Fall 2014/Montreal/
My name is Whiskey.
I am a Jack Russel/Chihuahua mix and an all around nice guy.
I wasn't always alone.
I had a family.
They bought me from a pet store when I was 4 months old and took me home and raised me and provided me with love and comfort.
I lived with them for 2.5 years and I loved them very much.
Three weeks ago my mother started to cry and continued to do so most nights before bed. I tried my best to comfort her but to no avail. Something was up but I had no way of understanding how it would affect me and how fast it was coming down.
Then that weekend came when they put all of our belongings in boxes. My mother and father were talking loud to one another and seemed distant.
My brothers and sisters kissed and hugged me goodbye and begged their parents to reconsider this painful decision. They surrounded me, trying to protect me but it didn't work.
My last car ride with my mother was to a noisy place with lots of smells. There were other dogs there, barking and yelping. I sensed sadness. I sensed an ending.
My bed was no longer in the corner of the living room by the window. My stuff wasn't anywhere.
My mother had a long talk with the woman at the counter. She smelled the same as the place and had a very serious tone to her voice. My mother filled out some paperwork, she cried throughout. I leaned against her and tried to comfort her but all she could do was hug me and kiss me and then she was gone.
I was escorted to a small room where a nice man examined me. He seemed upset and in a hurry.
Then he brought me into a large room where there were all these other dogs - big - small - barking - howling - terribly unhappy.
I was placed in a cage, while the larger dogs were in pens. There was a water bowl and a blanket. There was a layer of newspaper that reminded me of me of when I was a puppy.
I was completely confused and felt this must be a horrible mistake and my parents would be coming back for me. Hours turned into days and there was no sign of the people who had been my only family.
I reflected on the past few weeks trying to figure out if I had done something terribly wrong to deserve to be left at the shelter. I hadn't really done anything that I could think of to deserve being abandoned.
I don't feel like myself here. I only get to go on a few short walks - and the person walking me is usually on his phone the entire time. I don't get to go off leash and run around in the park and I am not being hugged or kissed or even looked in the eye.
I don't get to play with the other dogs. We are all kept separate. I guess there is a reason for that but it is unfortunate because we are all in the same situation and could probably provide comfort and friendship to one another.
I wonder if they had families too and how they ended up here.
I really want to go home. I want to feel the sun on my face and I want to breathe fresh air. I want to sleep in my bed and wake up jumping all over my brothers and sisters - so excited to share another day with them. I want to lay next to my mom while she watches TV and pats my head.
I can only hope that tomorrow will be better than today.
I reflected on the past few weeks trying to figure out if I had done something terribly wrong to deserve to be left at the shelter. I hadn't really done anything that I could think of to deserve being abandoned.
I don't feel like myself here. I only get to go on a few short walks - and the person walking me is usually on his phone the entire time. I don't get to go off leash and run around in the park and I am not being hugged or kissed or even looked in the eye.
I don't get to play with the other dogs. We are all kept separate. I guess there is a reason for that but it is unfortunate because we are all in the same situation and could probably provide comfort and friendship to one another.
I wonder if they had families too and how they ended up here.
I really want to go home. I want to feel the sun on my face and I want to breathe fresh air. I want to sleep in my bed and wake up jumping all over my brothers and sisters - so excited to share another day with them. I want to lay next to my mom while she watches TV and pats my head.
I can only hope that tomorrow will be better than today.
I woke up this morning and there was this woman on her knees observing me. She was talking to me in a low comforting voice. I am not sure what she was saying but the intonation was friendly and inviting.
I chose her before she chose me.
She left and came back with the guy who gives me my food. The best part was that he was holding a leash which meant I was going for a walk.
They both went outside with me and they were talking a lot and looking at me. We walked to a nearby park and they sat on a bench while I breathed in the fresh air and gathered as much as I could from all the action around me. I had forgotten what it was to be curious because I had not been stimulated in a while. I was so enjoying watching the kids play and the birds and squirrels.
We walked back to the shelter and the guy went inside and me and the woman sat outside. She started talking to me. It sounded reassuring and positive although I did not know what she meant.
Then she walked me up to the same reception desk where my mother had abandoned me.
She also filled out paperwork and talked a lot to the lady there - I was sad to return to the shelter - I could not stand the smell or feel of it any longer and I really felt like giving up but then something wonderful happened.
The woman gave me a hug and a kiss and she walked me out of the shelter and into her car. She spoke in a high, excited, captivating voice and she kept kissing me and petting me.
We ended up at her house - I knew it was hers because I already knew her smell and the house had the same scent plus a million more.
She already had a food and water bowl for me in the kitchen and lots of toys including a few jumbo Kongs, filled with cookies.
I had this feeling I was not going back to the shelter and that was confirmed when she invited me onto the couch to watch TV. I wasn't sure if I would be able to trust a human again after having been abandoned by what I thought was my permanent family; but I had a good feeling about her and so I chose to open up my heart and my mind.
That night we went for a walk around the neighbourhood. We stopped to talk to lots of nice people and they all knelt down and introduced themselves to me.
Then we returned home and although I had a bed set up on the floor - she invited me to sleep in her bed. So I hopped up and we cuddled and she kissed my head and I knew everything was going to be alright.
I guess there is a reason for everything.
I realize I am lucky that I was saved from the shelter while other dogs were stuck there behind bars.
I will forever be thankful to my new mom. I will love her everyday and be there for her when she is sad or confused or scared. I will put her above and beyond everything in my life because I am a dog and that is what I do.
She left and came back with the guy who gives me my food. The best part was that he was holding a leash which meant I was going for a walk.
They both went outside with me and they were talking a lot and looking at me. We walked to a nearby park and they sat on a bench while I breathed in the fresh air and gathered as much as I could from all the action around me. I had forgotten what it was to be curious because I had not been stimulated in a while. I was so enjoying watching the kids play and the birds and squirrels.
We walked back to the shelter and the guy went inside and me and the woman sat outside. She started talking to me. It sounded reassuring and positive although I did not know what she meant.
Then she walked me up to the same reception desk where my mother had abandoned me.
She also filled out paperwork and talked a lot to the lady there - I was sad to return to the shelter - I could not stand the smell or feel of it any longer and I really felt like giving up but then something wonderful happened.
The woman gave me a hug and a kiss and she walked me out of the shelter and into her car. She spoke in a high, excited, captivating voice and she kept kissing me and petting me.
We ended up at her house - I knew it was hers because I already knew her smell and the house had the same scent plus a million more.
She already had a food and water bowl for me in the kitchen and lots of toys including a few jumbo Kongs, filled with cookies.
I had this feeling I was not going back to the shelter and that was confirmed when she invited me onto the couch to watch TV. I wasn't sure if I would be able to trust a human again after having been abandoned by what I thought was my permanent family; but I had a good feeling about her and so I chose to open up my heart and my mind.
That night we went for a walk around the neighbourhood. We stopped to talk to lots of nice people and they all knelt down and introduced themselves to me.
Then we returned home and although I had a bed set up on the floor - she invited me to sleep in her bed. So I hopped up and we cuddled and she kissed my head and I knew everything was going to be alright.
I guess there is a reason for everything.
I realize I am lucky that I was saved from the shelter while other dogs were stuck there behind bars.
I will forever be thankful to my new mom. I will love her everyday and be there for her when she is sad or confused or scared. I will put her above and beyond everything in my life because I am a dog and that is what I do.
Pictured below - Whiskey Cohen - He rescued Me in 2014
SAVE A DOG AND A DOG WILL SAVE YOU
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