Love at First Sight

It was early morning on August 18, 1993.  It was my senior year in college and I have no idea why I was up so early - other than fate.  I was watching the local news station and they had "The Feature Dog of the Week" coming up.  Expecting an average adult dog to come on the screen I melted off my chair when Barkley was passed off to the news anchor from the shelter representative.  He wasn't an adult either.  He was this little round ball of reddish fur and probably only 6-8 weeks old.  He was found roaming the streets of west Phoenix by himself.  I took one look at my Mom who conceded instantly, as even she knew I had to have him.

I went from half asleep on the chair watching the news to in the shower and on my way to the Rabies Control Shelter in Phoenix.  When I arrived I was taken to the kennel run in which he was curled up in the corner sound asleep.  He didn't even wake up when I picked him up.  He just stayed sound asleep cuddle into my chest.  I told the shelter representative I wanted to adopt him.  She made me put him in the kennel until I was done with the paperwork.

At the front desk I was told the adoption fee was $40.  Opening my wallet I had $37 on me in cash, no credit card and they didn't accept checks.  I did however have an ATM card, but now more people were showing up to see him.  He was a TV star after all.  I asked the shelter folks if they could hold him with my $37 while I ran to the ATM and she said no.  Floored by her response and in a panic I turned to the people behind me and begged them not to adopt him while I going to the ATM.  They said I had 30 minutes.  I found an ATM and withdrew $20 headed back to the shelter with time to spare.  When I returned the people waiting to adopt him told me I seemed to excited about him and it was obvious we were meant to be together.  I filled out the remaining paperwork and then off the kennel runs to pick him up and take him home.

We went straight to Petsmart to pick out a collar and other necessities.  Standing in line waiting to check out and customer in front of me turned around and said, "I just saw a puppy that looked like that on TV this morning."  I told her he was one in the same and she said she asked her husband if he thought those dogs ever got adopted.  Then she asked me his name.  I had tossing some ideas around in the car but without hesitation I said, "His name is Barkley."