Oskar Blue Is Adopted!
Oskar Blue and Michele
We end this year, not on a sad note, but one of celebration. Without a doubt, like so many others, we faced numerous challenges throughout the year. However, we also encountered opportunities that we might not have had in a typical year. Michele offered us a chance to provide a forever home to a challenging dog, Oskar Blue.
To understand the opportunity, you must first realize the challenge. Oskar Blue's owner surrendered him to a shelter stating he no longer had time for him. A little hard to believe that someone that has managed a dog for nine years doesn't have time for a senior dog, yet he did. California GSP Rescue received a few messages notifying us there was a dog in need and asking if we could help.
We contacted the shelter and learned that someone was interested in adopting him. Our initial reaction was great! Someone wants to adopt a senior! Unfortunately, things didn't go well for the adopter. They had brought their dog to meet Oskar Blue, and they did well together. However, on the ride home in the car, it was a different story. Oskar Blue became anxious on the car ride home, and attacked the other dog. In breaking them up, the adopter was bit, and the adopter returned Oskar Blue to the shelter.
The shelter reached out to California GSP Rescue, explaining what happened, wanting to know if we could help. The dog bite would make it a little more challenging to place Oskar. However, knowing his car anxieties prompted the incident, we knew the right adopter could manage him. California GSP Rescue rescued Oskar Blue from the shelter.
Once rescued, Oskar Blue received some attention. There were a few applicants that expressed interest in meeting him but usually opted for a younger dog. While we thought Oskar Blue could be in a multi-dog home, we learned that he would need to be an only dog making him a little more challenging to place.
Fortunately, this year, Michele read about Oskar Blue and applied to adopt. Her application looked very promising. She was retired, and he would be an only dog. However, Michele lived a considerable distance from our location. Explaining that the adoption appointment would need to occur in Southern California, Michele didn't hesitate, and agreed to make the long drive to come to meet Oskar Blue. With few people traveling, Michele made her way to meet her next dog.
Arriving back home, Michele sent the following update:
“Made it home. He is an amazing traveler. Only stopped once for a brief walk. Sniffing the back yard, rolling on the grass, very interested in my BBQ. He loves toys. Loves to fetch. Getting balls, toys and a kiddie pool tomorrow. He is super good in the house. Likes being with me. Love that he sits in front of me all the time for a treat. He has learned to get out of my face when I’m eating. Likes to snuggle and be petted. Enjoying him. He was worth the drive”.
A few days later, this update:
“Turns out Oskar knows how to use a doggie door. Just doesn’t like them. Didn’t show him the real dog door. He got up in the middle of the night a couple of nights ago, and I decided to just be still and see what he did. Damned if I didn’t hear the swish of the door flaps. Guess he likes me getting up to let him in and out”.
And then this update...
“Two weeks and all is well. So good in the house. Have left him a couple of times. He will pull something off a shelf or take my slippers into two different rooms, but does not chew anything. Will fetch toys but not tennis balls. Incredibly soft mouthed”.
Calling him Blue, my favorite color. Going to the vet tomorrow. No problems, just like to introduce my new dogs to her. Saturday he gets a grooming.
Thank you for letting me bring him home”.
There are no words to describe the feeling of when you see the perfect match. But seeing Michele with Oskar Blue, and knowing that she would not only love and care for him, but was also capable of managing him, makes everything worthwhile. Receiving her updates confirmed that, and we love Blue too.
