patiently waiting for potential adopters to come meet Zylo and fall endlessly in love. It never happened. Zylo was very stand-offish with new people, never aggressive, just always observing as if he didn't trust you or was silently playing the part of juror. He was cold with everyone that met him and no one wants to adopt the cold dog. They want the butt-wiggling, face kissing, always smiling dog to brighten up their life, not another entity to judge them. The only real interest he got was from a family looking for a guard dog. Zylo still looked the part of Big-Scary-Dog in person, but in our home, he had become a sweet and loveable clown the puppies loved to bounce on. I wanted someone that would love him, not use him.
I found that someone in our second month of fostering Zylo. It was a family from a suburb of Cleveland that just so happened to wander into the Fairlawn PetSmart where we were hosting an adoption event. I have no idea how they wound up there of all places but it seemed like fate to me! The husband fell madly in love and set up an appointment for his wife to meet Zylo and to bring him home the next day. It was amazing!
As I drove Zylo to our appointment, the JERK decided that of all the times to show affection, pulling into the parking lot for his adoption would be best! He nuzzled my neck as I prepared to hook left into our parking space. He had never nuzzled me before and I found great comfort in it. He had given me love.
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| Zylo dock diving |
I wish I could say that I spoke with the lady and told her I was never, ever giving this dog up because I had fallen MADLY in love with him, but again, that's not how rescue works. You see them off to their new home and give yourself a pat on the back while you help the next dog on to their new life. We went over all of the adoption paperwork, I took her check and she took Zylo's leash and off he was to his new family. My current foster, Pavlov, is foster number 81. Out of the 81 animals I have fostered, Zylo was the only one that made me cry.
I got a call from Zylo's new family a couple weeks later. His new aunt had been diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer and was terminal. A lot of family members have been in and out of the house, and with Zylo's stand-off nature, he was becoming extremely stressed under the circumstances. The family was very upset to have to let him go but decided it was not right to keep him living in a situation that brought him great discomfort. So, Zylo found his way back into my heart and home.
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| Bringing his ball back for another go |
When Zylo walked back through our doors, I knew there was no giving him up again! We crossed the threshold, closed the door and I bounced to the floor to wrap my arms around him! He gave a little growl, which we came to know more as a little moan of elation, and he threw his head into my chest to slide down on his back for belly rubs.
He has, at times, been the sole reason for me being able to trudge along in a battle against my manic and depressed episodes. He is my jogging partner, my cuddle buddy and my "happy." I often joke with friends that I am on the anti-depressant "Zylo" because there is just no being sad with him around. You see his silly little clown face and you can't help but smile. He snuggles you and you know there is no other place he would rather be. How could that not make you feel good?
Since joining my home, Zylo has been brought up to a healthy weight. He absolutely adores his sister, Ari; the two are inseparable! He loves going to the dog parks and his favorite thing in the whole world (besides me of course!) is dock diving! He's been in a couple of competitions and loves the extra attention he gets. It's there that we found he is a Dutch Shepherd (look them up, they're beautiful!) and not an "akita mix." His cool attitude that kept adopters away garners him great praise at competitions because he is so well behaved and acts like the things he just accomplished are "no big deal." He literally plays it cool. I couldn't imagine Zylo having a happier life and I could not imagine having a happier life without him; the dog that I gave up but could not give up again. :)
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| Zylo (right) with his sister Ari |
3 comments:
That's a wonderful story! I really loved it and both of your dogs are beautiful! I really, really admire what all of you do as fosters. I don't think I could adopt the attitude of letting them go and not being totally depressed. lol It takes special, unselfish people to do what you do and I applaud you and thank you with all my heart. I feel so great every time I read of one of your adoptions and of course we have adopted our own beauty from you... Finnegan AKA "Alvin" and he is a wonderful addition to our family! Thanks again for everything you do and thanks for sharing your story.
Very nicely said! What a great foster you are! 81, that is crazy!!!!!
Thank you for the kind words, Debby and Jen! Debby, we remember Alvin, that silly little monster! I am glad he is working out so well for you and is overcoming his rough past. He is a sweet boy and I am happy he found his way into your heart and home just like Zylo did mine. Other than the dogs, of course, people like you make everything we do as a rescue worthwhile! Thanks again!
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