Smiling dog

I first noticed Desiree when she was at a rescue in S. Carolina and being so far away from Oregon, I didn’t think I could adopt her. A month later, I noticed her online profile was gone – she had been adopted. But, a couple of weeks later, Desiree had been returned to the rescue and her profile was back online again. I couldn’t believe such a beautiful dog was surrendered, let alone returned to the shelter. That prompted me to make a call to inquire about her. I spoke several times with the adoption coordinator and was told she was very, very shy. When I asked if they would do a long distance adoption to Oregon, she hesitated and said “Where!!?” After they carefully reviewed all aspects of my ability to provide a good home for her, they approved the adoption and I made arrangements for her travel. Desiree was a year old. A very shy and sensitive Australian Kelpie. Traveling in an airline crate, alone, all the way to Oregon, would have been too traumatizing. So I was able to arrange ground transport and she traveled across the country in a Sprinter van. It took 7 days before she was finally at her forever home. She had a remarkable sense of empathy. When she sensed my work stress, she would come to me, put her paw on my leg, look at me with those doggie eyes, one eyebrow spot raised… and the world was suddenly better. If one of the other dogs whimpered or yelped, she would go to them, make sure they were ok and give their face a good lick. Another time, while my father was recovering from surgery and very frail, Desiree heard him get up in the middle of the night and she stayed beside him the rest of the night. For 13 years, she was my constant companion. A strikingly beautiful dog with an angel’s soul. Miss you Desi.