Meet Sheila, my three-year old 25 pound terrier catahoula mix (we think!). Last Sunday, only three days after returning from Peru, I went to Woods Humane Society to take a look at dogs.  I knew I wanted a 25-30 pound dog who is good with kids and other dogs, likes to hike, and is a good traveler. 

They brought out Sheila (not her name then – “Sheila” is the pen name I used when I wrote stories as a child), this sweet timid dog almost afraid of her own shadow who Animal Services had dropped off at Woods three weeks before.

She slowly warmed up, and I was smitten when Matt, the Woods handler, picked her up and she cuddled right into him.  That told me that all she needed was a bit of loving.

A few hours later, giving myself time to think and talk over the decision, I returned to Woods and brought Sheila home.

She so quickly adapted to home life that we think she was probably an abandoned pet.  Makes me so mad that someone would desert this sweet and wonderful doggie!

I’ve introduced her to kids and other dogs, and she does wonderfully with both.  Today, I took her on her first hike.  Well, she took me!  She practically pulled me up Islay Hill!