What a pretty thang ;3; thanks so much c:
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Racing Name: Lightnings Arrow
Call Name: Rae (Pronounced Ray) - Meaning "Lightning"
Gender: Female
- First Encounter -
The Kennels smelt like Kietta's...and lots of them. Endless raving and barking came from about every cage from the front to the back of the adoption room. I however had already made my pick and was here to meet the gal for the first time. From what I had been told, this one had a knack for getting loose. A silly thing to throw any animal into a pound but I suppose it was my gain to be had. I knew from simply seeing her picture that she was a perfect fit, we both having somewhat of a knack for trouble. So, it was was that pre-determined idea that we were meant to be running through my mind as I made my way to meet her.
I rounded the corner into the greeting room. I expected to find an employee waiting with the gal, but it seemed it was just her, gnawing ferociously against the very thing that kept her from freedom. I quietly closed the door behind me, hoping that was enough to keep the well renowned Houdini dog in place just long enough to get acquainted. As if instinctively, the female Kietta suddenly stopped the struggle after realizing her route to freedom had been cut off. Besides the gnawing, I immediately saw she was a well behaved pup. Good manners, friendly and a figure built to catch some major speed. The very moment I approached her, she was swarming me with love and affection - something I had certainly not expected. However, it was a wonderful surprise, and the solidification in my mind that I just had to have her.
- Gaining Trust -
I would like to say gaining her trust was difficult. After all Rae was a rescue dog and most of those happen to be very skittish. (I decided to call her Rae by the way). Anyways, like I was saying, that time we spent in the greeting room gave the two of us more than enough time to bond. She was definitely a social one, and with a few head pats and some belly rubs I had no doubt Rae and I were going to be the best of Buds. Usually when I get a pet they need some time to adjust, a few bribes of good food but Rae was more than content with just some good ol' fashion love - and I was more than happy to oblige.
- Introduction to the Tack and Collar -
In our growth as a pair things were going well, but this was by far my biggest struggle. I knew Rae was a runner, she certainly had the energy for it and the potential for something great. That day I took her home and decided to try and get her in some tack. Fortunately for me, Rae was more than comfortable with the Collar as her previous owner had gotten her adjusted just fine. However, the tack was another thing entirely.
I am not sure what about the tack she didn't like, but Rae wouldn't even let me bring it near her. I thought maybe it was because the tack was quite large, so I took the liberty of taking it as much apart as I could and then slowly trying to assemble it back onto her. Well lets just say it was a process....more like a week long, too many hours kind of operation. Every time I went to hook on a new piece, Rae would bolt to the other side of the room, shake the previous pieces off and we were back down to ground zero.
At one point I even tried bribing her with treats, which seemed like it was working for a time, until she caught on and ripped it off again before I could secure the rest of it. By then, I was at my breaking point. I knew that no matter what I still wanted to keep Rae, even if I couldn't race her, but that maybe Racing just wasn't meant for us. I sighed, finally sitting on the floor in exhaustion and calling my new pup over to me for a quick pat. She didn't seemed fazed or distraught which I was glad to see. I am sure the whole process hadn't been fun for her either. I honestly gave up at that point, and hadn't tried it again until one day I found her sniffing the tack. I thought maybe she was just going to chew it up, so i put it up high where Rae couldn't get it but she persisted. Barking constantly until I said enough was enough. I took down the tack, hooked it up, and she never had a problem with it since.
I have to say she looked great in it - The tack i mean.The straps that went around her chest and stomach were a muted medium brown. The rest of it, like the part displaying her racing number and the harness around her face were a sea blue green much like the color of her eyes.
