Christ Yoder
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GLADWIN
In last week’s diary there was an article about Tish Anderson’s adventures with her first adopted dog, Roxie. Tish’s second dog from the Gladwin Animal Shelter was a one-eyed Pekingese.
“He was a cranky Gus who just stole my heart,” Tish said.
His name was Elmo and it had been returned due to dog mugging, but he wasn’t like that in his new family’s house.
“He was underweight,” Tish recalls. “Once we gave him what he needed for food, he settled in right away.”
For a one-eyed dog who had surrendered due to assault on other dogs, Tish said he would make the most excited cry when he saw horses; she thought he wanted them to come play with him.
Elmo loved car rides and he was Tish’s car buddy after she lost her husband. The little dog’s goofy and carefree personality brought a lot of joy and humor to Tish’s life.
“He was such a character,” Tish recalls. “He once crossed the couch to attack a darling my grown-up daughter had in her hair. He took it off and we couldn’t tear it from him, he had a snake pattern and he loved to shake it and stretch it over and over.
In addition to his hunt for scrunchies, Tish said Elmo was galloping down the hallway of the house.
She said her little short legs were just going to go and her big feet would sound like there was a rush on her. In addition to his happiness, Elmo had a stubborn tendency towards forgiveness.
Tish thought back to a time when her son lived with her and fell ill with pneumonia and had to go to the hospital.
“As he walked out the door he said to Elmo, ‘I’ll be back in a few days, buddy. But my son almost died and had to be in a drug rehab center for almost seven months. Tish said, “When he came back Elmo was mad at him for being gone for so long and didn’t even want to look at my son or recognize him.”
She thinks Elmo was so hurt that her son had lied to her. Tish said Elmo kept his cool front towards his son for two weeks after he returned home. One day, she said, it was like a switch had flipped and Elmo decided he was no longer angry and jumped into his son’s lap like nothing had happened and that ‘he was ready to love.
Tish adopted Elmo when he was three, seven years later she lost him at an old age.
“I still miss her sweet face,” she said.
Check back next week for Part Three of Tish’s Adoption Stories! The Gladwin County Animal Shelter began operations in 1976 and is dedicated to serving the needs of the animals and citizens of Gladwin County. In 2020, the shelter has cared for over 630 animals (despite challenges from COVID-19) and continues to do everything possible to ensure that all healthy and adoptable animals have safe and loving homes. and that the community practices responsible animal guardianship. Follow the shelter on Facebook at Gladwin-AnimalShelter.
The shelter always accepts donations, which can be dropped off or mailed to 401 W. Cedar Ave., Gladwin, MI 48624. Volunteers can call 989-426-4579 or email [email protected] to find out how they can help at the shelter.
