Malibu Andy

Andy’s Story

I was initially quite reluctant to let a new dog into my life. I had lost my beloved Sheltie Toby to old age and sickness a year earlier and I felt that my heart was shut tight. However, my husband needed a dog. By a strange coincidence, after I decided on a Japanese Chin, I found out that my next door neighbor was friends with Zofia of JCCARE. We talked, we e-mailed, I heard about a number of Chin, and finally the choice pointed to Andy (then known as Domino). Zofia sent me an e-mail picture of him sitting bravely and stoically on a chair at Sue’s house. I truly felt that in some inexplicable way, he was calling out to me. Andy had been turned in by his owners because they were moving and unable to keep both their Chin. They chose to give up Andy as they felt he was more adoptable than their older Chin. He came to California from North Carolina via a pet transport service with two other Chin who went to their forever homes along the way. Sue had enclosed a blue blanket, some toys and a sun hat to shield him from the Malibu sun….and best, he was waiting for us just as we returned from vacation!

My most vivid memory of his first days here is of him sitting on the couch, the same stoic, unemotional look on his face, his eyes closing, his head nodding, as he was so tired. He was 8 months old when he came and weighed 8 lbs. The great thing about rescues is that, if all goes well, they slowly but surely reveal their true selves.

I was very, very concerned that Andy would ruin my cat’s life. Pugsley, the black and white Persian, was living quite a happy and placid life. And at first, Andy did! He chased Pugsley, I worried, Pugsley hid. But soon enough, I saw Pugsley doing a special dance in front of Andy, a kind of "catch me if you can" dance. Now the two are good, good buddies.

Andy is the most playful dog I’ve ever had. He woo-woo’s at the people he likes, he tears through the house and over the room divider. He is also the first dog I’ve ever had who genuinely loves children, men, women and has never growled.

At first, Andy slept obediently in his crate at night and he seemed to prefer it. Soon he decided "I don’t think so, it’s the big bed for me!" So now we snuggle with Andy in the crook of my knees and Pugsley stretched out in the center of the bed. By the way, he is a great sleeper and will stay in bed as long as anyone stays with him. He continues to display new aspects of his personality. His most recent and endearing display is wagging his long, plume-like tail. My husband and I feel that Andy is the best dog we’ve ever shared our lives with.
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