For this week’s blog post (our first official one that is) we decided to tell the story of the dog who inspired Soul Dogs. His story with us is one to remember, even though his time with us was only a short one.

As she was scrolling through the Humane Society of Tampa Bay’s adoptable dogs page she met a Rottweiler, yes the very one in the photo above. She hadn’t met this dog. The following day she decided to pay him a visit. After some time with him she fell in love. Her dream dog was always a Rottweiler and she had found her soul dog. After time in the yard Haley raced to the half-moon shaped adoption desk in the front lobby. A man spoke with her he had round glasses and a large grey beard. She told the man that she would like to adopt a dog.

He handed her a card to fill out with basic fields. Name, email, phone number, address, and he asked her which dog. She told him the Rottweiler they had brought in as a stray. While she finished filling in the card he went to receive the kennel card on the 4×6 run the dog was sitting in on the adoption floor. The man came back swiftly and introduced her to another man, this man directed her to a small office back through the adoption wing. He didnt really ask her anything about her experience caring for dogs, or where she lived. He seemed to be concerned about getting the payment and her to sign saying she was taking the dog home. After she signed the contract they brought Xavier into the room. They asked her if she had a leash or a collar. Of course she didn’t have a leash or collar, she wasn’t planing on adoption. She barely had enough to cover his adoption fee. They directed her to their store where she picked out a red leash to clip to a collar. She packed Xavier in the car with his blue tennis ball. He walked out of the shelter with it in his mouth like an emotional support blanket. She drove right to a pet smart to get the essentials. (or at least what she thought was the essentials) dog food, a bed, bowls, treats, some toys, a leash he couldn’t chew through and whatever else she could afford on a jobless college kid budget. He came into the store with her, everyone in the store had assumed the dog had been with her for ages due to his temperament and behavior with her, they were shocked to find out he had just received his “get out of the shelter free card” about 10 minutes prior to their shopping excursion.

In the days that followed the pair couldn’t have been happier together, he was becoming known around the college campus as a friendly Rottweiler there to make friends. The time came around to get his vet check up. (every new pet parent’s nightmare.) The walk from the dorm to the parking garage was about 4 blocks, they were only a few steps from the parking garage when the dog laid down. At first she thought he was hot, anxiety started peaking up her throat, her efforts to get the large dog to move were not working. Pulling, pushing nothing was working. Once they finally arrived at the car they went to the nearest vetco. They took him back and she went to her writing class and came back to pick him up. Mid class they called her asking to take x-rays. The vet was concerned about his hips and how he was carrying himself. She told Haley she wanted to do x-rays. Haley agreed to do it even though she didnt have x-ray money, she found a way to pay for the dogs care.

It came out the Xavier had Hip dysplasia (a common issue for Rottweilers) and he needed surgery. Another thing she couldn’t afford. She read the agreement from the Humane society. If she had taken her newly adopted pet to the clinic there, they would’ve been able to cover the surgery, however weeks of dial tones and unanswered emails prompted a visit. She asked how a dog with that much of a hip sway didn’t go noticed. The woman couldn’t give Haley an answer. Their hour long walks 3x a day came to a pause. She sat on her dorm floor looking at this puppy who needed more than she could give. He needed a financially stable family who could provide the care he needs, he needed a yard and a place with more freedom rather than a college dorm, a temporary place.

Haley decided to take Xavier back, at no fault of his own. It was not fair to keep a dog she couldn’t take care of. Let alone one she wasn’t planning on adopting in the first place.

This story sparked Haley’s goal to create Soul Dogs Resources & Rescue Centre.

One day we will have a program that centers on the needs of the dog, not the hopes of the human. With the epidemics in Florida of overcrowding, high euthanasia rates, returns, strays, backyard breeders and so much more, it was the start of a movement. At this time Soul Dogs has a large variety of offerings for pet care and more, we are able to help set the stage for people to raise pets responsibly and come to their aid falling on hard times.

You might be asking If I ever attempted to get my soul dog back after I was finally set and experienced? The answer is yes I did try. Emails, phone calls and any method of contact ignored for months. I received an email from the county saying it was time to update his vaccines as I was listed as the last known owner. I emailed back saying I no longer had the pet and was making attempts to find him and bring him back home. Yet all I was met with was radio silence. Not only did I loose my soul dog, I wonder about the family who has him now. I hope they got him his surgery, and I do hope that one day I might be so lucky to see him again. Until then I have a lot of dogs who I can help, dogs and owners need help every now and again wether its training, pet sitting or just transport to the vet, or event a month of flea and tick meds we can do it all. I am no stranger to medical needs for pets and how truly expensive they can be. We hope to launch “Kahlua’s Cause” later in the year to help with this mission.

Xavier is a dog who loved the water, he even jumped into the shower with me, he loved playing and cuddling. He had a lot more growing to do and it just wasn’t supposed to be with me is all.

Enjoy these photos of Xavier!

See you next week

-Haley Miller (Owner)