I remember that day as if it were yesterday. I had been working full time for the animal shelter for about a month, while working on my thesis. The door opened that day in March many times, as doors do in shelters across our country, bringing in unwanted animals, many destined to be euthanized. I saw a man carrying a gorgeous tri-colored dog weighing about 45-50 pounds. The man put the dog on the floor and the dog dropped flat to the floor, urinating everywhere. His eyes were huge and filled with fear. I went to the dog immediately to reassure him while another employee took the information. And so it was, Adam and I met when he was only one year old, and March 2, 1993 became his day of rebirth. Besides my love for all animals, I have always had a special place in my heart for herding dogs, having grown up with many working Border Collies on a friend's dairy. I thought this was either a Border Collie or BC/Aussie mix with my first glimpse of him. All I knew for certain was this dog had suffered a lot of abuse.

His story broke my heart. The man bringing Adam in was a property owner. His tenants had moved out of state and when he went to check the property, he found two dogs. Adam was brought to the shelter, but his friend was not so lucky. He had already left this earth for Heaven. Something seemed to draw me to this dog who had somehow survived. At MARL, the animals coming in as strays are held 5 days. I took these 5 days to work with this dog. Every day after I finished my duties at the shelter, I took him out of his kennel and into the office. We sat on the floor and got to know one another. In 5 days, he was jumping up on the kennel door when he saw me. He had improved SO much! The technician put him up for adoption since no one had claimed him. Originally, the tech told me, she had no plans to put him up for adoption. She felt he would be one of the ones euthanized. Once she saw how much progress he made in just 5 days, she changed her mind.

I continued to work with him and even began to call him Adam, a name I would never have chosen had I planned on adopting him, but he needed a name and the name Adam just came to me one day. It seemed to fit him. I held my breath every time someone seemed interested in him. I added him to my prayers each night. I would not be able to stand it if he were put to sleep after all he had overcome. The day arrived when a woman and her two daughters put a puppy they had been looking at back to adopt Adam. That is so rare, so I thought THIS is it! I was so happy. Adam stayed to be neutered and I went out to check on him every hour. He came through fine, but the woman called to say they would not be able to take him. It seems her daughters found a puppy and brought it home in the few days while waiting on Adam's surgery to be complete, and the puppy died. They realized their last two dogs had died the same way and began to wonder if they may have a problem at their house. I was very disappointed, but was glad they thought enough about animals, not to want to subject him to danger. At this point I was so afraid he would be put to sleep. Spring is a VERY busy time for shelters and is when the majority of animals are put to sleep. The days seemed to go on and on at that time, but a couple came in and adopted Adam shortly afterwards. Again, I was so thrilled. But Adam's luck did not seem to be holding out too well. They returned him because he was positive for heartworms. They owned a travel agency and just did not have time to see him through the treatment. This time I could not help it. I took Adam in, tears rolling down my face, unable to speak. I wrote furiously while filling out his In-ticket. I knew this was it. Heartworms is a death sentence at a shelter with so many healthy animals being euthanized. After the man left, crouching down behind the counter, holding Adam, I cried my heart out. I over heard one lady waiting to adopt an animal say, "Oh, why did they have to bring him back? Why can't they just treat them?". She had read my exact thoughts. My heart felt as if someone had literally pulled it out of my body. Adam had come so far. Why did he have to die? I tried to gain my composure. I had to do something. Still crying, I called my vet. $175 to treat a dog his size I was told. Working for a shelter, I knew I could not afford it. Someone at the shelter knew how I felt about Adam and suggested my calling another vet. The tech there used to work at the league and she said they would do it for $75. My sweetheart Greg, who was living in Arizona at the time, sent me the money to have Adam treated.

I had to keep Adam totally crated except for eating and bathroom breaks for 4 weeks after the first series. Imagine! A 13 month Aussie, 4 weeks, and a crate! It was not easy, but we made it. During this time he stayed in our surgery area during the week and went home with me on the weekends. He and Sissy, my first shelter rescue, became instant best friends. He went back for the second series and the final test and he was clear! Adam went back up for adoption, this time heartworm free, basic obedience trained AND housebroken.

You guessed it. No takers. By this time, 4 months had passed since Adam first came into the shelter. And I was getting more and more attached. It was becoming extremely difficult to think of his being put to sleep, but lots had changed with me. I had been looking for a house with a fenced yard and had found one. A large house, wood floors and a 6000 square foot fenced yard. Adam came home with ME!! Of course, right after I signed the paper work making us belong to one another, I had *5* people ask about Adam. One man begged me to let him adopt Adam. I told him no, Adam was mine. Deep inside I knew, God was smiling down at us, knowing I finally knew what he and Adam had realized all along. We were just meant to be.

Adam earned his CGC only months after our adopting one another. Nancy Williams, our obedience instructor, was a great mentor during this time and it was with her help and encouragement, that Adam and I achieved this goal. Adam is also a certified therapy dog through Therapy Dog International. I soon realized Adam was an Aussie with tail intact, so in September '94 I applied for his AKC ILP. After many months and an appeal I am proud to say Adam is now "ILP'd".   He is MARL's Jumpin' Adam HIC CGC TT TDI VCC. MARL is for Mississippi Animal Rescue League, which I chose in the hopes of demonstrating to the public what wonderful pets are at our shelters. VCC is for Versatile Canine Companion, which Adam earned through Clever Canine Companions. TT means Adam successfully completed the American Temperament Society’s temperament test.

Adam and I are working in several areas together. He shows remarkable enthusiasm and ability in tracking, agility and obedience work, but Adam has one area where he practically shines. Therapy work!! We began working with the Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center around 3½ years ago. I cannot begin to explain to you how rewarding pet therapy is. We get off the elevator and Adam begins to pull me to the room we always meet in. He can't seem to get there quickly enough. The look on the patients faces when you walk in the room is incredible....all eyes are on Adam and his sister, Sissy and brother Casey. We do tricks, demonstrate Adam’s article indication skills, and answer questions about dogs, training, you name it. Adam's favorite part of our time there is going to each patient to be petted and loved on. I always take treats and they each give him a treat. Sometimes a patient just wants to look and watch, but not touch. I always assure them that this is just fine. One man, reluctant to pet Adam at the beginning of one of our visits, was not only petting Adam, but was actually hugging him by the end of the session. Adam seems to have the ability to understand these people and their pain. His sweet character attracts them to him. I believe they know he understands them. Adam has an uncanny ability to know what each patient needs in a K9 friend. He seems to know when someone needs a gentle paw on the knee, a big hug, or a gentle kiss. We added a home for abused children to our monthly visits and Adam has been asked to visit with a retirement village’s Alzheimer’s unit. We also get together once a year with our dog friends and visit two nursing homes, the children’s home, and the rehabilitation cen ter for a Christmas Agility party.

Today, I spend my time at work with computers and users , but my time at MARL showed me the need shelters have for devoted volunteers. This has led me to spend a lot of my time volunteering for MARL. Adam is a wonderful representative for MARL, as is his brother Harvey, a litter trained house bunny. Adam also shares our home with his sister Sissy, a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier mix, brother Casey, a Bouvier des Flandres, and Rebel, a talking parrot. Everyone adores Adam's sweet, cuddly personality and shakes their head in disbelief when they think of anyone being able to abuse him. We play with herding, agility, and obedience.  We attended a Bearded Collie Herding Instinct test and Adam and Casey passed with FLYING colors. I was thrilled and surprised seeing Adam’s natural instincts kick in once we were in the pen with the sheep. I am sure  maturity helped, but with his past I was afraid he would not be able to stand on his own. He certainly showed me that was not the case. People who had an opportunity to meet Adam when he first came to live with Greg and me know without a doubt how far he has come. It is difficult for me to believe Adam is the same poor dog who had to be carried into MARL because he was so frightened he refused to walk. The very same dog who had a severe submissive urination problem because of his abusive past. I am very proud of what Adam overcame and the hard work he has endured to become the wonderful friend he has become to me.

Adam is a prime example of what tender love, care, and patience can do for any animal, no matter what their past holds. Anyone can hold the key to their future of promise, love, and happiness. You must, however, be willing to show them the way.