Marley's Happy Tail

Marley was once an "unwanted" pet.  After turning about 6 months old, his family no longer could deal with his high energy,and he was probably still not housebroken.  He was brought to the Bay Ridge Animal Hospital, where he lived in a dark kennel in the basement with little exercise, love or play time.  He had no toys of his own, and he slept on a bare concrete floor.  However, his eyes would light up when a person entered the room, and he made his own games to play.  He loved other dogs, so he would simply open the gate door of his run with his paws, and let out some other dogs to play too.  Since he wasn't neutered, I would often try to prevent him from opening his kennel, but we called him "Little Houdini" because he could almost always figure a way to get out and play!

He was one of my favorites of the homeless pets living in that sad basement.  I took pictures of those dogs, and showed them to everyone I knew, and my mother did the same.  

A woman from Brooklyn stopped in one day looking for a dog to adopt.  I showed her Marley (whom I called Little Brown Eyes at the time), and we spent a good deal of time to allow her to get to know the dog.  She seemed like an ideal home - a woman in her sixties, who was active and at home a great deal.  She took the dog home that day, and I was happy to see him finally have a home of his own.

The rest of the dogs also found homes that summer.  However, when I returned from college 4 months later, and went downstairs to visit the new strays, I heard a familiar whining.  "Little Bears Eyes, is that you?" I asked inquisitively to the black dog in the kennel.  "It IS you!" I said!  I was sad and happy to see him, all at the same time.  "Was he returned and homeless again, or was he just being boarded here while his new mom went on vacation?"  I soon learned that he was returned, though there was no record of why.

I took pictures of all the new strays and vowed that I would find this sweet black dog a permanent home.  Two days later, I received a call from one of the technicians that I knew at the animal hospital.  He explained to me that all the strays were put to sleep, because the vets there were frustrated that the techs were not keeping the place clean enough and therefore, no time could be wasted on the strays any longer.  I was terribly upset that all the dogs that were just given a chance by my visit and photography, had lost their last chance.  The tech then told me that the vets were upset at me for dumping the black dog back at the hospital without telling anyone, and I better get him by Saturday, or he would also be put to sleep too.

Marley was saved!  They had mistakenly thought that I had brought him there, so he was spared the fate of the other dogs.  I went there Friday night and picked him up.  He was so happy to see me, and I was just as happy too.  I put him in my car, and he jumped to the front seat.  While I drove home on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to Jersey, the pooch kept jumping back and forth from the passenger windows to my lap to look out the other window.  He was so excited to be out in the world and wanted to see everything!  Of course, that didn't make for the safest or easiest drive on the BQE!

We arrived home and my mother was great.  Marley wasn't yet housebroken, but he learned quickly.  After 2 weeks of looking for a good home for him, I realized that unless someone was going to give him a BETTER home than I would, then I was keeping him.  I didn't completely love him yet, but he was definitely special and absolutely adorable.

Our love for one another has grown immensely over the past few years.  He has been my constant companion, while others have fluttered in and out of my life.  Marley is a stoic creature, with the wisdom of one who knows many things.  He appreciates fresh air and the outdoors more than anyone that I know.  He seems to meditate and enjoy the simpler things in life, in the way that I can only hope to learn.  He is my mentor, and my friend.  He has volunteered at an autistic school, with much patience and calm.  He gives kisses to everyone, and has a special love for my stepson that makes a true difference in the world.  

Marley is the inspiration for so much in my life, including animal rescue.  I am thankful everyday for the miracle of his life being spared, so that he could enrich my life and those around him, and enjoy life more than most others can.  

Marley is just one of the many examples of shelter pets who make amazing family pets, and truly show a special appreciation for being adopted and part of a family.  He is just one story, and I hope that if you haven't already, that you will also enjoy the love of a shelter pet someday, and the knowledge that you made a difference in the world.

-- written by Beth, founder of Shelter Showcase