Krypto’s Dog Rescue Story…
Long story short, Krypto was dropped off at the shelter along with ALL of his other furry family of siblings. But, NO one knew that day what a twist his story would take! I’m guilty of signing up for the email list of available foster pet parents, so I get these desperate emails in my inbox all the time. And eventually after all the begging for help you say HEY here I am, who do you have that needs help?
Sadly it’s usually the BIG dogs that loose and either stay at the shelter forever or even worse they leave there but not breathing, more like in a body bag. That was Krypto’s fate had I not stepped in THAT EXACT DAY!
Sometimes God lays things on your heart and you have no idea where it’s going to head or where you need to start. But, ONE DAY I answered those emails asking if there were any SMALL to Medium sized dogs I could help out with. And, the foster coordinator at the time started to send me pictures of the smallest ones they had.
I remember her asking me about this one dog and I immediately thought NO that is a pit bull, NOT small and probably a bad fit for my lifestyle. Of course, they are thinking foster, I’m thinking forever! Plus, I have to drive one hour one way to go get them from the shelter that is out in the country! So I like to make sure everyone is on board before I make the drive which takes up 1/2 my day considering it is an hour or more each way!
The Day I Met Krypto…
I think I was just desperate to help, not thinking about the 2 month trip out of the country we were getting ready to take — traveling through 5 different countries over the next 60 days! Most people might have even given there dog up to be able to go on the trips we did. But, I am so thankfully and blessed my Mom stepped in. I know it was NOT EASY and there is a REASON we cannot help the BIG dogs out. We honestly just do not have room for them!
But either way I still remember the drive and the day Krypto’s fate changed. And, if you only knew how his story has unfolded since — it is a HUGE BLESSING for him and who he ended up with! Looking back I did not understand what the girls at the shelter meant by “he has to go today” — later I found out if I had not taken him home that day DEATH was waiting for him at the end of a needle, since they also didn’t have room for him and they wanted to make some!
I arrived at the shelter not knowing who I was coming for exactly but willing to meet any potential candidates. Another thing most people might not understand is that when a dog is left in the shelter they start to shut down, become afraid, and ultimately people look at them as bad candidates for adoption (aka their family) but what they don’t get is that a little love, affection, and change of scenery gives those guys a whole new attitude.
Krypto was scared, sheltered in place, would act like a big baby and force you to pick him up if you wanted him to move. That might have worked to his advantage since he seemed to be NOT TOO BIG at the time. He does have the ability to curl up real small, and fit into tight spaces, which he showed us every time he was scared!
Either way if it wasn’t for the other dog they brought me to potentially take home acting like a wild animal then I never would have said NEXT! And, they never would have brought out Krypto! I knew immediately when I heard his name my boyfriend would LOVE him even thought it’s not spelt the same as the “Crypto-Currency”
So after doing a few meet and greets inside the shelter fence, I said okay I’ll take Krypto home and foster him. I should’ve known when they brought him out to put him in the back of my two seater Smart Car that it he wasn’t going to fit our lifestyle. But, I was willing to give it a chance! So I did…
Bringing Krypto Home…
I might have forgot to mention the part about how I was heading to the shelter to anyone else ya know like my boyfriend — who was also going to have to live with the dog too! But I was thinking with my heart not my head. Oh and I almost forgot we were about to go on a van trip in our RV.
I have to give my boyfriend a lot of credit for not freaking out when I surprised him with the dog as soon as he came home. He actually took it very well, minus the fact he immediately tried to cancel our van trip. I know he was worried the dog would destroy our luxury camper van!
The first day or so Krypto just paced the floor! And, we learned quickly he had to be on a leash even inside the fence because otherwise he didn’t know where he was, would run away, didn’t know to come inside the RV, it was just crazy! Plus he was BIG BIGGER than all the other dogs.
So when he ate or chewed toys it was A LOT more! He would chew things up not knowing his strength. We had only had small paws, small toys, small bowls, and he was not the same size. Even though he secretly wanted to be a small dog. Trust me he tried!
We Tried To Take Krypto Back Multiple Times…
No joke, after a day or two my boyfriend kept blaming me for anything the dog would do. So I called the shelter and told them we couldn’t handle him, we were bringing him back that afternoon! Of course they said okay well have to make some room. But, after I did my boyfriend freaked out and said “why can’t he stay at least another night before we take him back since he’s just going to sleep in a cage, etc”… So I called the shelter back and told them tomorrow we will bring him back.
Tomorrow turned into maybe the next day, then maybe after our van trip. And then there was another incident (I do not remember what it was) but my boyfriend started blaming me again! So I called the shelter and told them “hey sorry for the 2-3rd time we’re dropping him off as soon as were back from our trip!”
Let’s just say they girl at the shelter was QUITTING along with a lot of others and she told me the truth! That if I brought Krypto back they would most likely put him down. And, I know they are not suppose to tell you these things, but she was tore up knowing SHE would be the one forced to euthanize him! All because they just needed some extra room!
After pouring out my heart telling her how my boyfriend was torn between loving this dog and wanting me to take him back, she poured out her heart to me and I learned A LOT about the shelter (that Shelter) that day! I knew then we could NOT take him back and we were going to find him a new home or we would have to adopt him! How could we just sent him back to die?
So I told the the girl at the shelter when we got back from the van trip we were coming by to get the paperwork figure out since she would be leaving and not sure who was taking over after her departure!
Last Day Back At The Shelter…
Yes, we did end up taking Krypto back to the shelter after our van trip, but it was a bitter sweet event. And of course I hate to admit I was on the shelter’s website looking at other potential candidates up for adoption, when one caught my eye. I even asked them to bring her up front and have her ready so we could peek at her while we were there finalizing Krypto’s paperwork. Secretly I was hoping she was small enough that we could make it work! A two FUR one kinda deal! (lol)
But, at the time we had NO IDEA (No one did) that Krypto and Petunia the other dog I inquired about had a VERY SPECIAL connection. Looking back though when they met in the lobby their noses touched and it was like they knew each other even though we were thinking they just met! So of course I begged my boyfriend to let us take her home too and he finally gave in.
On the car ride home she (Petunia) pooped on me, and then we quickly found out she knew how to walk on a leash to go potty outside! That was a bit of a relief.
A Surprise We Were NOT Expecting!
A few days later, I went ahead and made the choice to adopt Petunia (again without letting anyone else know). But, it was at that moment the shelter staff was putting together the paperwork and said “OMG you’re not going to believe this!” And that’s how we discovered… Krypto and Petunia were siblings!
From what I’ve learned their Mom might have fallen on hard times and dropped all of her dogs off one day! So we ended up with Krypto and Petunia, but wait there is more…. because there is a “Pandora” out there somewhere! Another sister somewhere (in Alabama) — PSA: if you know her tell her we’re looking for her!
Krypto’s Final Destination & New Beginning
If you only knew about where Krypto ended up and how us saving him actually saved a friend. One thing I love and most people don’t understand so they do not do enough of is fostering! Fostering does NOT mean forever, all though some times they call it foster failing when you end up adopting them! However, as much as I LOVE Krypto he and I plus the entire family could not be more happy where he ended up.
It’s a story for another post (maybe Part 2 of Krypto’s Rescue) the BIG day Krypto met his new dog Dad. You have NO idea how much a dog’s life is changing nor how much saving him can be just as life changing for you! Long story short… Krypto is now running out on several acres of land, eating good, has his own couch, lives with two cats. He is still an inside dog, get’s to sleep in the bed, and it was a new beginning since Krypto gave life to someone else who had lost their dogs and did not think they could ever love again. Krypto is truly now a man’s best friend.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of Krypto’s Rescue!
