The Tessa Chronicles – Chapter I

In fourth grade, my parents thought it would be fun to take my sister and I to the animal shelter – with no intentions of leaving with a pet. I have no idea what they were thinking, because of course we came home with an adorable one year old lab/cocker mix who we renamed Bandit (he stole our hearts!). He was on “death row” and although we may have changed his life by saving him, he changed ours just as much and he lived a long and very happy life. Since then, I’ve always felt very strongly about pet adoption. You’re giving a little soul a second chance at life – what’s better than that?!

The place I’d lived for the past few years didn’t allow pets, so after my roommate told me she’d be moving back to her hometown, finding a place that would allow a dog was my top priority. I put down my pet deposit and signed up for monthly “pet rent” the day I signed my lease!

I had planned on waiting until after I was totally unpacked and settled in to actually get a dog, but it turns out that once you start just doing “research”, you’re getting the ball rolling, and things start happening quickly!

First, I started checking out local rescue organizations. But with an application process that seems to equate renters and apartments with animal abuse, I grew discouraged. Fortunately, one of Mom’s coworkers has a lot of experience volunteering with rescue organizations and was happy to help me find the right one.

And that’s when things picked up. Very, very fast.

A flyer was forwarded to me about an event sponsored by the Angels Baseball Foundation. Money is raised each year for OC Animal Care so that, on the day of the event, adoption fees are covered completely. Oddly enough, OC Animal Care is the same place we’d adopted Bandit from all those years ago.

I asked Mom to go with me, emotionally prepared myself, and Saturday morning, we made our way there.

I was overwhelmed at first. I said hi to every dog just so they’d know they were loved; since I couldn’t bring them all home with me, it was the best I could do. I especially doted on the older ones. And that’s how I stumbled across a little six year old chihuahua mix named Budge. Though I had two others on my list of dogs to ask about, they were both very young and would have a better chance of being adopted, so the dog in cell #201 bounced to the top of my list and I made my way to the line to request a visit with her.

The lines were long, and they were clearly understaffed for the massive turnout, but it really wasn’t a big deal to wait. I could not understand why people were complaining about the lines. You’re trying to save a life! Even three hours standing in line is nothing compared to a night, a week, many weeks sleeping on concrete, locked in a cell with an uncertain future. I mean, really, people, have some perspective. I’d just seen a dog shaking uncontrollably; he was so scared, he was falling asleep standing up. What in heaven’s name do you have to complain about?

Soon enough, it was my turn. I got my five minute visit with “Budge” and even though she was far more interested in the smells of so many other dogs who’d been in the visiting pen, I knew I was going to take her home. Back in line I went, where I bonded with other adopters and learned about the pets they were standing in line for.

An hour, a booster shot, and $3.50 (for the licensing fees) later, I was a dog owner! On our way to Petco, I asked Mom to start thinking of names (she’s good at that kind of thing – one of the many reasons I brought her along). She suggested Lily, which didn’t seem to fit, and then Tessa. Hmmm. I wanted to wait a bit longer before deciding (to get to know her a little more), however, while walking down an aisle in Petco, without even thinking, I called out “Tessa! C’mere!”. And so my little dog was named. And because Petco has a very cool engraving kiosk right in the store, I made it official before we left.

Tessa at my parents' house, post-adoption and post-Petco shopping spree!

And so our journey begins.

Huge, HUGE thank yous to…

• My mom, for EVERYTHING, from adopting Bandit in the first place so many years ago to all your help in making Tessa’s adoption happen.
• Petco, for making us feel super special after the adoption, giving us coupons, samples, and literature. I was really only mentioning the adoption to provide a reason for the looped rope serving as a temporary leash!
• Everyone working at OC Animal Care for everything you do and for putting up with the crowds. I do not have the strength to do your job and am endlessly grateful that you do.
• And most of all, to the Angels Baseball Foundation, Angels for Animals, and everyone who helped raise money for this event!! Makes me proud to be an Angels fan!

More to come!

Edited: May 16th, 2011