Humphrey's Story

We walked through the room desperately wanting to cover our ears. The barking was so loud everything else was inaudible. To the left was a little fawn colored girl shouting out her painful past. To the right was a big red fella yelling about the family that had sent him there. Up and down the aisle it was the same, kids telling their stories as loud and as fast as they could. There was so much to take in that we almost didn't notice him.

Oddly darker than the rest, and very oddly quieter than the rest, he sat upright gazing out at us. Imploring us. He told his story with his eyes.

Humphrey was the only black Shar-Pei at Operation Scarlet that day, and he was the only one who didn't bark.

My family (mom, dad, and live-in cousin) and I decided, after much debate, that the best dog for us was an adult dog from a breed specific rescue. In the late summer of 1993 I found O.S. through our local S.P.C.A. Dragging my cousin to the library time and again we researched the breed. Shar-Pei are not for everyone...but we found they are perfect for us!

I called O.S. and spoke to Dawn. She really impressed me with the care she took in selecting homes for her "kids". I was happy to go through the process, but must have struck her as very impatient. I was way too excited to wait.

When we got the call saying we were approved for an interview I did a little happy dance. Dawn had told me about some new arrivals and I started imagining life with them. Little did I know that Humphrey was on his way.

As it turned out, on the day my family was scheduled for an interview Humphrey arrived. He had been shipped to O.S. from California. It seems that Humphrey was originally purchased for a young girl who later went off to college and left him at home. Her parents then passed Humphrey on to some friends of theirs who in turn passed him off to some friends of theirs. At this final home Humphrey encountered something new - cats. It wasn't pretty. The cats bullied Humphrey and since the cats were there first it was Humphrey that had to go.

Thankfully, Humphrey's last family cared enough to seek out O.S. in the hopes of ensuring a good home for the sweet boy. They paid to have him shipped across the country.

When Dawn told us Humphrey's story my heart melted. I had been geared up for a lot of bad things, but this was different. No physical abuse, no behavior problems, just people problems. He was the one.

It was absolutely excruciating to leave that day. O.S. rules clearly stipulate that each dog must be checked by the rescue's vet and spayed/neutered. For the next few days I fretted: would Humphrey be healthy? would he be O.K. Yes, he was.

The 2 1/2 hour ride home in 85 degree weather was no picnic, but we survived. Once home it was clear - this is where Humphrey belongs. He got along famously with everyone, so polite and well-mannered, playful and always playing hard to get. That's my baby.

Today, just as the day we brought him home, Humphrey never leaves my side. He sleeps beside my bed, follows me from room to room, and patiently tolerates my hugs and kisses. His health is excellent, his coat is beautiful, his demeanor is precious. More than three years after our first meeting he's still a beautiful black pearl, he still tells his stories with his eyes and he still doesn't bark...but he does cry when I leave him alone.

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