Hi Animal Lovers

[MCAL]

I'm a retired animal lover who volunteered at our local animal shelter. We foster dogs for the shelter and have managed to find homes for several needy dogs.

Cassie, a beautiful, sweet, gentle, dignified, gentle shepherd/collie and Munchkin, a mischievous border collie/basenji were fosters we fell in love with and adopted.

Here's a picture of Cassie. I'll post a story I wrote called "The Moral of Munchkin" which tells his story.

We're truly blessed to live with these wonderful animals.

[MCAL]

Here's the story of Munchkin.

As the volunteer walked towards the cage in the lower kennel a scrawny, bedraggled Border Collie/Basenji mix wearing a red tag numbered 223, hurled himself repeatedly against the wire mesh all the time barking loudly. As the volunteer neared the cage, the dog leaped higher and higher and the barking became frantic. Standing in front of the cage the volunteer used soothing words in an effort to calm the distraught animal. Nothing worked - the barking and jumping didn’t slow down. After taking a few deep breaths, the volunteer unlocked the cage and started slowly inching the door open making sure to keep his body covering the opening so that the overwrought dog couldn’t escape. When the door had opened enough, the volunteer slipped into the cage and quickly closed the door behind him. 223 immediately stopped barking and wagged his tail so hard that his whole body wriggled with joy as he smothered the volunteer with loving licks.

After many minutes of joyful petting and tons of doggy kisses, the volunteer took a choke collar from his pocket and showed it to 223 who had no objection to it being slipped over his head and being attached to a leash. As the pair walked out of the shelter, 223’s tail didn’t stop wagging and he stopped to happily greet every person they passed. The volunteer opened the car door and 223 jumped in and sat quietly while they drove slowly through steady sleet on icy roads to PetSmart in Silver Spring where the Mobile Adoption Unit was holding an adoption event. 223 greeted the few visitors who had braved the winter storm with enthusiastic glee – gurgling with delight to attract attention and then writhing with pleasure whenever he was patted. Unfortunately, no adopters had ventured out and they headed back to the shelter. Happily wagging his tail, 223 walked towards his cage and went in. The volunteer sat on the floor and hugged and petted the joyful dog before reluctantly rising to leave. The moment the cage door shut, 223 started jumping up and down and his distressed barking begged the volunteer not to leave. Seeing this manic behavior deterred prospective adopters.

Three days later the volunteer answered his phone to hear the news that, because the shelter didn’t have any more space, 223 would soon be put to sleep. Without hesitation the volunteer agreed to foster and headed to the shelter where he picked up the delighted dog and named him “Munchkin.”

The next day the volunteer was rushed to hospital to undergo emergency surgery. Weak and ill, the volunteer came home and spent six weeks in bed recovering. Munchkin dedicated himself to nursing him back to health, only leaving his side for bathroom visits. Snuggling close, Munchkin comforted the volunteer and, with gentle kisses and boundless love, urged him to recover.

When the volunteer had recovered enough for grandchildren visits, Munchkin devised games to enchant them and became an accomplished babysitter. Munchkin filled the house with so much love and joy that the volunteer and his family couldn’t imagine life without him. So, Munchkin was adopted.

Munchkin loves all people as well as all dogs and continuously shows his love. He’s now the favorite of the neighborhood children and the leader of the pack at the local dog park.

Munchkin often visits the shelter where he races around warmly greeting the staff with a variety of yodels and joyous tail wagging. The shelter director, a particular favorite, always receives special treatment - Munchkin rushes into her office and jumps on her lap.

So, the moral of Munchkin is “step into the cage before you reject the animal.”

[wolf_luver]

wow he's so cute im wolf_luver hi er ive gotta go ill speak to ya soon bye

[Jenny]

I'm happy that you found us here at petlovers.com! What a heart-warming, sweet story, and I love seeing the pictures. Imagining how any dog like Munchkin could be put to sleep is awful.

[Mrs.Birdy]

MCal....that was so beautiful. God bless you for caring so much for these beautiful dogs. Your story warmed my heart.

Mrs. Birdy

[MCAL]

Mrs. Birdy, the love that Cassie, Munchkin and the other dogs we've fostered have shown is ample reward.

[krazy4birds]

MCAL.....What a very moving and heartfelt story!!!!!!! Munchkin is so lucky that you two met before it was too late!!!!!!!! What a lovely....lovely story and THANK YOU for sharing!!!! And welcome to petlovers.....the world needs more people like you and the other caring people in this forum!!!!! Glad you found us!

[Squawksx3]

Hi MCAL and welcome to the board :)

Yes, what a wonderful, warm story. Cassie and Munchkin are adorable.... bless you for the work you do and we look forward to chatting more with you!.

[Mjes]

WOW that was a story well worth reading i so happy for him and i did cry all throughthe story i ask myself why are ppl so curl what did these anamils ask for nothing but love and they give all there's to us with out ? if we are good to them or not they love
us no matter what ...thank you so much for the story..Mj
give Munhkin much scratches and treats for me God Bless you
i also know your job is not an easy one .....

[Mjes]

Oh i forgot to add the Picture are great and they look so well an happy now...Tnx God for ppl like you Mcal...:) Mj