I didn’t think I’d be writing this column because I really thought this beautiful girl would have been adopted by now, but for some reason she hasn’t, so here we are.
I think after reading my columns over the years, it’s fairly simple to come to the conclusion that I’m a cat person. I live with six of them, after all. And they sleep on me and near me and we snuggle a lot.
I did, however, grow up with dogs. We had dogs all throughout my childhood and my parents got dogs even after I left the house – many of which were my fault because I work at an animal shelter.
I don’t have dogs where I live because I can’t, but I’m not sure I would even if I could because I recognize the responsibility they present.
My cats are good with a bowl of food and water and I can be gone for however many hours in a day that I need to be gone.
You can’t really do that with a dog.
But – and you had to hear that coming – but there is a dog in this shelter right now that I would seriously consider figuring out a way to take home with me if I could.
And she’s been with us since Aug. 23 and I cannot understand it.
She came into us as a stray and we named her Mousy. She is a pretty-close-to-purebred Belgian Malinois. And she is beautiful.
We think she’s about a year old.
We would like for people to have some experience with the breed in order to adopt her and we don’t think she’d do well with cats.
She’s not too bad with other dogs, but she would certainly have to meet any canines in the home.
Here’s the thing. Mousy is amazing. She has been out in the community at various events and she does spectacularly well. She’s great on a leash and loves to meet people.
We even had her at the Puppy Paddle in the beginning of September and had her off leash to run around and she was completely fine. She even had decent recall for being a stray – she’d come to us when we called her over.
She didn’t seem to care much for the water, but boy did she patrol the perimeter of that pool making sure everything was okay. I’m guessing that’s her breed that had her doing that.
When we have her at other events, we set up the back of the van for her with a blanket and some toys and she’ll hop in and out, almost like it’s her crate.
She knows sit – so someone taught her that, but doesn’t seem to care that she’s missing.
She listens remarkably well. I shared some pulled pork with her at one event and she waited patiently until I gave her some. She never jumped up at my container at all.
And she’s a leaner. When you have her on a leash and are talking with someone, she will lean against you.
I’m telling you, Mousy is going to make someone an absolutely wonderful companion and I can’t figure out why she’s still here.
I’m talking about her now in the hopes that someone will see these words and come give this sweet girl the amazing home she deserves.
Please check out cvas-pets.org and follow the links to our adoptable animals and take a look at Mousy.
Believe me, you will be incredibly glad that you did.
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Jennifer Vanderau is the Public Relations Coordinator for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter and can be reached at [email protected]. The shelter accepts both monetary and pet supply donations. For more information, call the shelter at 717-263-5791 or visit the website cvas-pets.org. CVAS also operates thrift stores in Chambersburg and Shippensburg. Help support the animals at the shelter by donating to or shopping at the stores.
