KEEPING AN OPEN MIND

How I met my new best friend

By Allan Kunigis

Allan Kunigis is a regular contributor to SideOne. He writes a monthly feature on finances, called Sensible Dollars. This article has nothing to do with money.

It was a wintry Saturday morning in mid-February, apre-COVID Saturday like any other. My routine waswell defined. I showed up to my volunteer janitorialgig at the local Humane Society, expecting to cleandog kennels for an hour or a little longer, and maybewalk/play with a dog in need of some outdoor timeand a romp in the fresh snow. I didn’t expect to meetmy new best friend.

When Rasta was put to sleep in late August 2018, I made a pledge to myself to spend at least one year with no canine responsibilities.

It had been close to 18 months since I had saidgoodbye to my latest four-legged best buddy. WhenRasta was put to sleep in late August 2018, I madea pledge to myself to spend at least one year withno canine responsibilities. Freedom. Freedom toswim as long as I want at the local beach throughthe summer, without worrying about what I called“Shake ‘n’ Bake” – my dog rolling in the sand to dryoff his wet fur and instantly needing a bath. (Arrgh!)Freedom to come and go as I like on any given day. Asimple, quiet, more carefree existence.

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A DISAPPOINTMENT

I had been tempted twice before when in the kennels.In one case, about six months earlier, a sweet,whimpering 4-month-old black Labrador retrievernamed Rosie had touched my heart like no other. ButI didn’t act quickly enough, and someone beat me toher. I was disappointed, but I learned first-hand thecost of delaying a decision by even one day.

I wasn’t looking for a new buddy on that coldFebruary day, but I took one look at Cisco, thishandsome, enthusiastic, friendly border collie/Australian shepherd mix who had just checkedinto the shelter late the previous day, and I felt anattraction and curiosity.

As it happened, just after tidying his kennel, Irealized we had more volunteers than needed thatmorning to clean just a handful of bedroom suites atthe Humane Society Hotel. Perhaps one of the guestscould use a walk. “Which one?” I asked a paid staffer.The answer was quick and clear: “Take Cisco out! Hecan’t get enough ball tosses!”

Sure. Twist my arm.

COULD THIS BE THE ONE?

I brought Cisco outside. I threw a plastic toy for himto fetch again and again. He frolicked through thesnow with tireless joy. Wow! Hmmm… Really? Mymind “went there.” Could he be the one?

It was late Saturday morning. The shelter wouldn’topen to the public again until Tuesday at 1 p.m. I hadtime to think about this, but not a lot of time.

On Sunday afternoon, I returned and took Cisco outfor a walk in the nearby woods. On Monday, I cameby in the early afternoon to pick him up for a trialrun, a sleepover (also called a “pawjama party”).

That was an interesting 24 hours. I was excitedand so was he. The difference was that I eventuallysettled down but he didn’t. As I tried to work that

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Monday afternoon, Mr. Restless adorably andrelentlessly tried to persuade me to play. Cutequickly turned to annoying and exhausting. Ianguished. I needed to find his off switch! Does thisdog ever tire? Does he ever settle down?

FROM “YAY” TO “NAY”

I went from “yay” to “nay” pretty quickly. I struggledover this all night, doing a full 180-degree turn. Sigh… He’s such a great dog, but I need to make a living!One of the two issues that led the previous ownerof this beautiful 3-year-old herding dog to relinquishhim was Cisco’s unbridled energy. The other wasCisco’s history of “resource guarding,” promptinghim once to bite a dog when the other canine hadthe nerve to try to pry a tennis ball out of Cisco’smouth.

I still had one morning left before returning himto the shelter. Our Tuesday morning outing lastedabout 50 minutes. I walked with Cisco in the woodsand threw that tennis ball and threw that tennis

ball and threw it some more. Tail wagging, panting,he was in heaven. When we returned home, he washappily exhausted. I fed him and went into my office.I worked. An hour passed by. Another uninterruptedhour. Sweet, quiet, treasured productive time. Twostraight hours. This brand-new dog had actuallysettled down overnight.

It was late Saturday morning. The shelter wouldn’t open to the public again until Tuesday at 1 p.m. I had time to think about this, but not a lot of time.

YES! Another 180-degree turn. Cisco would be mine.I was in that dog-adoption interview room at exactlythe hour – actually, the minute – it opened. It wasa perfunctory Q&A. These Humane Society staffersknew me, understood me to be responsible. But they

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still had to go through the basics. About 20 minuteslater, cheque written, new-owner packet in hand,photos were taken of two new best buddies, and offwe went, stopping to buy dog food, treats, and toyson the way home.

Sometimes you never know whom you’ll find behind a kennel door. It could very well be your new best friend. But when the time is right, be sure to pounce, just like a playful pup with an exciting new toy.

BUT THEN …

Since February 17, 2020, Cisco and I have walked,hiked, skied, run, swum in the lake, played tennisball fetch, played Frisbee, seen countless gorgeoussunrises and sunsets, and, one special Sundaymorning in March, we stopped dead in our tracks atthe sight of a dozen beautiful deer bounding throughthe snow across a meadow and up a hill into thewoods.

He’s not perfect. He’s got into some light skirmisheswith the odd other dog. That’s something I acceptand work around, bringing him into beautiful quietplaces around my town, where a boy and his dog canjust play and play and play. And when I need to workfor long, uninterrupted stretches, I can. I found hisoff switch!

Cisco is enriching my life – a perk from giving back tothe canine community for about a year.

Sometimes you never know whom you’ll find behinda kennel door. It could very well be your new bestfriend. But when the time is right, be sure to pounce,just like a playful pup with an exciting new toy.

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