Gimme Shelter
Posted 11/30/98
Domino was dumped at the ranch late at night by a drunk man from San Marcos.
The man told Tony and I that his dog’s name was Kujo and that the
dog hated all men. WRONG! The dog loves Tony, Kinky and all the other
men including children. We renamed this beautiful dog, Domino.
Update: 12/8/99
On Tuesday, November 22, 1999, Tony and I were having lunch at the cafe.
Our waitress told us that there was a man who wanted to meet us. A man
named John came over to our table and asked us if we had any Labradors.
We told him, “yes!” We invited him and his Harley friends to
come out and visit us. After lunch, the Harley club followed us out to
the ranch.
After a tour of the ranch, John told us that he wanted to adopt our yellow
Lab, Sara. Fred and Eileen told me they wanted to adopt Domino. This was
great news, but because they were on their bikes, they could not adopt
that day and take the dogs home. It was decided that they would come back
in two days on Thanksgiving.
As soon as everyone had left the ranch Tony and I went and told Sara and
Domino their good news. It seemed they already knew. We put a new collar
on Sara. But, when we started to put a new collar on Domino, he backed
away, scared. I was pretty upset, because this was Domino’s chance
for a great new life. It was time to call in the expert, Copper Love.
I phoned Copper and told her the situation and how we/Domino needed her
help ASAP! I did not have a phone number for John or Fred, so on Thanksgiving
Day, they showed up at the ranch. After explaining to Fred about Domino’s
problem, Fred told me that he and Eileen still wanted him. I asked him
to give us a few days, and that Copper was coming out on Saturday to work
with Domino. Fred told me however long it took, they wanted Domino. After
a short visit, and filling out adoption papers, John, Fred and a happy
Sara drove back to Austin. Hooray, Sara has a new great home and Domino
will too! That was the best Thanksgiving Day Tony and I have ever had.
Saturday morning, our ranch was buzzing with visitors. Copper arrived
after lunch and was ready to go to work. She had brought with her a special
green harness for Domino. I gave her a baggie of thinly sliced wieners
that she would use as rewards/treats as we walked to the pens. Domino,
Tony and one of our great black Labs named, Easy, were already waiting
for her in a pen as she had requested earlier that morning on the phone.
Easy was needed in the pen to show Domino that everything was fun and
fine. Tony was needed to help her with the harness and to also show the
dogs that Copper was a friend.
The visitors and I watched with amazement as Copper did her magic on Domino.
After she and Tony had greeted the dogs and sat down in their chairs,
she was ready to begin. First, she took a blue scarf out of her backpack
and started feeding Easy and Domino small treats. She spoke quietly to
them as she slowly started moving the scarf across their backs and around
their bodies. Then she put the scarf in the hand that was feeding the
treats. Domino hesitated a few times, then started taking the treats as
easy as Easy. She stopped briefly to let the dogs rest and told us that
she would use the same technique, but this time with the harness. The
dogs could not wait to get back to work. She did the same thing with the
green harness and Domino hesitated again, but his love for the wieners
was stronger than his fear of the harness. He quickly forgot about the
harness and soon Copper had him putting his head in and out of the harness
to get another treat. After a few more minutes, Copper gave Tony a signal,
and then he gently hooked up the harness as Copper continued to talk and
praise and give treats to Domino. A leash was quickly attached to his
harness and Copper and Tony left the pen with Domino walking proudly between
them. We all took turns praising Domino and walking him around the ranch.
He was having a blast. When it was time for Copper to leave, she returned
Domino back to his pen and whispered to him for a few minutes and then
removed his harness. Domino hated seeing his new friend leave him. Copper
told us that she wanted to come back for the adoption and to help with
the harness. Then she drove away in her red Miata convertible, “Ruby
Tuesday.”
As soon as Copper left the ranch, I phoned Fred. I told him how great
Domino had done with the harness. Fred told me that he and Eileen would
come to get Domino the following day around noon. I then called Copper’s
machine and gave her the news about Domino’s adoption.
On Sunday, Fred and Eileen, and Copper arrived within minutes of each
other. Copper explained her technique to them and gave some advice about
putting the harness on Domino and then they went to his pen. It took less
than ten minutes for Copper to put on Domino’s harness. This time
it was Fred and Eileen who escorted the proud and happy Domino out of
his pen. We spent about an hour taking turns walking and praising him.
Domino was eating it up, literally. (We were almost out of wieners.) It
was now time for everyone to go home. Fred and Eileen signed our adoption
forms, thanked all of us and then drove off with Domino sitting in the
backseat of their pickup. I swear I saw Domino look back at us as he and
his new family drove away. I teared up as did Tony and Copper as we waved
goodbye to our incredible little friend who now will have a great family.
The reports that we have been getting from Fred are, “Domino is a
great dog, he is doing great and loves his daily walks with Fred!”
Well, all I can say is that, “We love Domino, Fred, Eileen and Copper
and thank goodness for Oscar Mayer Wieners!” ---Nancy