Beau, a Sad Tale

I could tell you about Uncle Bob, who was a rescue and our first experience with standard poodles, but this one's even better. His name was Beau, and we almost missed him entirely.

Happened to get the weekly newspaper in our way rural North Carolina county one week, don't know why. We'd just lost our second big standard Kenya, who got hit by the school bus when she'd gone off-property to meet it when our grandson was in the second grade. A terrible tragedy - and as dog-people generally who live way in the country, we were suddenly without that canine support we'd so grown accustomed to.

Anyway, there in the newsprint we saw the "adoptables" from the county shelter, and there was one who looked a whole lot like a standard poodle. Now, that's a high-dollar dog, that don't hunt. In this area, what the hell???!!

My hubby called the shelter and got some worker on the phone Friday night, asked if that was really a standard poodle. That worker said he thought so. Of course the next question was, "what the heck is he doing at the shelter?" The worker said he didn't know. So my hubby said he'd come in right after his clown gig the next morning to check it out, and the worker said someone would stay until 2 p.m. to accomodate.

The person who stayed was the head guy at the shelter. My hubby walked in with full tramp clown face (a llittle worse for wear and tear due to the gig), and asked to meet the poodle. Sure enough, there was this spectacular standard of about 6 months of age, in a cage. Of all things (poods hate cages, we've had 'em destroy entire shops that try it!).

He approached the dog gingerly, as we knew nothing about why he was in such dire straits. The worker on duty said the dog was vicious, would bite. He put his face close to the fancing and his hand right up to it, and looked that dog in the eyes. Beau licked his hand and lowered his eyes, recognizing an ally. So we took him home.

Turned out the lady who'd bought him (a $700 dollar, AKC registered dog in a region where poodles don't count) was paying the shelter extra every week to not kill him, telling them they had to find "the right people" to give him to. She's had back surgery and simply couldn't keep up with him - he was a puller. The shelter head said he knew as soon as my husband walked in with clown-face that we were "the right people" to have this dog. Made it easy for us. And we were never sorry, he raised several other stray mutts and some kittens too.

What wonderful dogs these are, despite some issues that shorten their lifespan! We're in the market for another rescue or two. I'll keep up with this site for sure...