The day we brought Drake home from the humane society was typical of the adoption process in some ways, but not typical in others. Most people who adopt dogs come out to see the dogs and look for what they want. If they see a dog who sparks their fancy—or speaks to their heart—they file papers to adopt them.
In some cases, the immediate spark is close to magic. Rosie was a black Lab who had been very unhappy in the shelter. She barked continually, and jumped up to my eye level. She was so wild I wasn't sure I could walk her…but when the right guy came in, firm but kind, with a farm so she could run around, it was one meeting and love for life.
In other cases, though, there's a very real sense in which people are taking a stranger into their homes. One meeting—a second if they are careful, a third if they've got other dogs who need to meet the new pet—then they've got a strange dog in their home. Perhaps one with an unknown history, if he was a stray like Drake.
We had the unknown history part, but otherwise, my volunteer time gave us an advantage. I'd walked Drake every day for weeks. I'd seen him so full of energy he could barely stay on the ground. I'd seen him so tired he decided not to walk. I'd seen him scared, when Rosie wouldn't stop barking, and I'd seen him greeting strangers when he couldn't see me. I knew he was a good dog.
My wife Kathy had heard Drake stories for most of the month, and regularly looke at his picture on the humane society website. Kathy and Jon (our eldest) came out to meet Drake, and he charmed them, rolling on his back and showing his belly to be rubbed. He licked them all over, and played ball in a tiny room. Zach (our youngest) came out to see him. When it came time to take him home, he was leaving on a leash with someone he'd left with 30 times. It helped.
And there were still difficulties…
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