At P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center we often get wonderful and heartwarming stories from folks who have adopted from us.  We like to share them occasionally to help remind people how fulfilling adopting a shelter pet can be and to invite you to visit us at 146 Camden Street in Rockport and find out which of our many fabulous animals will pick you.

"In September 2003 we adopted Delilah from your shelter.  She was a birthday gift for our soon-to-be 8-year-old son.  We had looked for quite a while before finding the right dog.  My son walked the length of the cages and when he stopped at hers she was sitting quietly. She got up, went to the back of the pen, picked up a ball and dropped it in front of my son then sat back down.  That's all it took for both of us.

 We fostered her for a couple of days then went back to finalize the adoption.  We found out we were her third family and she was only 1 1/2 at the time.  She apparently had been in a rather abusive situation(s) because she was terrified of men, had stress incontinence and was very shy.  To this day she won't touch her food unless she's in the kitchen alone.  She also had a lump on her head that required surgery.  The vet said it was a very deep sebaceous cyst that likely was due to blunt force trauma.  I was horrified.  She came through it just fine though.  She was terrified of getting in the car too.  If we packed our bags to go to the lake for the weekend she would try to hide.  I had to give her Benadryl to quiet her.  My poor son would ride in the back seat with her and we had to put beach towels on the seat, a plastic garbage bag on his lap and a towel over that and he still got out of the car sopping wet.  That poor dear dog drooled non-stop from the minute she got in the car until she got out.

 I'm very pleased to report that she has long since gotten over her fear of cars.  All we have to do now is jiggle our car keys and she's at the door ready to go.  She has her own spot in the back seat (passenger side always).  She likes to have the window down but only just so far because she likes to lean on the door and rest her head on the top of the open window.  She got past the stress incontinence but that took quite a while.  She sleeps on our couches or on her own king size bed.  If people don't like the dog hair then they can stand or sit elsewhere.  When I take her to the bank with me she knows there will be a treat for her when that tube starts coming back.  If the teller forgets, Delilah expresses her feelings - loudly.

 I had dogs the entire time I was growing up and I had some great ones.  I'm here to tell you this old girl is the best dog I have ever had.  She's so much company and has her habits like humans do.  The one thing she has never gotten used to is being taken to be groomed.  I doubt that will ever change.  I am still in awe and sad that she went through 2 families before we found her.  She's such a sweet loving girl.  I can't imagine 2 families didn't want her.  Oh, well, that's lucky for us - and for her.  She's one of the family and we love her.

 It's been a long time but I did want to say thanks!"

 A. Smaligo

Houlton, Maine