Alvin

Being a volunteer at a dog shelter has everything: happiness, sadness, excitement, ... Sometimes everything happens all at once. Last Thursday  was one of those days for me. We had a lot of adoptions for one day, especially for a Thursday. Little Newt went home with a new mom and a new brother who could be her real brother. The two look so much alike! Rochelle, a German shepherd girl also found her new forever home. Lyndon even went to his “real” home, which means his owners found him after he was missing for quite some time (I LOVE these stories). And also my special boy Alvin got adopted. I’m so happy for my boy, but I’m so sad that he has left at the same time. Yes, he deserves a family of his very own. And yes, I’m sure he got a great family. And I’m happy that he doesn’t have to be at the shelter anymore. But then there is this little selfish part in me that wishes he would have stayed at the shelter, so I could see him whenever I’m there. I’m sure many volunteers feel the same way about a certain dog that has a special place in their heart. We all are happy to let go. We all are happy for our special dogs (or cats) to have found their forever home. But we will never forget the ones that were special to us.

Don’t get me wrong, all the dogs at the shelter are special, and we love them all. I know I do. But once in a while there is one that becomes especially special and bonds with us in a way that the others don’t. Alvin was my special boy. I remember when Becky and I drove to another shelter to pick him up. We knew we’d take three dogs, and because it was December and the new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie was coming out we knew they were going to be Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. There were two shepherdy looking dogs that became Simon and Theodore, and three black labs. Oh, it’s so hard to pick only one! We would have loved to take them all, but that’s just not possible for a little shelter like ours. And when I saw Alvin I knew, he was the one coming with us! I was ready to fight Becky for this one (it wasn’t necessary, she agreed right away) and he came with us. Two weeks later I flew to Germany to spend Christmas with my family. While I was gone, Alvin got adopted. As it turned out, it was not a perfect match. Alvin came back to the shelter in the beginning of July. How anyone can give up such a great boy is beyond me!

Alvin, I really hope that you found the perfect family now and that you have your own happy ending. I will never forget you and I hope to see you at Paws in the Park and the reunion in October. I love you, baby boy!