Elton

On a cloudy rainy Tuesday, after a busy Bend morning, the dogs beckoned.  My mind's eye pictured happy little faces, all eagerly waiting for a walk, etc.  Reality hit as I pulled into a nearly full parking lot, visitors and volunteers were all over the place.  Just one dog had not had an outing - Elton.  The notes said he was very shy and timid.  As is often the case with small dogs (he is mostly Chihuahua) his kennel was one of the private elevated enclosures requiring a stop at the reception desk for key and harness. The staff person offered to help coax him out and I was happy to accept.  Elton leaped into her arms squirming wildly in delight while she got him harnessed.  I carried him down the hall; the staff person and I walked together so that Elton had someone he knew close by. 

Outside it was cold so I do not know if Elton's trembles were from excitement, cold, or fear of me (a stranger); but he  huddled close.  He is so little, I figured he could get a good workout in the exercise yard so we went there first.  He is really cute, he just bounces around like a little toy, interested in everything.  He began following me around just happy to be with me. At one point I looked down and noticed his harness had nearly slipped  off.  Readjusting it was challenging because he was now my best friend and was smothering me with kisses.  Time for our leash walk to begin.

Elton is a social guy so we walked back toward the shelter building where he had more chances to encounter potential new friends.  He enjoyed all the  regular dog things like sniffing every inch of the hedges around building but what surprised me was his eagerness to make friends with other dogs, even large ones who were not behaving very friendly toward him.  Once back inside the shelter it was obvious that he absolutely loves the staff.  He was dashing to each one of them getting happier by the minute as they greeted him.  In the nearly two years I've been volunteering here, I can't remember a happier dog.  Little Elton came in as a stray so his history is a mystery, but there must have been love in there somewhere.  Let's hope he finds his loving family soon.