Here's Gladys...
"I don't need to meet another dog. We want her."
How these words had never been spoken by another family before us, is a mystery
to me, but it was also a stroke of luck. For this piece, I had
all of my words perfectly arranged to explain how Gladys had captured
not only my heart but the affections of my son as well, but as I sat
down to type my story, Gladys intervened and changed the course of my
tale. By this I mean, she placed her head upon my wrists as I
attempted to type and reminded me that life with a dog is utterly unpredictable
and equally filled with affection. For instance, I may set out
to do a specific task, such as wash the dishes or put away laundry and
then in an instant, those eyes look at me, that tail starts to wag,
and all plans are chucked to the side as I drop to my knees and give
my girl the belly rub she deserves. This is my life with Gladys
and I have the Sula Foundation to thank for bringing her into my world.
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| Gladys lends a shoulder to her two-legged brother. |
Why The Sula Foundation?
I learned about the Sula Foundation from a friend, Jill, who volunteers
her time to several local pit bull rescue and advocacy groups in the
New Orleans area. She described the work that the Foundation does for
the homeless pit bulls of our city. This particular group piqued
my interest because the adoptable dogs are first fostered and socialized,
which was a non-negotiable necessity for me. For several weeks,
I had considered adopting a dog and since I had nothing but positive
experiences with the pit bulls I had encountered, I figured that was
the breed I wanted to explore. After cyber-stalking the Sula website,
I knew the dog I wanted, Rosa! I filled out my application and sent
it off. As it turned out, I had another friend, Christine, that
was involved with the Sula Foundation as a foster parent. She
put in a good word for me with Kelly and helped to get the ball rolling.
The Adoption
Kelly called me to do a phone interview. Yes, a phone interview to
adopt a dog! I knew I was adopting from the right organization
since they put this much effort into finding a forever home for their
pups. After speaking with Kelly, it was agreed upon that the dog
I should meet first was Gladys and not Rosa. It was not that there
was a problem with Rosa, it was simply that Gladys might be a better
fit for me and my son. We had talked about my expectations
in adopting a dog. From the sound of it, Gladys met all of them.
(In fact, she has continued to meet all of them)!
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| Gladys helps out with chores around the house. |
Meet and Greet
The next step in the process was to meet the pup and determine if
she was the right match for my son and me. I had seen pictures of her.
She was a medium-size tiger striped girl with a goofy grin and intense
stare. Her pictures did not do her justice. After entering into
out home, Gladys plopped on the floor, rolled on her back and waited
for her belly rub, a practice she has repeated many times during these
past few months. She was perfect. My son, who was 15, at the time,
was smitten. Our short search was over. We knew Gladys was the one.
My Shadow
I could hardly wait to pick her up from her foster dad, Aron, and
bring her home. On September 14, a Friday, I left work early,
ran to a local pet store and bought some goodies for my girl. I picked
her up from Aron's and drove her home. She has been by my side
ever since. Over the past few months, Gladys has grown into my
shadow. Whether I am cooking or washing dishes in my tiny kitchen, or
hanging clothes in my even tinier closet, Gladys is next to me.
Much to my son's disappointment, Gladys sleeps in bed with me too. What
fun is having a dog if you don't get to cuddle her; and cuddle her I
do! Sometimes I wonder if it is possible for her to get any closer
to me; and then she somehow manages to contort her body into a position
that just about smothers me. I couldn't be happier!
The Future
Gladys does not know it yet but I already have plans for our spring.
She is going to be my running partner when the weather becomes milder.
And in March, I have signed us up for the Sula training. I understand
the importance of training and socialization. We have already had a
few puppy play dates with Lucy, Villere and Chico, just a few of Gladys'
new friends. She has gone on walks with them and has proven to
be quite the social lady. I intend to continue to socialize her with
other dogs as well as with people. My future and my present are
definitely brighter with Gladys. I like to think that Gladys wasn't
adopted prior to our meeting because she was waiting for the right family;
and now she has it and will never be alone again. ~ Eileen A.
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| Gladys (left) enjoys a walk with her buddy Lucy. |
Did you adopt from Sula Foundation and want to share an update on life with our alum? - Please email us at adopt@sulafoundation.org.
And of course, it is NEVER to late to adopt a companion for your family. Check out our available dogs here: http://bit.ly/YqcimS
