Max

My name is Max, I’m a German shepherd and I believe in Tails of Hope. I was abandoned in a shelter feeling very, very sorry for myself. I wouldn’t socialize, I just kept to my cage like you do when you’re scared and sad. I didn’t know why I was there. I used to have a family but one day they just up and left me. No explanation. No goodbye. No thanks for the memory, just going, going, gone. I thought maybe it was because I had no tail. I don’t remember why it’s missing but I’m scared of anything that makes a grinding sound. Tail-less makes you look kind of silly when you’re a shepherd. I mean, you never see a K9 with no tail getting bad guys on Animal Planet, do ya? Well I kept getting passed over even after I was obedience trained and certified. Everyone at the shelter loved me but I was feeling pretty hopeless. I had lots of heart but looked, well frankly, a bit weird with this little waggily stump. Then I heard a rumor; “Max No-Tail is going!” I feared the worst and went further back in my cage to be invisible so no one would find me but then a dog in the shelter said a group called “Tails of Hope” was interested in putting me on their website. Yeah, right I thought, “Tails of Hope” huh? Me, Max No Tail? “Tails of Hope” had a couple who had seen me on their site. There had been other dogs they’d liked but they were really, really interested in me. They said that their older dog had died and they had another dog that was grieving for her friend. I heard she was a beautiful but huge Malamute Shepherd named Laika and that they had a tortoiseshell cat with the strange name of Mousey Tongue. I didn’t chase cats and I knew I could get along with anyone if they liked me first. They filled out the application and after a little routine checking around they got approved. I missed the first trip to Maryland and I thought maybe they’d changed their minds, but it was just a mix up in travel dates. By the following weekend, the countdown began, Me, Max No Tail, relayed from a shelter in Ohio to Tails of Hope in Maryland and then off to my new home near the Chesapeake Bay. I changed cars seven times on the relay trek to Maryland and at the end of the journey there was my new home. My new big sister Laika met me outside the door and we walked towards my new home together. I had my security moose in my mouth (a gift from my last driver) and after a long drink and a few hello treats we all went for a walk on the beach. It was awesome! I went nuts…never had I seen so much space. A few days later I had my first special grooming in a van that came to the house, Me, Max No Tail, getting clean teeth, ears, nails, special skin conditioning and a massage. I came out feeling handsome and no one even laughed when my tail stump was brushed. I learned to sing with Laika for supper. (It’s a family thing; you have to be there), and because I’m still scared of other dogs in multiples, I’m getting special training from a dog whisperer kind of trainer (and boy does she like me!), and my new vet thinks I’m a wonderful guy. I’ve even learned to like the six grandchildren who visit us sometimes. Me, Max No Tail! And everybody loves my little stump’cos they say it wiggles when I’m happy and it doesn’t knock anything over on their big coffee table when I turn around. Every night, we all snuggle up and read, listen to Harry Potter books on CD (I just love underdog stories) or watch movies, and when I wake up it’s straight to the beach for a run after breakfast. In the day time I sit with my new Mom while she writes her latest novel, (I’m even going to be on the picture of her new book), but my favorite time is when my new Dad plays the drums and I’m there right beside him. I’ve got rhythm, you know. He couldn’t do it without me. He says “Max, let’s do it” and I just inspire him. I’m so cool. I’m still learning the rules and it will take time but my Mom and Dad love me and they’ll get me through the parts where I really have to concentrate and not lose confidence. They tell me that practice makes perfect. For the first time I can be Relaxed Max, instead of Max No Tail because I’ve found that love, even for guys like me is without conditions and even a dog’s life has infinite possibilities. Thanks Tails of Hope, Libby, Becki and everyone who transported me here and of course Anna Rawlings who bought my toy moose to calm me down on the last leg of the journey. Now I have a family, a cat that snuggles me, and a big sister as well. Move over Marley and Beethoven, make room for Max, one lucky dog!