We like to think that all dogs are born to be loved and pampered and even spoiled, but some were truly born with silver spoons or bones in their mouths.
Chris, the Afghan, is one of those dogs who was born to live a life of ease and comfort, and regular grooming. Chris started his life in Australia, where he was sold to a woman who led the breeder to understand that she lived in Australia. The breeder did not intend for Chris to leave Australia, but Chris ended up in Richmond, BC Canada. When his owner went travelling, Chris escaped from his caretakers.
In August 2009, RAPS, as well as all the vets, groomers, and kennels in Richmond, got emails from a woman in Ottawa who is a friend of the breeder in Australia. The breeder was frantic to find Chris. But it was as if Chris had vanished *poof* - No stray dog reports – No dead dog found…
And then, at the end of March 2010, Shane (our ACO) was called to assist the RCMP by containing three dogs at a drug house, two Dobermans and an Afghan Hound – a black Afghan with a white blaze on his chest. It had to be Chris. The saved email from Ottawa was pulled up, and Chris was scanned for a microchip. A match!!!
We were so happy to have found Chris alive – but he was a mess. An Afghan that hasn’t been groomed for more than 8 months can resemble a Hungarian Puli or Komondor. The mats in his coat were obviously painful. So off he went to the groomers (Thank you, Christine’s Grooming Salon) and back he came, playful and relieved to be shorn.
After seven days at the shelter, it was time to figure out a permanent situation for Chris. The lady from Ottawa expressed interest in giving Chris a home as long as he wasn’t dog aggressive. The next Sunday, a posse from the local Afghan Club came out to assess Chris, and they declared him a lovely dog if a bit aloof – in true Afghan fashion.
Chris, the Afghan, is one of those dogs who was born to live a life of ease and comfort, and regular grooming. Chris started his life in Australia, where he was sold to a woman who led the breeder to understand that she lived in Australia. The breeder did not intend for Chris to leave Australia, but Chris ended up in Richmond, BC Canada. When his owner went travelling, Chris escaped from his caretakers.
In August 2009, RAPS, as well as all the vets, groomers, and kennels in Richmond, got emails from a woman in Ottawa who is a friend of the breeder in Australia. The breeder was frantic to find Chris. But it was as if Chris had vanished *poof* - No stray dog reports – No dead dog found…
And then, at the end of March 2010, Shane (our ACO) was called to assist the RCMP by containing three dogs at a drug house, two Dobermans and an Afghan Hound – a black Afghan with a white blaze on his chest. It had to be Chris. The saved email from Ottawa was pulled up, and Chris was scanned for a microchip. A match!!!
We were so happy to have found Chris alive – but he was a mess. An Afghan that hasn’t been groomed for more than 8 months can resemble a Hungarian Puli or Komondor. The mats in his coat were obviously painful. So off he went to the groomers (Thank you, Christine’s Grooming Salon) and back he came, playful and relieved to be shorn.
After seven days at the shelter, it was time to figure out a permanent situation for Chris. The lady from Ottawa expressed interest in giving Chris a home as long as he wasn’t dog aggressive. The next Sunday, a posse from the local Afghan Club came out to assess Chris, and they declared him a lovely dog if a bit aloof – in true Afghan fashion.
Last Thursday, Chris flew out to Ottawa to begin his true life as a loved and pampered pooch. His new guardian writes, “ Please let everyone who took such good care of Chris know that he arrived safely in Ottawa this afternoon and is crashed out for the night in his new home. He handled the trip, introductions to his roommate, and sussing out the new yard and neighbourhood very well. He’s going to be fine.”
-- Helen Savkovic, Office Slave at the Richmond City Shelter
