Gus, A Love Story

Gus, formerly known as "Gizmo," came into our family one beautiful October Sunday. We had been at Homeward Pet the Friday before, looking for a dog that might fit into our family that includes two busy boys, two working parents, and a sweet Beagle named "Scout." Homeward had so many dogs with soulful eyes, breaking our hearts and making us want to take every one of them home. However, I suppose one benefit of getting older is developing willpower and the knowledge of one's own limitations.
We were walking out that Friday evening, not sure if we found the right dog for adoption, when we looked into the room with the dogs that are just post-surgery or with other special needs, and saw Gizmo a Shi-tzu mix. He was still groggy post-neutering, but we knew there was something special about him. We wouldn't normally say we're a family that prefers little fluffy dogs but he was CUTE! Apparently, his owner in Eastern Washington got rid of him because he didn't get along with her cats. Someone rescued him from a shelter in his previous hometown where he must have been for some time, and brought him up to Homeward Pet. He was well-taken care of at Homeward, but you could tell he was sad.All weekend, we OBSESSED about this dog, thinking that surely he had gone home with someone else. On Sunday, we called and learned that he was still there – "and did we want to foster him for two days?" Well, we're no dummies – we knew that if we brought this dog home, he'd be there to stay. We raced up to Woodinville, completed the paperwork and brought Gizmo into our lives.Five months later, "Gus" has completed our family. He is friendly, playful, loves to cuddle, and is extremely well-behaved. We honestly could not have asked for a more perfect addition to our family. Before adopting him, I was supportive of shelters, but concerned that a dog I might adopt from one would be problematic due to past abuse, lack of training, or destructive learned behavior. I know that dogs like these can be rehabilitated, but realistically, our family did not have the time needed to work on these challenges. I've learned that by going to Homeward Pet, talking about our family-life, our concerns and our interests (and trusting our own instincts about the animals), the knowledgeable staff and volunteers at Homeward Pet will work with you to find the perfect animal. They want to find the right family for each pet as much as each family wants to find the right pet.Gus is absolutely perfect, and though he's still terrified to ride in a car (because he probably associates it with being taken to a shelter), he has become more than a pet. We love him, and I'll always recommend Homeward Pet to anyone considering getting a pet. Thank you!