Sometime after Thanksgiving I received a call  about an Akita that was seen sitting each morning at the corner of Rt. 4 (Pennsylvania Avenue) and Silver Hill Road in Suitland, Maryland. Brenda was stunned when she first saw the small white Akita with a dark head sitting along the side of the road, as this is a MAJOR interchange before you get on the Beltway. She tried to watch where this dog went when she left her post, but she always disappeared into the myriad of shopping centers. She watched Penny go from a clean, well-cared for looking dog, to a dingy, shabby coated street dog. It was obvious Penny had been dumped and she was waiting each morning for her owner to return.

I suggested that Brenda contact animal control, which she initially resisted, but later did and was informed that they knew about the dog. Brenda asked what she could do? We discussed setting up a feeding station and trying to win this lonely girl’s trust. But I cautioned Brenda not to interfere with Animal Control’s projects. She talked with AC and a feed station was determined. And so began a close relationship with Tanya from PG AC.

A few weeks later, Brenda was accosted by another woman enroute to work who asked about this pitiful dog who sat at the intersection waiting for her owner each morning. They exchanged contact information and herein, entered Katrina. Brenda and Katrina became the mainstay of this project and kept me posted weekly (if not daily) of Penny’s adventures in Suitland.

Penny was often seen accompanying children to school, following shoppers at nearby stores, construction workers at lunch, people getting off the bus and heading home. Reactions to Penny ranged from never recognizing her to loud admonishments to ‘Go Home!’. Penny had earned the nickname, ‘Ghost Girl’ as she quickly learned to utilize the storm culverts that run underneath these highways and she could quickly evaporate before your eyes as she dropped down into a ditch and appeared some 100 feet away, trotting steadily to a safe place for the evening.

I was asked if I could bring a friendly Akita to where Penny normally hung out and see if she could be lured to come play. She had been seen play bowing to an Akita who lived nearby as he patrolled his own yard. Meredith and I took her Tadao out one after-noon and walked all over the area and never once saw Penny. Live traps were set up in various locations, she avoided them. Her hideout was eventually discovered and nets, traps and tranquilizer laced food was set out for her, she evaded them as well. Then, just two weeks before Easter, I received a call at 10:00 p.m. from Katrina, Penny had been caught and was safe!’ I was anxious to know the details on this capture. It seems that Officer Roberts put out some food and Penny apparently was either tired or just used to seeing her, she didn’t eat and run and was looped and taken into custody.

Beyond this incredible story of dedication is the fact that neither Brenda nor Katrina have ever owned an Akita. But they both do have dogs and, as they told me, they just love dogs and saw in Penny a dog who still had hope in humanity, even if her human had abandoned her. She was named Penny after haunting Pennsylvania Avenue for 4 months. We hope to provide Penny a new lease on life once we get to know her a little better.

Penny is learning to be a house dog in her foster home.  She is good with other dogs and cats when they visit the neighbors, but not good with the kitties in her foster home.  She had done some submissive peeing, but that has ended.  She is getting used to the various household appliances, fans, and other noises.  She loves to wake up her foster mom in the morning with kisses...she is learning that people can be trusted.  She will be available for adoption once she has become more comfortable being a "norma" dog.