Westport Animal Shelter Advocates

Bear, a 3-year-old maltese-teacup poodle mix came into our lives in January of 2010.  The timing is significant in that this was a little guy that definitely was looking for and deserving of a new life in a new year.  Officer Peter D’Amico of Westport Animal Control was contacted by a resident of Norwalk looking to surrender Bear because he wasn’t “working out for their family”.  Bear started his life in a series of cages (puppy mill/pet store) and then bounced to 2 families that found the best way to deal with an active dog that spent most of his time alone in house was to lock him away in a cage.  A WASA volunteer and dog behaviorialist went to do an evaluation of Bear along with another WASA volunteer and potential foster for him.  They found Bear to be a loving little guy that responded well to calm and loving attention that loved to go on walks.  He needed to reconnect what it was to be a dog outside the confines of a cage.  He entered the WASA foster system with a wonderful volunteer and her two little rescues and joined the Winslow Park/Compo Beach circuit.   He found his doggie joy under her care (and home-cooked meals).  He romped in the snow, greeted visitors with joyful barks and toy offerings and delighted everyone that met him.  Now we needed to find him his forever home – not a good home but a great home with people that would not put him back in a cage but continue the excellent care he was receiving from his foster mom.  Another WASA volunteer, because of her small breed rescue contacts, found just the home.  A man and woman, after the loss of their elderly maltese-poodle mix, were looking to adopt again.  A home visit and reference check revealed that Bear had found his forever home and is now the center of their universe.  Luckily the tradition of home-cooked meals continues and he is a loved and cherished every single minute of every day.  There is no cage to be found in their home although he does have a stylish carrier that is employed when he travels with his mom and dad on airplanes under their seat but word on the street is that he is usually riding in their laps with no objections from the surrounding passengers.

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