To dog again or not to dog again? That was the question.
In a recent column entitled “Who Rescued Who?” I wrote about the very difficult loss of our 14-year old family dog, Sportster.
He was the first dog for our family of five and our first rescue dog from Centre County PAWS.
Our family and friends all got to know Sportster as a “unique” personality who I would often describe as the “world’s most neurotic dog.” Despite his quirky traits, Sportster was a fun and much loved part of our family. I was completely caught off guard by how much it hurt to lose our small black and white Border Collie-Beagle-Dalmatian mix. He had become my constant companion in his last few years with us but only after a decade of a rather interesting relationship. So many friends said they cried after reading the Sept. 19 column, including some of my macho hockey buddies.
Let’s face it: owning a pet is just like adding another family member and there is usually far more joy than sorrow. But as I wrote in that column, because of their shorter life span, it is always going to end sadly.
Why in the world would anyone want to knowingly put himself or herself through that ending again? The “Pragmatic Joe” in me told the rest of the family that it just didn’t make sense to get another dog right away because it would be an impulsive and emotional decision and not one based on practicality. Our older kids are living in Pittsburgh and San Francisco and our youngest is 17 and soon to be off to college. Which of course meant the bulk of the daily chores of caring for a new dog would fall on my wife and me.
So I started rationalizing all the reasons not to get another dog. The time and money to train and care for them? Veterinarian visits and bills? Arranging for care when we would want to go away on day trips and vacations? What if the dog had a mean streak, chewed furniture, or wasn’t good with people? And the number one reason: Who gets to clean up their occasional messes in the house and to be the “pooper scooper”?
The bantering back and forth among the family about someday getting another dog started shortly after Sportster passed and slowly increased. We all jumped on the Centre County PAWS website but it was mostly fantasizing about finding a dog that could fill the hole in our hearts left by Sportster. He was a surprisingly low maintenance dog given his personality issues. All I kept thinking about were all those reasons not to dive back in especially with the odds of finding a dog that was so easy to care for as Sportster. A few people, including my father, did suggest to us that the best thing to do was to get another dog right away, to which I scoffed at under my breath, “Yeah, easy for you to say.”
But while I was consciously and deliberately trying to talk myself out of getting a new dog, I knew in my heart that the benefits of having a dog far outweighed the negatives for the family, and for me as well. The emotions began tugging hard at my heartstrings, enough that I went to PAWS on a Tuesday straight from a meeting in my suit and tie just to see if any of the dogs on site struck a chord.
The staff at PAWS was terrific and many knew about Sportster’s passing. Liz Strickler is the coordinator of the dog team, who helped us adopt Sportster back in 2004, and she remembered me all these years later. Of course, I said we were just looking and that maybe I just needed some dog therapy to help me get through the grieving process.
The conversation hit a higher note when I returned and I think everyone but our daughter Brianna felt like we were just going through an exercise to make us feel better. Not Brianna, she made it pretty clear she wanted another dog and the sooner the better. She went as far as to tell me I was taking her to PAWS on Sunday, Oct. 1 to see the new group of dogs that was being brought from South Carolina in part because of an influx of dogs there due to Hurricane Irma. I freely admit, I did not protest.
I arrived at PAWS early (surprising, I know!) and was one of the first in line. Once we went inside I looked in one of the viewing rooms and my eyes got as big as pizza pies. There he was, 5-month old “Santana.” This beautiful reddish-tan, medium build Shepherd-Hound mix with a face that looked like a lion cub. I didn’t need to go any further. Our group’s volunteer, Mary McLaughlin, was actually fostering Santana shortly after he arrived from South Carolina. I asked to be able to go in and meet him.
Santana was very shy and was shaking when I reached down to pet him. When Mary got him to sit up he had this majestic look about him. His chest was out, his front legs straight and strong, and his head held high. I was instantly in love with him, especially when she said he was house broken. I got on the phone and texted my wife and daughter and said to hurry up as I wasn’t about to relinquish my time with Santana, seeing others peering through the window with the same look I had when I first saw him.
When Brianna and Heidi arrived they had essentially the same reaction I did. Brianna was smitten with him immediately, while Heidi was trying her best to be stoic and poised while asking all the right questions. We told Mary we wanted to spend time with our newfound star outside in their fenced-in play area. It took the dog a bit to warm up to us but we had gone through this same dance with Sportster 14 years ago.
We asked Mary and Liz to draw up the adoption papers for us to be considered as owners. Given our success with Sportster we felt confident. In the meantime we kept looking at the other dogs just in case and we really liked Jigsaw, Candyman and Pennywise, who we happily understand were recently adopted as well. In fact, of the influx of close to 50 dogs from the south, all but a few have now been adopted. Kudos to the PAWS staff and the folks of Centre County for stepping up!
We asked about the dog’s name and if he really knew it, and everyone said he was so shy he didn’t really respond to “Santana” so we decided to give the pup a new name. We wanted something tied to Penn State and Heidi suggested Saquon after our star running back. So a couple hours later we found ourselves with friends at the Nittany Lion men’s hockey game and were describing our luck in finding this gorgeous puppy. When Elizabeth Fegert asked Heidi what we were thinking of naming him, the light bulb went off, and Elizabeth said, “Why not Barkley instead?” Boom! Perfect.
Barkley Battista. Love the alliteration, the way it just rolls off the tongue. Ironically it was two weeks after first meeting “Barkley” that I actually heard him bark. It was at 4:30 a.m. when our paper was delivered.
Now reality was about to set in as we brought Barkley home and realized it was like having a baby again. We had to think of all the things he might chew, or any trouble he would get into in his new surroundings. Suffice it to say we had a couple of bumps, but only a couple (at least so far).
We have to give a big shout out to our neighbors Chrissy and Tim Fritton and their daughter Hadley, as well as their dogs Trey and Penny. Chrissy is a “dog whisperer” who has a passion for animals (including Tim) and is particularly good with dogs. Barkley went immediately to her with his long black tail a wagging. She was the only person we have seen him do that with before or since.
Barkley was still not too sure about us though. He was a bit scared of me still until the moment that I started petting Trey. It was as if Barkley said, “Wait just a minute. I’m not quite sure about that guy yet but he’s my guy!” A little jealous, Barkley came over wagging his tail and nudged himself between Trey and me. The progress he’s made in such a short timeframe has been remarkable. Having Trey and Penny to model has helped our shy guy come out of his shell and learn so much in just a week. Heck, we can even throw a mini-football and he flags it down and brings it back after watching Penny do the same with ease.
It all seemed to be going along so well. But in the back of our minds we knew Barkley would still have to pass the “Marty” test.
Zach “Marty” Martin, one of our son Ryan’s best friends who spends a lot of time at our home, was “public enemy No. 1” in Sportster’s mind. While Sportster was friendly with most people there were a few individuals that, for whatever reason, he turned into Mr. Hyde at their mere sight. So before we could officially adopt Barkley, we knew we had to bring Marty over to see how the two got along. Barkley passed the Marty test with flying colors. Marty is ecstatic that he actually can come to our house and play with the dog.
This is now the second amazing experience we have had with the folks at PAWS and we are absolutely in love with Barkley. Thanks to all the staff!
If you are interested in adopting a dog or cat, or volunteering to help, visit Centre County PAWS’ beautiful facility at 1401 Trout Road, between the Shiloh Road exit and Benner Pike during their regular business hours that are posted on their website here.
Or, if you are interested in making a donation to PAWS, call Director of Development Christine Faust at 814-237-8722 and select #9.
