This is Nano – our chaotic, loveable, ADHD, hyperactive, hooligan rescue dog. We adopted Nano from the NSPCA (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) almost 3 years ago where he was destined for a terrible and fatal future.
I originally had it in my mind that I really wanted to adopt a pug because they are so “ugly” that they are in fact very cute. So off we went to one of the branches of this national shelter, in search of a pug. As we walked through the outdoor kennels, keeping our eyes peeled for a potential pug, I walked past Nano (or Brock as he was originally known) and for some unknown reason, I stopped and walked back to him and as we looked at each other, we both knew that I’d found my “pug”. Sometimes the universe throws you a curve ball but it’s always for a very good reason, even if you don’t know what that reason is.
When I first saw Nano he looked meek, mild and quiet. He seemed as if he would never bark or make a sound and barely moved in the kennel. He looked scared and timid and was quite small so we thought he would be a perfect fit for our small apartment at the time.
We immediately started the proceedings to adopt him and after some trials and tribulations, we eventually picked up Nano and took him to his forever home. On the day we picked him up from the home of one of the shelter’s volunteers, we thought she had taken the wrong dog! The little dude that we saw in front of us was jumping around like Tigger, barking and had a completely new lease on life – we couldn’t believe our eyes!
It was incredible to see how taking Nano out of the depressing, sad, cold shelter filled with fear, loss and negative energy had transformed him into a different dog. He was suddenly overcome with vigour and seemed to be ecstatic to be rid of the outdoor metal cage that he had lived in for a month prior to us adopting him. Oh boy, what had we got ourselves into…!
Unfortunately, due to the unknown history of rescue dogs and the troublesome circumstances that they can come from, you never really know what you’re getting unlike a puppy that you acquire from birth. Nano was indeed not a blank canvas like a puppy but came with some serious baggage and emotional battle scars. For a long time (and still to a certain extent) he was very mistrusting of men and very protective of women. To this day, he is INCREDIBLY defensive and protective over Tina (my partner) and I and gets very agro when people (especially men) come near us. This isn’t a completely terrible thing as he makes an amazing little guard dog but it does make life a bit tough when trying to socialise him. When he’s on a lead, he feels the connection between himself and his “owner” and he is very anti-social when other people and dogs come near us or him.
As hilarious as it may sound, we take Nano to doggy day care where he socialises with other dogs and has some stimulation during the day rather than staying at home alone – the joys of an only child! This has at least provided him with some socialisation skills however he still has his issues and when we pick him up, he gets very upset with any other dog that comes near one of his mommies!
Nano comes with a lot of troubles from his past – a past that we will never understand or truly know about. It will always be sad for us to think that he came from an abusive home or was neglected in some way (as this is where his behaviour points) but we rest easy at night knowing he now lives the life of a prince. The little bugger gets treated better than most people and has gone from living in a dark and cold cage to sleeping in a warm and cosy bed in a house filled with love. He may have emotional scarring that we could very well never get rid of but we wouldn’t trade him for the world and are so grateful for the love and lessons he has given us.
There are so many animals out there that have been abandoned by people who can’t look after them or don’t care about them which breaks my heart. I wish I could save them all and give them the love that Nano receives because every single one of them deserves that.
Please don’t support animal breeders – it is unnecessary and cruel. There are so many animals out there that need homes, there is absolutely no reason to breed or not to sterilise.
Adopt. Don’t shop!
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