Love found at the Agoura Animal Shelter





HAPPY ANNIVERSARY—Gloria Glasser and her best friend, Sky, celebrate one year together since she picked him up from the shelter.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY—Gloria Glasser and her best friend, Sky, celebrate one year together since she picked him up from the shelter.

The new dog and I hooked up last fall, so we’re nearing a milestone: our first anniversary.

Has it been a rocky road? Yes. On some days, coping with human couple issues like epic snoring or contentious in-laws, would pale in comparison.

But that’s what happens when you fall in love with a handsome, blue-eyed stranger down on his luck. You do that “living in the moment” thing, and the future is but a dreamy blur.

Then it turns out he detests SoCal’s warm climate, prefers to be chauffeured around rather than set paws to pavement and—not unlike a satanically possessed being—exhibits a fanatical interest in chasing a ball.

Upon arrival at one of my favorite Backbone Trail routes, the new dog executes a brisk about-face, heading straight back to the car. He displays a dim regard for exploration and adventure, the hallmarks of a great trail companion.

Yet, during our disagreements I am lately hearing a voice in my head say, “Whoa. Back off. Let him be.”

After a chance meeting at the Agoura Animal Shelter, I adopted him—an older, injured stray, reserved and wary, his origins entirely unknown.

The new dog had every reason to be cranky or to sulk after finding himself adrift in the world.

But he was not like that at all.

It’s true that the first week with me he did try to bolt every time a door was opened. He jump-started my heart when he got loose in a pet store and was just about to race into rushhour traffic as the sliding doors opened when a brave stranger tackled him.

Still, the new dog, named Sky, proved to be an astute, responsive listener.

All it took was for me to rather hysterically express my terror at his running-away antics to get Sky to forsake his “bat out of hell” routine.

Similarly, his hiking aversion has been tempered by compromise: He gets to set the pace and choose our route; I provide liberal encouragement, commendations and cookies.

It took awhile for me to catch on that this dog lived to do the right thing, to please me and to be lauded. Without fuss he permits me to apply a cool compress to his allergic eyes, massage his aching limbs, brush his neglected teeth.

Although we have our differences, I remind myself that having found a dog of such exemplary character is a rare and amazing privilege. An old Lovin’ Spoonful tune comes to mind: “You didn’t have to be so nice, I would’ve liked you anyway.”

But, Sky, you were that nice, and continue to be so, and we have become two lucky beings goofy in love with each other.

Gloria Glasser is a writer fascinated by the flora and fauna surrounding her home in the Santa Monica Mountains. Reach her at ranchomulholla@gmail.com.


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