Dog Rescue Stories
Spooky Dude

submitted by Chris Wright

“He’s still there. No one even looks at him.”

These were the words I heard almost daily from my wife, a volunteer at AuSable Valley Animal Shelter in Grayling, Michigan. A passionate animal lover, she exercises dogs, trains them, and does whatever it takes to help them get adopted into a forever home. For nearly a year, a black Labrador-mix breed had been waiting in the shelter . . . but no one looked at him. My wife said he was a good dog, very smart, and would make a great companion. She was frustrated to see him looked over by every shelter visitor considering pet adoption. “He really is a great dog,” my wife said. “All he needs is a chance.”

On July 19, 2008, I relented. “Bring him home,” I said. “We’ll add him to the pack.”

Now named Spooky Dude (in keeping name consistency with our other two shelter labs, Lily Munster and Scooby-Boo), our new pal was a challenge. He had a tendency to bolt and needed to be under constant supervision, even in our fenced-in yard. Spooky Dude was very independent: he distrusted humans and didn’t want affection in any way, except from my wife. When I touched his belly or ribs, he would flinch and growl. Even my wife experienced a coldness from him that she hadn’t seen in him at the shelter. “It’s as if he’s saying ‘thanks for adopting me, but I’ll take it from here,’” my wife said one day.

Indeed, Spooky Dude was unique. Our oldest Labrador, Lily Munster, put him in his place quickly, and he began to learn his boundaries. Still, he had other issues. Spooky Dude had no idea what a dog toy was, and didn’t know how to play. Scooby-Boo, a social butterfly, repeatedly try to get him to play with her. He looked at her the way a human might look at a space alien.

At the lake, Spooky Dude was terrified of the water (a Labrador?). While our other two dogs love dock-jumping and swimming, our newest family member was frightened by the waves that crashed the shore. Just being on the dock caused him to tense and stiffen up.

We were determined, however, to make it work. In only a matter of days, Spooky Dude was not only swimming, but leaping from the dock (on an extended leash) like a champ to retrieve a water toy. “It’s as if he truly wants to be part of the pack, even though he seems so independent,” my wife commented.

This encouragement early on was one of many little victories. Our short training sessions began with a daily walk, where I taught him several commands: ‘heel,’ ‘sit,’ ‘leave it,’ and ‘here.’ Over time, we saw that he was making an important connection with us: Spooky Dude became anxious to please and, as a result, became more focused. After we taught him ‘watch me,’ he really began to come into his own. The scornful, cynical look in his eyes has replaced with hope, expectation, and a healthy curiosity. He became familiar with his position in our home, and what was expected of him.

Last month, he earned the privilege of being off-leash at the lake to experience the freedom of swimming and playing with our other two labs. Although he is no champion dock leaper like Scooby-Boo (a 20-foot jumper!) he loves paddling in the water to retrieve his toy. His delight is evident by his wagging tail as he emerges from the water, drops his toy, and prances merrily down the dock, anxious for another go around. The dock is no longer a threat to him, but a part of the great water ride.

Our time and efforts with Spooky Dude have also shown emotional benefits: One year after we adopted him, he now craves attention. Instead of drawing away from physical touch, he will often approach one of us and nudge our hands in a bid for a scratch behind his ears, or simply roll over for an impromptu belly rub. The familiar growls of warning are gone. There is a new light in his dark eyes that is both eager and inquisitive. To this day he is a willing student, a loyal companion, and a good friend who has found a forever home.

We have no idea what Spooky Dude’s background is, or where he came from. The vet has estimated that he is probably around six years old. When he was picked up as a stray by animal control in the summer of 2007, he was very thin and scraggly. His coat was dirty, matted, and brittle. We think that Spooky Dude was probably a stray most of his life, foraging for food and shelter, on his own.

We also wonder why he languished for so long in a shelter. Why did so many people pass by this intelligent and beautiful black dog? It is the policy of AuSable Valley Animal Shelter not to euthanize any adoptable animal, and there is a good possibility that, had we not brought him home, he might still be at the shelter. It seems like such waste and shame that a dog of his caliber was overlooked for so long, regardless of the reasons.

Spooky Dude is living proof that with proper guidance and care, dogs can change. He will always be a work in progress, but the time we spend with him continues to have its rewards. It’s a joy to see him wag his tail, obey commands, and simply be what he should be: a happy, content, well-balanced dog. All he needed was a chance.

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