Here’s How John Wayne Came Into My Life!
John Wayne was named by wonderful people at the shelter where he lived for around three months’ before we found each other….the young people at the shelter named incoming dogs after movie stars….of course my boy is John Wayne! Here is our adopting each other story:
A neighbor’s sister and her husband have a working ranch near Bozeman, Montana. Both their dog, and my little guy Pee Wee crossed the Rainbow Bridge in September, 2008. They started looking for a working ranch dog, and came across John Wayne in a nearby shelter. Because his left rear leg had been amputated when the shelter neutered him (he was dragging it, so when they neutered him they X-Rayd it, and found the ball and socket shattered so…he joined the special world of Tripawds!) The Montana people sent me a link to his photo….I had no idea whatsoever about “cattle dogs”…how much energy they have, or really, anything else about them…I guess it did not matter to me. His huge smile “sold” me…so I called the shelter, FedX’d them a deposit check, and waited, and waited, and waited for several snow and ice storms we were having in the Columbia Gorge, (Oregon/Washington) to clear. No dice. Finally, on December 26, I told my neighbor we were leaving regardless of treacherous road conditions…so we headed to Montana without any traction devices in our big pickup. We made it!
On December 29, 2008 we went to meet John Wayne in person. The shelter folks were really nice, helping me through wallowing tears. I first met the Veterinarian who cared for him, tending to a huge gash under his left eye along with a knocked out canine, (in addition to his rear left leg problem). They brought John Wayne into an enclosed field outside (lots of snow on the ground of course)….I guess it was love at first sight even though tears would not stop..I could not stop wondering what I was doing adopting a dog when my heart was still shattered from Pee Wee’s departure (struck down by Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia).
The rest…well…a wonderful (for the most part)…history…in coming posts I will share some great, and not so great moments in our ever-lasting love affair. Suffice it to say, my friends wish they had a life as cool as John Wayne…you may too!
January 25th, 2015 at 3:14 am
You bet we wish our life was as cool as his!
What a great story about how you found eachother. Bozeman is a magical place, no wonder he’s so darn special.
Thanks for the background, we’re really getting to know you guys now.