A Lost Gem - Natasha

I actually received a call from an Akita lover on the girl at the shelter, before the shelter even called me.  The individual had been at his gym when a friend approached him and told him of the lovely Akita.  He went out to meet her and called back with a glowing report.  I called the shelter to ask about this girl and made arrangements to come out that weekend to meet her.

This is the happiest dog I have seen in quite awhile.  She stood, calmly in her run and smiled, wagged her tail and did her best coquettish Akita dance.  Even in the run, I was struck by her beauty.  This girl was a looker, it would remain to be seen if her personality matched her good looks.  The staff person and I walked her past all the frantic, barking dogs.  She just danced and smiled, not pulling but accompanying us.  She did get excited when we walked out into the exercise yard as there wasn’t one dog, but six or seven in this tiny area.  I thought to myself, this will certainly tell us what she is like around other dogs.  She just wanted to visit everyone, from the tiny Chihuahua to the lounging PittiLab mix lying across a volunteer’s lap.  This girl is a social butterfly.  She loves people and she did not seem to bear any grudges against canine companions.  Literally, her personality just sparkles.  I could have turned her inside out and she would have continued smiling and wagging her tail.  She was in great shape, nails done and yet nobody was looking for her.  She had been found as a stray.

I called the kennel immediately when I got home and then called the shelter to let them know if no owner came forward, we would take her.  Sadly, by the time her stray period was up, she had contracted kennel cough and an upper respiratory infection.  Her eyes were also goopy.  Stacy picked her up and seeing her in such sad shape (but still wagging that tail), she put her in her basement for the next few weeks while she got over her illness.  She was immaculately housebroken and after a few days, began scratching at the door requesting to come upstairs.  When she met Stacy’s daughter and friend, it was love at first sight.  And as she continued to recuperate, she began to meet Stacy’s extended canine family from hounds to Saints to an elderly Jack Russell Terrier.  She greeted them and went on her way for a walk.

My latest visit to get more photos and see her now that she is over her ailments, provided the same response, however, now that she is healthy, she is jaw dropping gorgeous.  A young mixed Chow escaped his run and dashed up to say his ‘hello’s’.  He was all wiggles and jumping.  She was polite, but made it clear his advances were not welcome.  He was corralled and she was leashed up for a walk in the field with her buddy, Squeaker (mixed Hound).   She has not had an opportunity to meet cats.  I believe when she goes in to be spayed, the Clinic office cat will be procured for a ‘Cat Scan’. 

Until such time, we know she is people and child friendly and accepting of dogs.  The shelter felt she was around 5 years of age, which is probably in the ballpark.  She is no younger than 3 and unlikely she would be older than 5.  Maybe a lucky 4?