2 years ago, I was browsing  adoptable dogs, looking for a smaller dog to add to our family.  I came across a local municipal shelter that I had never heard of or dealt with.  They had a listing for George and Fred,  7 month old Schichon brothers who were available for adoption.  They looked a little overgrown in the pics from what I could tell.  I put in an application on both and was contacted the next day to come meet George.  I packed my husband, 2 small kids and our doodle in the car to go meet George.  It was an hour long ride.  When we got there, we weren't allowed inside but one of the staff brought him out to us.  

My heart instantly sank when I saw this little guy she brought out.  He was terrified, shaking, severely matted, covered in feces, urine and leaves because his coat was so overgrown it was picking everything up like velcro.  I told her we needed to take him right then and there, because I knew this guy needed help. She tried to argue that the ACO was not there and she couldn't release him.  I told her to get the ACO on the phone because I was not leaving him there in that condition.  The ACO agreed to let us take him.  I paid the adoption fee and I immediately started calling groomers in the area.  No one could take him on such short notice.  So I bought clippers and brought him home.  I started shaving him and 2 minutes in, I noticed his skin was really red and raw.  I stopped what I was doing, and brought him an hour to an emergency vet.  They didn't do much for him, but determined it wasn't an emergency and sent us on our way.  Poor George spent the first night in our home in a crate, that he was too scared to come out of.  The next day, our vet got him in.  Turns out he had an infection under the mats, but he was so terrified they couldn't shave him down.  So they put him under and went to work on him as much as they could.

Meanwhile I call the ACO where he came from and I start questioning his background.  She informs me that he and his brother came from a breeder.  She was sick and could not care for her animals, so she let them live the first 7 months of their lives in a crate in their own filth.  George had never known life any other way than from the inside of a crate.  He had never felt grass under his feet, or known free roam of a house.  

I didn't know how everything was going to work out, or how he would adjust.  My main priority was getting him healthy and clean.

Fast forward 2 years.  George has been the most rewarding little challenge I have ever taken on.  The months of house breaking, training and just teaching him how to be a dog outside of a crate have been worth every minute and every penny spent. For the first year, I spent hundreds of dollars on grooming because he had to be sedated at the vet.  I began grooming him at home because of the trust we had built, and slowly he got used to it.  He's at the point now where he can go to the groomer and is a well behaved gentleman.  He is incredibly gentle with our young kids and he loves our other dog.  I think having her around built up his confidence.

This little dude was the best decision I have ever made.  He pays us back 10 fold with his cuddles and goofy-ness.  They say that you'll have only 1 or 2 dogs in your lifetime that you'll have this special bond with that's just different.  George is that dog.  

George's story