Lennon

If you ask anyone that knows me they will tell you that I love animals especially dogs. I have had dogs my entire life both as a child and as an adult. I am going to share a story with you about a dog I rescued he was a red Staffordshire Bull Terrier I named Lennon. I will go back to the start. I remember sitting on the sofa looking through facebook when a post from the SSPCA popped up, the picture was of a 1 year old Staffy Male who was very underweight, I clicked and began to read his story. As I was reading the tears started to trickle down my cheeks "poor baby" I thought, he had not had the best start in life beaten and underfed, now he was in a shelter and he was scared. I have to have this dog I thought so I emailed them.

I waited on a reply which came later that day, it stated that the dog needed further assessment as he was timid and scared but if I was interested I needed to fill out an application form so I did. I also gave the rescue a call but they said that I needed to wait until his assessment period was over. I never gave up though I emailed them daily to affirm just how much I wanted this dog, I even sent them pictures of my garden as it was enclosed with 6ft fences and had nothing but open fields and nature... perfect dog walking territory. Then one day after weeks of waiting I got a call, "We would like to invite you to meet Derek (his name at the time) to see how he reacts to you, they told me that Derek hadn't interacted with any of the staff he just sat at the back staring at the wall, no one could get him to come close he had no trust and was very scared. I agreed to drive to the shelter and meet him, I really wanted to be that person that helped heal this little man from his demons and gain trust in humans again. I took my 11 year old son with me he was like me very compassionate towards animals and all we wanted to do was show this little guy some love and gain his trust back. We got in the car and off we went to meet Derek for the first time.

It was an hour and half journey from our house to the rescue, my son was chirping all the way there but I had to explain to him that we still might not get the dog it was up to the rescue and not us. He got a little upset at this but understood, I didn't want to burst his hope but I had to be real with him. We arrived at the shelter and went to the reception desk, I could smell the faint smell of disinfectant and dogs were barking, I remember holding back the tears at how many dogs were actually in the shelter, it broke my heart and my sons, he wanted to bring them all home but I explained that was not realistic. We were asked to have a seat until someone was free to take us to the kennels. I had treats in my pocket in the hope I could build trust with Derek I really wanted to bring him home. A member of staff came and got us she said with a polite voice and a smile "Are you ready to meet Derek, he is very shy and hasn't interacted with anyone yet but he is not aggressive just depressed" "Poor thing" I replied. We entered the kennels and there were rows upon rows of dogs all needing a new home, it made me feel sad. Then we approached the kennel with Dereks name on it and there at the back staring into the wall was Derek, he looked so sad.

I really had to hold my tears back as I felt how unhappy this dog was and he didn't deserve that, no dog deserves that. I asked if I could open his gate and sit in beside him for a while, my son was busy looking at the other dogs... The staff member agreed so I slowly shuffled my butt inside the kennel and just sat there, Derek didn't move a muscle he didn't even acknowledge I was there he just sat staring at the wall. I sat in silence with him. My son got bored looking at the other dogs he approached Dereks kennel and said "Mum is this the dog we are taking home?" When my son spoke Derek turned around and gave us eye contact "Wow the staff member said he hasn't done that before" I asked if my son could join me inside the kennel she agreed. My son came inside and sat beside me, Derek turned around and gazed at us, my son took a treat from my pocket and said "Mum I am going to make friends with this dog" "be careful" I said as you never know with dogs especially if they are scared. The staff member said he was safe with kids and other dogs it was adults he didn't like very much but that was due to them being bad to him, I don't blame him I wouldn't like humans either if they did that to me... poor boy!

My son took the treat and with a soft voice he said "Derek I am your friend would you like a treat?" To the staff's amazement Derek slowly approached my son and sniffed the treat, he didn't take it but he sniffed his hand. My son tried again "Here you are Derek have a treat" my son put the treat on the floor and slowly Derek Approached he ate the treat. He tried again this time he tried to give him the treat by hand, he held his hand out with a flat palm "Here you are boy... take it!" As I sat there watching this dog interact with my son I held back tears, it made me more determined to take him home. After 15 mins sat in the kennel Derek wagged his tail for the first time "Wow" the staff said he really likes your son he has never wagged his tail, he allowed my son to pet his head and after that first pet the dog changed from a sad dog to one that craved love and attention, he rolled on his back for belly rubs, he snuggled my son and lay in his lap. I looked at the staff member and they looked at me she said "It looks like Derek has chosen you guys to be his new family" my eyes went bright "Does that mean we can have him and take him home?" she explained that a house check would need to be done and if they were happy then yes we could have him. I was delighted and so was my son, but leaving him that day felt horrible and my son felt it too he cried all the way home as he felt bad leaving him in the kennel. I told him "Just a few more things to do and he is ours" I promised him, he took relief from that and calmed down but would often express his sadness about leaving him in the kennel.

It would be 2 weeks before anyone contacted me "Are you free for a house check in regards to Derek?" she said on the phone "Oh yes I am ready" I replied with excitement in my tone. The next day an officer came and checked the house, Enclosed garden...check!...6ft fence check!... Big enough house...Check!...Places to dog walk...check! I had everything Derek needed for a new life now all I had to do was wait for that final decision to be made. "I will take the form back and someone will give you a call" "Good luck" she said as she left all that was left to do now was wait for that call and pay the £250 adoption fee and he would be ours forever.

The day came when we got the call we had been waiting on "Miss King just to let you know that Derek is yours if you still want him?" the girl said on the phone "YES!!" "I want him when can he come home?" I asked "He is ready when you are" she said. "I am on my way" First I nipped into a pet store, I would have done that already but didn't want to tempt fate in the event they said no. I bought bowls, lead and collar, water, and a fluffy blanket he could lie on, I stocked up on food as he still needed to gain some weight and bought chew toys for him to play with. Now that we had everthing all we needed now was to collect Derek.

We arrived at the shelter and was asked to take a seat in the reception area. I was called over "Can you sign this and pay the fee please" I signed the paperwork and paid the fee that was it, it was final Derek had a safe place, a home were he would be loved and cared for. The door opened and a member of staff approched us with Derek on the lead, he saw us and wagged his tail "hello boy" I said as I petted his head, he remembered us! "You ready to go home boy" I put his new collar on and attached the lead my son took the lead and Derek walked by his side until we got to the car, I opened the boot and gestured to him to jump in, he did and I am sure he was smiling at this point he was panting but had this big smile on his face, I knew he knew he was safe now. I closed the boot and off we went back home.

We arrived home and opened the boot, Derek who's name was now Lennon sniffed around the garden and waited at the front door as if to say let me in, I gathered his stuff and went inside. Lennon explored the whole house sniffing here sniffing there, I placed his bed in the living room by the fire and placed his toys beside his bed, he lay in his new bed played with his toys and run around like a happy dog should. I watched him with tears in my eyes, I thought to myself I can't make a difference for all stray dogs but I sure can make a difference for this little guy, he was home and he was safe and that was all that mattered.

In memory of Lennon who died aged 14 in Sep 2009 due to cancer. He was a great dog and is sadly missed. I feel privilidged to have known this boy, to have gained his trust and even though he was mistreated he treated us with the upmost respect, I can rest knowing he had a safe happy life. Fly high my boy rainbow bridge has you now but your spirit will be forever felt. RIP boy my love for you will remain forever.