Hobby's new home

 On October 22nd, I received an email from the director of the Orange County shelter.  Hobby had come in as an owner surrender.  The owners had paid $1,500 for the dog six year ago.  They didn't have any interest in him anymore and had moved him to an outside kennel.  The husband was about to shoot the dog for barking too much, but apparently the wife got him to dump the dog at the shelter instead.

He was very barky here the first night too; he was clearly unhappy being outdoors in a kennel, having been a house dog his entire life until recently.  After a lot of drugs failed to quiet him, I just brought him inside to my office.  He immediately took to a crate and was content, and quiet for then on.

I got him neutered and his scrotum swelled up to the size of a large orange or small grapefruit after the surgery.  He spent more time indoors, on antibiotics and Rimadyl for the swelling.  He fell into the household routine and was an easy foster.  I found him a home but the adopter's circumstances were such that I had Hobby for another two weeks before he could take him.  That was fine.  He continued to be an easy foster, the swelling finally began to subside, and I even moved him back outside to the dog yard during the day and to the shed with two or three other dogs at night. 

Late this afternoon I took Hobby to his new home.  He was a bit nervous.  Hobby doesn't take to new people immediately.  He's certainly better about it than Trooper, but he needs a little time to get acquainted before he's going to give his complete trust. 

But the adopter knows this and when they are alone, one-on-one, I don't think it will take Hobby long to become glued to him.  I loaned him a crate and he had bought hobby a nice bed and new toys.  Hobby took one of the toys right away and retreated to safe spot in the living room and sat quietly with his new toy. 

He will need a little time to adjust to his new home, but he will.  He's a great dog with a lot to offer.