Hickory - An Ambassador For All Shelter Dogs
It was early summer, and we had recently lost Sedona, our white German Shepherd who would eventually be the namesake of Sedona Shepherd Sanctuary. After taking some time to grieve the loss of Sedona, my main focus for the next year was evaluating dogs at local city shelters for two rescue groups I was working with. Like most inner-city shelters, Newark Animal Shelter can be a foreboding place for any animal to arrive at. The animal shelter is located in the heart of Newark's former industrial section, across from the airport, and adjacent to the Amtrak rail lines and a recycling center. Inside the shelter, the main kennel has about 50 dog runs on each side, with two smaller kennel areas.
Upon entering the main kennel run, the dogs are usually subdued. As you start to walk down the aisle and the first dog notices you, then slowly everyone starts perking up and barking. Once a dog is taken out and does "the walk to freedom," all heck breaks loose. Like prisoners trying to get their parole, they all try to get your attention. So, unless you have a specific dog in mind, it is often very difficult for any dog to stand out among the din of noise and controlled chaos.
For two months, as I did the freedom walk with various shepherds that I would take outside and evaluate for a local rescue group, there was always one dog with a knack for catching my eye. He was a unique tannish-colored Husky/Shepherd mix who somehow always seemed to have a spark in his eye and a friendly smile. It felt like he knew every time I was at the shelter. Before I would pass by his kennel run, he would be waiting with his paws up against the kennel door.
Despite the challenging environment, the staff at the shelter is always accommodating and informative. Over the past year, I developed a good rapport with the on-site manager. We talked about this unique-looking Husky-Shepherd mix, who was aptly named Hickory for his coloring. Found as a stray, he had already been at the shelter for two months before my first seeing him. I couldn't resist taking him for walks every time I came, and with summer in full swing, he always had his big tongue hanging down after a walk.
It was incredible to me that not only had he been a stray, but now going on four months, he still had no takers. People assume that just because a dog has been at a shelter for a long time, they have "issues" and are un-adoptable. This is not the case, as too many wonderful and friendly dogs are still in shelters nationwide. While I wasn't sure if I was ready to start fostering dogs, Hickory decided for me. Hickory's "freedom walk" was for real this time, and I would be fostering him for a Husky rescue group.
After coming home and running around the house, he seemed satisfied with his new surroundings and was on his best behavior. He was almost too good, never once making a mess in the house. I was a bit concerned that maybe he found a hiding place as he didn't even poop outside until the third day. I kept checking the house to see if he left any surprises, but he did not. Hickory was a perfect gentleman; even after the three weeks when the good manners can start to slide and the testing phase begins for new dogs, he didn't counter surf or jump up on furniture. Hickory ensured it was a slam dunk we would fail to foster. By week six, he was officially adopted into our house.
Of course, having secured his spot in a new home, he wasn't immune to start showing some of his idiosyncrasies or occasional displeasure. The first came when we decided to foster Princess, a female German Shepherd. Princess was like the mother hen, and Hickory would have none of it, bulldozing his way past her to get out the door first and constantly enjoying life too much, to her displeasure. A few days into the fostering of Princess, Hickory, who had only one accident in the house until this time, decided to show his displeasure with the situation by looking directly at us, lifting his leg, and peeing on the wall. He only did it once as a reminder that he was here first and planned on keeping it that way.
Sometimes rescue dogs don't bark for a long time, but Hickory didn't seem to have an issue. However, we only heard a good husky howl once we had him for about 6 months, and then it wasn't really a howl. One night after work, I walked up the driveway and heard the phone ringing. As I tried to hustle it up to the front door, I listened to this slow, "woo, woo, woo." Then it started to build up into a crescendo of "woo, woo, woo" husky howl, then a full-blown "husky howl." No matter how much you howl with him, he won't howl back, but if he thinks no one is home and the phone rings, he will work his way up to an excellent husky howl.
Whether it was a car ride to Dairy Queen, enjoying some crazy time in the snow with his best friend Lazarus, or channeling his inner husky when we hooked him up to a sled on wheels, Hickory was always up for an adventure. His playful personality shows up in every picture.
Dogs have the capacity to teach humans many lessons. In Hickory's case, he taught me to always enjoy our time together and never allow that time to be taken for granted. Hickory was an amazing ambassador for the type of dog available for adoption at a city shelter. Over the years, Hickory was best friends with the many foster dogs that passed through our house. He joined us at countless fundraising events and helped us evaluate dog sociability when he came along during temperament tests of other shelter dogs. Hickory went through life with a happy tail, an easy disposition, and a good doggie smile, especially on our many trips to the ice cream store. When Hickory eventually passed away, there were no regrets.
It is hard to envision how so many people just passed by this fantastic dog over the four months he spent at the shelter. Hickory's story is a happy story. Hickory and dogs like him are ambassadors to all the incredible dogs waiting at shelters throughout the country. When you or someone you know is considering buying a puppy, share Hickory's story to see how easy it is to find a great companion and, at the same time, save a dog's life.
