Tilt # 10 - It doesn't matter what they think

I've always wanted a dog for a pet. However, for many years, our family schedule did not allow for a dog. We were always running to our next appointments and activities. I brought more work home than anybody I knew. I cringe even as I acknowledge that last sentence. I see a future blogpost about that one. Anyway, bottom line was, we were not a good family for a dog. At least, we understood that having a pet was a two-way street.

Several years ago, with a reduced workload on my part and a far trimmer family schedule with no more than one extra-curricular activity per week, we filled out applications to adopt a dog with four rescue organizations. We believed we were ready to be a good family to welcome a dog. The kids and I started looking at photos of dogs looking for homes and their stories. We went to "meet and greet" events for dogs needing homes. Months went by but we never got a call.

At our 4th "meet and greet" event, I chatted further with one of the organizers. At the time, we had a pet ferret. I inquired about our file and wondered aloud why we were not being considered. The person I spoke to said they did not know much about ferrets and thought they were like raccoons and they did not want our ferret "disemboweling their puppies". Wow. Just wow.

Shortly after, at another event, as I was talking with the rescue organization representative at a pet food store, I mentioned we had a ferret. What happened next was strange, if not rude. She stopped talking to me. Seriously. I kid you not. She looked past me, even as I asked another question, looking at some other people and the dogs in the store. No other person was waiting to speak to her. My question went unanswered. I wondered if I had spinach in my teeth. Have I written about spinach in my teeth before? Sadly, I'm not even laughing right now at this memory.

The last straw was in an e-mail inquiry I had made to the last rescue place about a dog whose story matched what we could offer. I even researched the breed to ensure we might be right for the dog. After I mentioned our famous ferret, that staff member wrote back, "Why don't you just get a second ferret?" I will spare you my uncensored thoughts to that question.

We gave up on adopting a dog at that point after more than half a year of looking. My kids said they did not want to look at any more photos as "nobody would choose us anyway". Long story short, by way of an internet scam (shall I make that a blogpost?), we got connected to the President of the Japanese Spitz Club of America and we welcomed our JS puppy about six months after giving up on rescuing a dog.

Today, almost 4 years after we applied to adopt a dog, not a single rescue organization has called us. Our puppy in the meantime, is a happy and healthy almost 3-year old member of the family. She got along well with the ferret.

Lessons from this one? People will think what they want about you. It is not always the true or whole picture of who you are. Ofttimes, they do not have all the information. Some times, they are not bothered to look beyond what they know or believe. Either way, do not live your life defined by those who do not know you nor care to know you better. Do not bend over backwards for them. There is absolutely no need to beg for approval when you are more than enough.

Yes, puppy and ferret got along, despite fears from some people.

And yes, this little one is happy to be in our family.