Do you believe in Love at First Sight? I do. It was Thursday October 24th, 2019
I had just signed up on Pet Finder the week previous. We had just decided that we were ready to see what was out there, after losing our Maltese ,Gnocchi, to heart failure, a year and a half earlier.
His name is Riptide. He is a Cavapoo, male, ten months old, recently neutered, up-to-date on his shots, potty trained. He was being adopted through East Coast Humane Society, in the greater Orlando area. Those eyes. If you know him, you have seen them. Jessica’s daughter, Cora said to me last week, “It’s like he’s looking into your soul”. Wiser words have never been spoken by a 10-year-old.
Patrick, always the voice of reason, thought I was moving too fast. “Don’t just get so excited after the first dog you see. We have waited this long, be smart, don’t get wrapped up in your emotions” he says. Only for me to receive an email from him hours later that said something like, “have you contacted them about Riptide yet? He isn’t going to last long!” Of course I had, immediately after reading his “profile”, this wasn’t my first rodeo. I got an email back the next day, filled out my application, hit send and waited. Waiting until Saturday felt like an eternity. He is “a lot to handle” they said. Many people had submitted applications and the adoption agency didn’t think he was “the right fit” for them. I could come up to the meet and greet they were hosting at a Petco in Longwood. My niece Callan was visiting us that weekend, we through ourselves into the car Sunday morning, October 27th, 2019 and went to collect our newest baby. I knew it would be perfect. He would look at me, know I was going to be his mom and he would be safe forever. It didn’t quite go down like that.
Riptide, in all of his glory, wouldn’t give us a second glance. He was too busy peeing on posts around the store, playing with other dogs, he appeared to not know his name. I persisted. I was on the ground, treats, sweet words, encouragement. Nothing. Callan is great with dogs, she is behind me, supporting me, treats, sweet words, encouragement. Nothing. Patrick, on the ground, treats, sweet words, encouragement. Riptide, fear, run away, scary man. Oh no, what have I gotten myself into. When it comes to animals, I am all in. I don’t back down, I will prevail.
Did I mention he had never been on a leash? We needed to stop for lunch and went to Jimmy John’s. Patrick got Riptide and I got Callan. Riptide literally gator rolled on the leash, thrashing about, howling as if he were dying all across the parking lot. I stopped and looked around. Were we being punked? This is a joke, right? It must be a joke. We picked him up and walked to the restaurant. I stayed outside with Riptide while Callan and Patrick went in to get our food. He wouldn’t stop moving, weaving in and out of the table and chair legs, getting all twisted up. Yet he slept like a baby with Callan in the back seat on our long drive home. First stop was our store (at that time we were still Pets Plus), we needed a belly band for our newly “housebroken” dog and all of his supplies!
We all learned a lot the first 4 months with him. It had been a long time since we had a puppy. Not to mention a puppy that came to us at 10 months old with some baggage that we would never fully understand. Patrick could never be the disciplinarian; he was too scary. It took a long time to accept treats and love. To this day, Riptide always wants love, but is slow to commit. But boy, does he love. He is my heart dog, I know what that means now. I love him unconditionally and he loves me. Just a girl and her dog. It was love at first sight. Forever. Happy Gotcha Day, my favorite boy!
