all photos (except one) credited to Victoria Wachtel

HOW A MOTHER & DAUGHTER CAME TO BE  PARENTS

- Victoria Wachtel, Contributing Writer

We recently added a new addition to our family -- “Pancho,” a three-legged Chihuahua.
I was not planning on getting a dog, but somehow he planned on getting me!

About 6 months ago my girlfriend called me one morning and told me that she was getting  another 3-legged dog.  (She already has one.) “Oh, wonderful,” I exclaimed! “ How did you find this one”?  “Well I don’t actually know when I will be getting it, but I had a dream last night that I was getting another three-legged dog.” “Oh,” I said, kind of sad that there wasn’t a new dog waiting in the wings ready to join her already large pack of 5 dogs!

So months passed and one day my friend, the photographer Roberto Cabral, asked me to come and look at some photos he had taken at the Chatsworth Animal Shelter. Roberto is doing a book on the plight and lives of dogs in shelters. And there, in a photograph, illuminated in the doorway of one of the kennels, was a three legged dog! “There’s my friend’s dog!” I shouted. “What are you talking about?” Roberto asked, and then I proceeded to tell Robert about her dream.                                                                                     photo credit: Robert Cabral

 I immediately instructed him to send the photo to my friend. The next day he ran into her in a restaurant, and her husband was all full of questions about the dog. Ironically, my friend was reluctant to go down that road -- she said 5 was a lot of dogs already!  Her husband wanted to know size, weight, color -- everything about him!

So I decided to take matters into my own hands and go to the shelter (something that I absolutely hate because it makes me too sad) and check out this three-legged Chihuahua. I figured if this was truly the exceptional dog that Roberto had described, I could convince this great couple to add another wonderful dog to their family!

 Roberto and I set out on a Saturday morning, and I did not tell my daughter, Elizabeth, that I was going to the shelter because I knew that there would be a lot of begging for us to get a dog of our own, and I was just not ready for that big commitment.  My life just does not seem stable enough for a dog yet!

We walked in and I immediately felt anxious.  I do not like going into these places and seeing animals suffering -- I just want to take them all home, but as we all know, it's just not possible. As we walked down through these very dark and dismal corridors, I told Robert that I did not want to look into any other cages and get upset by the other crying dogs. As we walked into the area where Pancho was, many dogs started barking and leaping up in their cages, and for a moment Roberto thought that "my friend's dog" was gone. But then we saw him, sitting quietly on a little blanket. He was this tiny little creature with big brown eyes and ears like velvet. He looked up at me and we connected instantly.  I asked the staff if I could meet this little chap and minutes later I was sitting in one of the corridors, making friends with this little vulnerable creature. I immediately texted my friends all about how loving, kind, dignified and proud this little dog was -- and most of all, how brave.

Roberto and I stayed in the shelter until it was time to close, so that no one could come and adopt him until we had figured out what we were going to do about this little creature.
On the drive home I started to think about what would happen to him if no one took him. “They will gas him by the end of the week,” Roberto exclaimed dramatically.

 I thought about him sitting there in his cage and my heart was breaking. He was too special a creature to be left there.  I started to think that I do have a cat at home that I have to be responsible for, so why not a dog, too?  The poor kitty gets lonely in the day -- maybe he would like a companion?

I thought about Elizabeth, who, I knew, had always wanted a dog. In fact, she wanted to rescue one.  But how would she feel about a dog with three legs? When I went to collect Elizabeth from her play date I told her where I had been and asked how she would feel about adopting a dog with three legs, she started screaming and hyperventilating!  She couldn't actually believe that I was even considering it (nor could I for that matter)!  She was thrilled. 

As I digested these thoughts, I rationalized that I could make it work IF he was the right dog and IF our cat, Tiger, took to him. Well, somehow the decision was suddenly made, and we were going to go the next day and rescue the 3-legged Chihuahua. I had a very sleepless night, full of anxiety, and awoke the next day saying that I could not go through with it. But my daughter said firmly, “you cannot go back on you word, Mum.” So off we went.

The rest is history and we are now proud parents of a 3-legged Chihuahua and a very handsome cat,  who is very happy to have a companion of the same size.  I am not sure if Tiger thinks that Pancho is another cat or if he realizes that he is a dog! 

One thing that I really enjoy is taking an early morning walk with Pancho, watching the sunrise. Or a late night walk, looking at the stars. These are two things that I didn’t do regularly before, and now they are a part of my day-to-day life, and I love it.  Also, everyone wants to hear his story, and they all think that he is terribly brave.  In fact, I have met some wonderful people through this special dog. Most of all, our friends who have 5 dogs already are delighted that the "dream dog" is safe and sound in a loving home that isn't theirs!

Thinking of Adopting or Rescuing an Animal?

Here are some great resources we've compiled, both locally (for CA) and nationally.  You can also visit your local animal shelter - even if you can't adopt right now, going down to the shelter and spending time with the animals is a great way to give back.  Afterall, like people, animals need love and attention too.

SPCA - Organization has adoption, lost and found as well as emergency services and programs.

California's Directory of Animal Rescue Groups and Shelters - Links to animal shelters, humane societies, and breed-specific rescue groups for dogs, cats and companion animals.

Petfinder.com - Petfinder is an on-line, searchable database of animals that need homes. It is also a directory of over 2000 animal shelters and adoption organizations.

Animal Adoption and Rescue Foundation - The AARF page is dedicated to the rescue and successful adoption of orphaned dogs.

Haven't quite gotten your fix of pet rescue stories?  Read Renee's blog about rescuing an a Teacup Chihuahua who overcame incredible odds here.