When I first saw Casper I couldn’t believe how bad he looked.  He had tumors and lumps all over, his fur was missing in many places, his eyes were red and he had a cataract in one, and his skin was raw and red. 

Despite all this he was a very serene, laid back dog.  Nothing seemed to affect him and he was always so agreeable.  Despite all this I did not feel an instant connection with him.  He was different than most of the other dogs who were usually barking and jumping, seemingly in competition to get your attention.  Casper just didn’t seem very excited about anything. 

Casper had several tumors removed by the wonderful HSHV vets and it was determined that he did have cancer and all of it could not be removed.  The vets said Casper might only live a few weeks or a few months.  It was decided that Casper could not be adopted as his life expectancy was so short and he had many continuing medical needs.  He was scheduled to be euthanized on Monday, October 21. I knew he did not have a very happy life before coming to HSHV.  He was approximately 7 years old and looked like he had suffered a lot in those 7 years. 

I don’t know why, maybe it was fate, but I suddenly decided I should see if I could adopt Casper, knowing that he would probably not live long.  I thought after all he’d been through that he deserved some happiness at the end of his life, even if it was just for a short time.  I was allowed to adopt Casper, aware of all the issues he had.

Well, he certainly surprised me!  At home he just laid down on his new dog bed and observed what was going on around him.  I saw more of his personality as he began to feel more comfortable around me and showed me a little more of himself each day.  I discovered that he can move around the house so silently that he earned the name “stealth dog.”  He loves chew toys and if allowed to pick one on his own he always picks something purple.  

He absolutely loves car rides, even if I just take him around the block a few times.  He is an angel with my three cats, sleeping with them and allowing them to walk on top of him.  They love to clean his ears and he allows them to do this, with a look on his face that says “really?”  He greets me with a wildly wagging tail every time I come home and if I sit down he usually jumps in my lap, all 49 pounds of him! 

He has big expressive eyes and honestly seems to know what I am thinking when I look at him.  When I am having a bad day he instinctively knows and stays by my side no matter what I am doing.  He follows me everywhere – upstairs, downstairs, to do laundry, to take the trash out, etc.  I have become so used to it that it would now seem odd if he wasn’t next to me wherever I go. 

Casper has come out of his shell so much and taught me that I shouldn’t judge a shelter dog’s personality so quickly.  Most shelter dogs have come from difficult situations and are just not themselves when they get to a shelter; they may be scared, anxious, fearful of humans, in pain, etc.  But if you get to know them their true personality will show through and a dog you might have passed by may actually be the dog that will become your constant companion if you let him. 

I feel so lucky to have had the chance to adopt Casper and to get to know him and see who he really is: a dog who was wary of the world and hesitant to trust, but underneath was a sweet, funny, loving, loyal and affectionate dog who just needed to learn to trust.  For his ability to overcome all the difficulties he has endured, and still be a loving, trusting best friend, Casper is a star to me.