I may have mentioned this before. In case you missed it, I love dogs. Little ones. Medium sized ones. Big ones. It doesn’t matter, I love them all.

I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t have at least one. I don’t know how many I brought home without asking and they ended up staying with us.

There was even a time when my wife was breeding Shih Tzus. Of course we ended up keeping some of those babies as well.

Nearly 15 years ago, we visited the Pratt Area Humane Society and when we were let into the back to see the animals, the first one we saw was a two-year old black female Labrador with a little puppy beside her.   

She had a story that would traumatize most. She was left in an apartment with five babies barely two-weeks old. Abandoned with five babies and no food and water. Several days later, the neighbors complained and she and her litter were taken to the shelter. All of the puppies but one survived.

So, we went home with a Lab that we named AJ to meet our two Shih Tzus and two cats (that my boys had brought home years earlier). There was an instant connection and she was a keeper. 

In the meantime, the other animals slowly passed away and AJ was left alone. We found her a running mate, an eight-week-old Border Collie mix, and they, over time, became best friends. AJ taught Caddy the ropes on everything. She was a good big sister until she passed away at the age of 12. She was everyone’s favorite.

So Caddy has been alone for a few years and was, in my opinion, needing someone to pass her knowledge on to. Enter Harley.

I’m on the board at the Pratt Area Humane Society and I am constantly checking to see if there is a two year old black female Labrador available for adoption. I was patient for over a year waiting for her to show up.

But then this happened. I was at the shelter checking the inventory when I happened upon this big – 107 pounds big – hairy, male Great Pyrenees. I was sad to see him there because I knew he would be hard to place due to his size and massive amount of hair that would end up on the carpet and clothes. But there was something about him. 

I had a hard time selling the idea to my wife. She fought me on the idea of rescuing him. “He is the furthest thing from what you were looking for,” she said. And she was right.

Then we found out his back story. His owner died and was not discovered for five days. Harley was inside the house with his deceased owner for five days. How traumatizing that had to be. (No. He did not disturb the body.)

We took Caddy out to the shelter to meet Harley and they got along okay. We took her back the next day and it was decided we’d give this big boy a new home. 

To say he is a challenge would be an understatement. He acted like he’d never had toys before. He had no idea what to do with a bone. He jumps up on people when he first meets them. He runs across the street to meet the neighbor dog. Worst of all, he is marking his territory in his new home. I was beginning to doubt my decision. 

I tell Caddy every morning when I’m leaving for work to please teach him something today. I really believe Caddy is working with him when we are gone. He now will carry toys around and make them squeak. I found him a bone that he has chewed on for two days straight. He loves being brushed, so that is a definite plus.

But some things he has to learn on his own. Earlier this week I took them to our fishing lease to roam around. Ten steps out of the pickup and he belly flops onto one of the icy ponds. It held him for a second and then the ice gave way and he was panicking. Fortunately, he’s a big strong boy and he eventually made his way back to shore where Caddy was nervously waiting for him. I was really dreading the thought of going in after him, but he made it.

He’s actually changed a bit since that episode. I believe it scared him and he wasn’t ready to be done just yet. I also believe that Caddy is being the big sister that AJ was to her and making the best of the situation. She still gets jealous when Harley sits next to me – that’s been her spot since AJ has been gone.

Just because someone or something isn’t exactly what you were looking for, give them a chance. You don’t know what that animal or person may have to give. They probably don’t know what they have to give. Find out together, even if he’s a big, hairy, drool machine.

— Keith Lippoldt