Maggie and Me

"The people who are hardest to love are the ones who need it most."

-Mother Teresa

I began reading this book called Rex and the City: True Tales of a Rescue Dog Who Rescued a Relationship by Lee Harrington. I was searching for a new book on my Kindle and stumbled across this book (for free)...and thought, why not? I absolutely LOVE this book! It's a wonderful story about a couple that adopted a shelter dog and went through a series of ups and downs while bringing their new dog, Wallace, into their lives. It's called A Memoir of a Woman, a Man, and a Dysfunctional Dog in the hardcover edition, but Rex and The City in the eBook form.

I found this book very easy to relate to and although I'm not even halfway through the book, I already love it! The couple adopted the dog Wallace and realized that maybe they were in over their heads with a dog that was extremely anxious, fear aggressive, and scared of pretty much anything that moved. It was a long road of trial and error and with patience and lots of love, Wallace essentially rescued them and gave them unconditional love once he accepted them into his own heart.

She wrote in the beginning "...An abused shelter dog might be harder to manage at first, but with love, patience, trust, conditioning - and a healthy sense of humor - your dog will be transformed in no time. And so will you." - Lee Harrington. This goes hand in hand with quote from the top of the post and it is so true!

The reason I chose to write about this and have the title ("Maggie and Me") is because of something that happened at the shelter today. Last Wednesday, a very nice family adopted a beautiful black lab from the shelter named Maggie. Today, they ended up returning her because she was too "active and anxious" for them...after only five days! She reminded me SO much of the lab from Marley and Me the movie...and if you've seen that movie, you know that a dog does not adjust to you and your family in a matter of days.  Also, some dogs are just more rambunctious and energetic than others just like people. And can you blame her for being so anxious those first couple of days entering a new home? Apparently they took her to their vet and were recommended to put her on anti-depressents and anxiety medication. Oh yes.

Maggie is not the first dog to be returned of because anxiety or some other kind of behavioral issue. Now, not all shelter dogs develop (or have) a behavioral issue...but after a while many do and with some time, they come around and adjust very well into their new homes. If only people would give them some time to adjust and give them lots of love! Like Mother Teresa said...the people (or dogs!) that are the hardest to love are the ones who need it the most. <3