This is Harry - at age 10 months - weight approximately 50 pounds - has manners and loves people.  He had not been cleaned up yet in this photo.

His Story

The call came from John and Roberta Wilkins. They had gone to Santa Cruz to look at a possible mismark Beardie. No he wasn't a Beardie but he was a very nice boy, young, LARGE, HAIRY, cream color and very energetic. John determined Harry to be a Grand Griffon from photos in a book. Not many of these boys in the US so there were no official rescue groups.

Okay so I volunteered (yes I'm a sucker for a shaggy dog) and said I would foster if no one adopted him from the shelter. I even sent a few people over to look at him but no one adopted him. How could we leave this nice boy behind now that we knew him? We kept in touch and a week or so later made the trip to Santa Cruz to pick him up.

Harry it appears was quite popular with the staff and also with most visitors; although no one was willing to take him home. Shaggy coat requiring lots of work and a major drooling problem plus lots of vocalizing in a hound bay sort of manner.

We signed Harry out and left the shelter through a back fence. On the way a large black Lab mix sent one resounding bark to Harry, who paused, turned and barked back. Was this a "Hey Harry - good luck - I see you found a home - wish I could come along". And when Harry barked back did he thank his friend and wish the same to him?

Harry really had to idea where he was headed but he climbed into the back of the car willingly and settled in to eat cookies and kiss me all the way home. Was he trying to make points here? Was this a sign of things to come?

Harry it seems has a separation problem. He has to be in the same space with me or he would bark and drool all over himself. The first time I left him home I crated him as I would only be gone an hour and didn't know if he was an escape artiest that would try to climb out over two six foot fences. Harry was barking and tap dancing when I left and when I got back and he was covered in drool.

He was soaked in drool but VERY happy to see me. Then he proceeded to roll in the dirt to - I suspect - dry himself off. Along with the dirt on the drool came pink and yellow flowers from the silk trees. Harry and his golden eyes came into the house - to check and see if I was still there - and was now covered in dirt and FLOWERS. He looked like a big decorated birthday cake! I wanted to get angry but laughed instead and Harry was delighted. After this I left him in the yard while I was gone. No more dancing but he still drooled all over himself and was soaked when I would come home, jumping and spraying me in the process before he rolled in the dirt to dry off. Seems he has his routine down now

People came to look at Harry but left without him, partly because of the job of maintaining his coat and partly because no one wanted a dog that would drool and bark and roll in dirt. I believe in being straight forward and honest and if someone doesn't want to take the down side then they don't get the up side. A couple of families that had seen him at the shelter also came but they worked and were not at home for long hours and Harry didn't like being alone or even alone with another dog - he needed humans.

Now when I left on my occasional and not too frequent outings I would leave Harry in the back yard. He is behind two gated areas and I later learned from a neighbor that he stands at the gate very quietly and watches through the knothole until he sees my car coming in the drive. THEN he barks. Harry learned to be quiet while I was gone and he learned that I did come back.

One day after many months and no success in adoptions, I came home to find Harry was NOT covered in drool. We were all delighted but I think Harry was the happiest. He finally got the picture - you don't need to drool Harry because I will come home. Or was it that I told him if he wanted to stay here he had to stop that drooling!!

Whatever it was it worked. Harry did not drool any more. Then more visitors and no adoptions. We had some interest from far away but Harry was not a good dog to place long distance. What would happen to him if his new home could not take the drooling, the hound bay barks, the constant following around everywhere, the fact that Harry didn't like to be alone for very long? And Harry needed a stay at home person.

Okay - did you all see this coming? Afer all a promise is a promise. Harry learned to be a good boy and worked very hard at it. Harry is now my boy. He is a big help around here and has learned that following me means stay out of the way when I'm carrying things and cannot see him. He is also a big protector. When we had thunder storms the other dogs ran all over barking but Harry backed up and pinned me on the couch and waited until the noise stopped. Was he protecting me or saving himself? I don't know which but he made more points for himself.

He gets along with everyone and is just one happy guy. He respects Angelina who likes to think she is the neighborhood enforcer around here and will stand at the doorway and stare at Harry - who will not move until I come to see what he is barking about. He likes to greet visitors as long as I tell him they are not coming to adopt him. He is generally a big HAIRY pile of love, likes endless hugs and is the first to remind me that it's dinner time!

Harry found a home - he found that home that day long ago in Santa Cruz when John and Roberta went to see him. He looked at them with those golden eyes that look into your soul and said - "go home and tell Toni about me - I want to live with her". So here we go again - I'm just wild about Harry and Harry's wild about me . . . .

And I secretly think Angelina had a paw in Harry staying here as they love to roam, play and sleep together. And even though she tries to intimidate him and keep him outside she loves her big brudder very much!

And I have quit taking in foster dogs because I always end up keeping them . . . . sigh . . . .

Toni Nyquist tomorro@mindspring.com