Part of the the reason we chose our current apartment was so we could get a dog.
And then we didn’t.
It’s something we’ve thought about on and off for years. But there’s always been some reason the timing wasn’t right or that Phillip and I weren’t on the same page.
Then the conversation unexpectedly re-opened.
Chiquita
My friend Anne has repeatedly told me I should get a chihuahua, that the shelters are full of them.
And I’ve repeatedly dismissed the suggestion, saying I don’t want a dog who is constantly barking.
Then, during Art Detour weekend, I was walking around – with Anne, actually – and we passed by a house with a couple chihuahuas in the yard. Even though we were basically on their turf, neither barked. One just went back to napping in the shade. The other came over to the fence as if to greet us, front paws on the chain link, just looking up, sniffing – and melting my heart.
Phillip felt the same way when I showed him a photo later that evening. I also did some googling and learned that not all chihuahuas are prone to a lot of barking. The ones that are can often be socialized to handle new people, objects, etc. more calmly.
We started talking again about getting a dog and now small dogs were an option, which made the whole thing feel more manageable.
In the meantime, we’ve stopped back by to visit our sweet pint-sized friends and have managed to resist the urge to dognap them.
The time Phillip went, they both ran up to the fence, tails wagging, so he could scratch their ears and they could attack his fingers with licks.
Another time, one of their humans was outside, and I said hello.
“I really like your dogs! What are their names?”
It was so random that it took her a moment to answer.
“Chiqui and Shiny.”
I wasn’t sure what else to say, since “Call me if you decide you don’t want your dogs” didn’t seem appropriate. So I just wished her a good day and got back into my car.
Charlie
One Sunday, Phillip and I took a drive out to one of the county shelters, just to see what it was like and meet a few dogs whose profiles I’d seen online. (Phillip also said hi to some cats.)
The plan was not to bring home a dog that day. Maybe we could narrow it down and then go back a couple weeks later, once we were more prepared. If our dog of choice got adopted in the meantime, then we’d be happy for him/her and keep looking.
One of the dogs I’d had my eye on was Charlie, a happy-looking guy on the larger side for a chihuahua-mix.
Pound Puppies
At the shelter, we visited rows and rows of kenneled canines before we found any on my list. A few that stood out were a teeny 4-pound white chihuahua, two nearly identical tan ones, and a little black dog with a long tongue.
I nicknamed that last one Mr. Wigglebutt, because he didn’t just wag his tail, he shook the entire back half of his body! I got a couple blurry photos of him. When I got the bright idea to capture the wiggles on video, however, he decided it was time to go lie down.
He’s Just Not That Into You
At one point, I was talking to one of the longtime volunteers and asked, “do you happen to know Charlie?” while showing her his photo on my phone.
Her expression changed, betraying a mix of both recognition and concern.
“Yes. I do know Charlie.”
Charlie was a great dog, who was getting increasingly stressed by shelter life, wary of new people, and starting to lash out.
Just that morning someone had reached into his enclosure to pet him, and he tried to bite her. Maybe he was just too amped up being inside with all those other dogs and cats. Maybe he didn’t like people reaching into his space.
The volunteer thought it would help if she walked him a bit first, so she got a leash. We followed the two of them through the halls of the shelter to a small patch of artificial turf outside and out of view of other animals.
I gave Charlie some space, sitting down on the other side of the turf, to allow him to come to me when he was ready.
He immediately lunged at my face! I sprang back just in time, but it was a close enough call that both Phillip and the volunteer were sure he’d bitten me.
So that was not a match.
I still think Charlie is a good dog at heart. He’s just having a hard time, and I hope there’s someone with the experience to help him through it.
Jordan
Before our ill-fated walk with Charlie, the volunteer had been showing us a doggie sick room of sorts with a couple humidifiers and some sneezing, coughing dogs.
I ended up holding one sweet little guy named Jordan who checked all our boxes.
“Is his condition permanent?” I was thinking do we need to get a humidifier? We could get a humidifier.
The volunteer informed me that it wasn’t. He was finishing up antibiotics for a respiratory infection and would probably recover more quickly once he was out of the shelter. However, he was getting overlooked in that side room.
By the time we got back home that Sunday afternoon, Mr. Wigglebutt had already been adopted.
We made a plan to get stuff together while Jordan finished his meds, and then go back for him in a week or so. He’d probably still be in that side room with the humidifiers.
Rescued
I called to check on him Tuesday and was informed that Jordan was no longer at the shelter. The day after we met him, he had been transferred to a rescue organization outside of the county.
I did not see that coming.
“Where is he now?”
“I can’t give you that information. You’ll have to submit a public records request.”
Okaaaaay.
She told me where I could fill out the form online. So I did, not knowing if there would be a fee or if I would hear back at all.
A lovely person named Holly got back to me right away, saying there would be no charge and the information was attached.
Turns out, Jordan was at the Humane Society of Sedona.
Part of me wanted to make the 2-hour drive and go get him right away. Part of me wanted to take it as a sign it wasn’t meant to be and wish him well in Sedona.
It’s been about two weeks, and I’ve called a few times to check in. He’s doing great, is healthy, and has made friends with another chihuahua named Tommy.
The shelter staff adore him and can’t believe he hasn’t been adopted yet.
Who knows? He might end up coming home with us after all.
Photos via–
1-5, 7-12, 15: Phillip and I
6, 13: Maricopa County Animal Care + Control. Copyright ©HLP Inc.
14: Humane Society of Sedona
