Happy
Thanksgiving! It’s a safe bet that any
dog owner/lover when asked what they are most thankful for, their dog is either
#1, or at the very top of the list! And
likewise, if asked, our dogs would list us as #1, with treats, squirrels and the
satisfaction of keeping the mailman at bay, close behind.
Thanksgiving! It’s a safe bet that any
dog owner/lover when asked what they are most thankful for, their dog is either
#1, or at the very top of the list! And
likewise, if asked, our dogs would list us as #1, with treats, squirrels and the
satisfaction of keeping the mailman at bay, close behind.
Today as we give
thanks for the many blessings in our lives, Stephanie Pauley shares her family’s
story of finding Stika – or more correctly, Stika and the Pauleys finding each
other!
thanks for the many blessings in our lives, Stephanie Pauley shares her family’s
story of finding Stika – or more correctly, Stika and the Pauleys finding each
other!
Stephanie, thank you
for sharing this beautiful story and for touching our hearts!
for sharing this beautiful story and for touching our hearts!
Stika’s Story
In 2009 we adopted/rescued our first Aussie and
approximately 2 years later we decided that, like potato chips, 1 Aussie is
never enough. Our search began and ended on Petfinder when we found this ad:
approximately 2 years later we decided that, like potato chips, 1 Aussie is
never enough. Our search began and ended on Petfinder when we found this ad:
Hello there. My name is Sir Irwin. My foster Mom rescued me
from a high kill shelter in Kentucky. I had chewed threw my rope that had me tethered
to a tree. Needless to say, my owners were not concerned enough to come looking
for me, so now I am a “rescue dog”. I like being a rescue dog, it
means I get to sleep indoors instead of outside, on the couch instead of a
muddy, dirty yard and I get all the food, water and treats one could imagine.
Yep, I have it good now!
from a high kill shelter in Kentucky. I had chewed threw my rope that had me tethered
to a tree. Needless to say, my owners were not concerned enough to come looking
for me, so now I am a “rescue dog”. I like being a rescue dog, it
means I get to sleep indoors instead of outside, on the couch instead of a
muddy, dirty yard and I get all the food, water and treats one could imagine.
Yep, I have it good now!
My foster Mom named me Sir Irwin, after the late
Steve Irwin. I guess because I am an Australian shepherd, this is the best she
could come up with. AND no, I do not have an accent when I bark. LOL.
Our interest most especially on
high alert, we made an inquiry into this beautiful boy. Luckily, we don’t live
far from where he was being kept and our application for adoption was approved.
high alert, we made an inquiry into this beautiful boy. Luckily, we don’t live
far from where he was being kept and our application for adoption was approved.
The very first meeting with
Sitka Erwin, and yes each of our boys have middle names, he was frightened and
shaking. He hid behind the workers leg as if we would hurt him, but that
quickly changed. I slowly lowered myself down to his level, took his sweet
mussel gently into my hand, and gently blew into his nose. As I did so, his
wiggly Aussie nubbin’ swung around until he was snuggled firmly against my leg.
I would like to say that all went well from the start but that was not to be.
Sitka had a few challenges to overcome like worms, learning a new name, and
potty training. Thankfully he is one smart Aussie, but aren’t they all. The
worms were cleared up, he learned his new name and although it’s spelled
differently keeping Erwin as his middle name helped tremendously, and going
from an outside puppy to an inside puppy didn’t take long.
Sitka Erwin, and yes each of our boys have middle names, he was frightened and
shaking. He hid behind the workers leg as if we would hurt him, but that
quickly changed. I slowly lowered myself down to his level, took his sweet
mussel gently into my hand, and gently blew into his nose. As I did so, his
wiggly Aussie nubbin’ swung around until he was snuggled firmly against my leg.
I would like to say that all went well from the start but that was not to be.
Sitka had a few challenges to overcome like worms, learning a new name, and
potty training. Thankfully he is one smart Aussie, but aren’t they all. The
worms were cleared up, he learned his new name and although it’s spelled
differently keeping Erwin as his middle name helped tremendously, and going
from an outside puppy to an inside puppy didn’t take long.
Over the last 4 years, Sitka has
learned many tricks like: sit, down, rollover, stay, shake with left paw, high
five with right paw, and is working on learning to play dead as well as taking
a requested item to a specific person. Along with his tricks his most favorite
thing to do is play ball.
learned many tricks like: sit, down, rollover, stay, shake with left paw, high
five with right paw, and is working on learning to play dead as well as taking
a requested item to a specific person. Along with his tricks his most favorite
thing to do is play ball.
Our family has grown to include a little
brother to complete the Brother Bear trio of Kenai, Sitka, and Denahi. He is
wonderful with his brothers, and he loves our grandson so much that he whines
with excitement when he knows he’s coming.
brother to complete the Brother Bear trio of Kenai, Sitka, and Denahi. He is
wonderful with his brothers, and he loves our grandson so much that he whines
with excitement when he knows he’s coming.
He still doesn’t realize that he’s not
supposed to be a lap dog and will spend as much time snuggling with us as
possible. He’s such a snuggler that I my husband or I take a nap on the couch
he naps on the couch with us. Heaven help us, or should I say me, when my
husband and I both nap on the couch because he will lie on top of me.
supposed to be a lap dog and will spend as much time snuggling with us as
possible. He’s such a snuggler that I my husband or I take a nap on the couch
he naps on the couch with us. Heaven help us, or should I say me, when my
husband and I both nap on the couch because he will lie on top of me.
Finally, some of his many wonderful qualities
would have to include the fact that he must be part Wookie, when he’s happy not
only does his butt wiggle but his entire backside wiggles so much that he
literally bends himself into a U-shape.
would have to include the fact that he must be part Wookie, when he’s happy not
only does his butt wiggle but his entire backside wiggles so much that he
literally bends himself into a U-shape.
While we do not wish harm to any of our
babies, we have already discussed becoming a foster family when our boys go to
heaven to wait for us. We know that it will be not only the hardest thing we
will ever do, but will be the most rewarding/selfless thing we could imagine. A
HUGE wonderful thank you for all that the rescue groups do.
babies, we have already discussed becoming a foster family when our boys go to
heaven to wait for us. We know that it will be not only the hardest thing we
will ever do, but will be the most rewarding/selfless thing we could imagine. A
HUGE wonderful thank you for all that the rescue groups do.
The Pauley’s: Stephanie,
Clint, Kenai Junie, Sitka Erwin, and Denahi Eugene
Would you like
to share your story with PawsGo? Send us
a note in the comment section! We love a
great story!
to share your story with PawsGo? Send us
a note in the comment section! We love a
great story!
