Story submitted by Lorraine Sakli, a Bobbi and the Strays volunteer.
The well-dressed couple passed the shivering black and white spaniel and didn’t give him a second glance. He huddled next to a bank of garbage cans on The Bowery in New York City’s Lower Eastside and watched in fear as taxi cabs whizzed by.
A woman was leaving her night job and noticed the scared little dog in the corner. He wagged his tail at her, so she picked him up and took him home. But she was a cat rescuer with 15 cats in her tiny apartment and couldn’t keep him. She believed the little dog had been abused because he snarled and snapped at her broom and growled when she put her hand out to give him a treat. She kept him for a few days before she called me—she knew I volunteered at Bobbi and the Strays– and asked if the shelter could help the little dog. Bobbi and the Strays did manage to take him in to try to get him a home.
He was vetted before arriving at the Atlas Park shelter and I called him Oreo. I thought he was one smart cookie. At first, Oreo was very frightened, backing up into his cage, and refusing to come out for walks. Slowly but surely, he tried to make friends with the staff, the other animals, and the people who came in to see and adopt Bobbi’s strays.
When Chris, a postman from Pennsylvania, saw Oreo’s photo online, he fell in love at first sight. Right before Thanksgiving, Chris and his fiancée drove to the Atlas Park to meet and adopt Oreo. They came through the door, smiling happily, arms loaded with a big basket of treats and toys for the dogs. But when Oreo, arrived at his new Pennsylvania home, his fear issues surfaced. He became territorial and guarded everything — shoes, a bedroom rug, a toy, a treat, and a hand towel—growling and barring his teeth at Chris at every move. Very quickly, Chris understood that he was not the right companion for the little spaniel. He couldn’t provide the discipline Oreo needed to help him get over his anxieties and fears. After much soul-searching and sadness, Chris returned Oreo to Bobbi before Christmas.
Oreo settled back into his cage at Atlas Park and his life at the shelter, waiting for the special person to come along who would understand exactly what he needed and would love him, no matter his issues. He still backed into his cage at times, refusing to come out. He had his fearful moments and growled and snapped when he felt afraid. His eyes would lock into a stare and he looked as though he was getting ready to lash out and bite. There was even a warning on his cage to be careful.
During the winter months, every Monday evening, I took him to Pawsative dog training classes in the basement of a church in Woodhaven. Oreo turned out to be a fast learner, the star pupil. He was certainly far ahead of me in class, executing every command to perfection, while I missed my hand signals and stumbled over the leash. He flourished in this proactive environment where he was called on to do something, to work for his treats. And he was very happy socializing with the other dogs, and the people, too. The trainer said, ‘Right now, Oreo speaks dog better than he speaks people. But I know he will learn to trust people again.’
Monday after Monday, over ice and snow, we went to the classes and Oreo became more and more receptive and animated. His moody fits became less and less. We always cuddled in the front seat of car on the way back to Atlas and I kept telling him what a good boy he was. He loved to hear that because he was a good boy.
Spring came and Oreo was still in his cage waiting for that special someone. He stood there, looking out with his adorable black and white face, swishing his plumed tail back and forth, as if to say, “Where are you, my person? Where are you?”
He loved to go for walks and liked rubbing his back against the huge concrete planters placed around the mall. He scratched his back on them like a big cat. At the shelter, people came and went. Some bent down to coo at Oreo. Others said how cute he was, but there was still no one who wanted to give him a home. No one saw the intelligent eyes, and the joy inside him, evidenced by his swishing tail. They did not see the happy gifts he could bring them. If they only looked.
Then one day in May, someone looked—right through the Bobbi and the Strays window– and saw Oreo. His name was Mark and he had another Oreo at home, a black and white spaniel that had some medical issues. He also had several other dogs. Mark was smitten by Oreo and came right back with his wife to adopt the little guy.
At the home visit, I could see that Mark truly loved all his dogs and that he would easily assimilate Oreo into his pack. His home was a paradise for pets with a big backyard and lots of room inside the house for the dogs to play. There were several food dishes placed in different locations, so the dogs would not have “food fights”. Comfy couches and chairs for dog lounging were everywhere. It was canine heaven. Oreo took to Mark instantly, kissing his face and then playing roughhouse. Mark disciplined Oreo when he needed and there was no growling or snarling or staring intently—Oreo was comfortable. He was no longer afraid. I felt a rush of pure joy because after all he had been through, I knew Oreo was finally going to his forever home and I knew Oreo was happy at last.
Oreo and Mark
