Two or three weeks ago AHS took in a pair of very shy houndy type sisters dubbed Claire and Maybel. They'd been transferred in from Bastrop Animal Control, so it was no surprise they didn't know anything about being in the big city (Bastrop County is a predominantly rural area just southeast of Austin). I followed updates on the pair via our Yahoo Group and knew that neither was much of a leash walker or good about going back to the kennels, no great surprise since they had probably been running loose most of their lives. A lot of volunteers reported that both girls were sweet but very nervous with all of the new people handling them, my type of dogs!

I met both Claire and Maybel one Saturday while I was training new volunteers. Claire just needed some extra coaxing and treat incentives to return to her kennel, and she wagged her tail at me when she realized I had REALLY good stuff. Overall, she wasn't too interested in me though. Maybel, on the other hand, clearly found me fascinating. Keep in mind that she and I had never met before, so it was extraordinary how she suddenly decided I was her new best friend.

Maybel bounded out of the kennel door and dragged the volunteer walking her over to me. Suddenly, she popped up on her back legs, placed a paw on each breast like I was a magic slot machine, and shoved her muzzle up to my neck wiggling like I was a gigantic dog treat. Seriously, if she'd been a human, there'd have been assault charges involved!

Maybel and Claire got adopted the next week, so I never quite figured out why she had taken to me so instantly. Maybe she just like the smell of the treats I'd offered her sister!