And then there was Spook

we are waiting for you

We are a pet friendly B&B and people who choose to stay here come as much for the “official greeters” as for my scones. They merit mention in the guest reviews as often as we do. One of the most asked for stories during breakfast is how we acquired Spook. Both of our dogs were rescues and knowing how it feels to be dropped into a new situation, both go out of their way to make our guests feel welcome. 

Maddy and JazzPurr sharing some sun

Spook came to us a year ago May. Madison had been a family member since November 2011 and came to us from a foster family with three other dogs and a cat. When Madison arrived we had Jazzpurr the cat, who passed the following October at the age of 17. Madison seemed lost without anyone to lie in the sun with. 

Spook napping in the flowers

Bob had been looking to adopt a Shepard husky mix for some time and finally decided waiting for her to come through a husky rescue group we would check at the local SPCA. The day we went down and filled out the paperwork we checked the current surrendered dogs up for adoption and didn't see any that seemed interested in us. Before we left the staff insisted on showing us a few dogs that they thought fit our profile. Despite specifying a Shepard husky mix we were shown a doberman, a pit-bull, a great dane and a beagle. Madison was with us and none of the dogs appeared to like her and she spent her time under my chair. As we were getting ready to leave someone mentioned that a Shepard had come in less than a week earlier and was still in quarantine in the back. We asked to see her. She was very quiet and hesitant around all the people but sniffed everyone, walked up to Madison and “made nice” then walked over to Bob, put her head in his lap, looked up at him and sighed. She came home with us a week later.

welcome

She was a sick girl with assorted parasites and kennel cough and made nary a sound. Her recorded history was short – found locked in an abandoned home, weight 50lbs and maybe 18 months old. She had had a litter but there was no sign of the pups, she was not lactating. Given her quiet nature, Bob named her Spook. Madison has since taught her to bark (a bit overmuch when she gets really excited about what is going on in the world around her) and I am now in the process of teaching her to stop barking on command...it is slow going since I can't get Madison to stop at the same time – they tag team the barking. She is a very loving dog who enjoys the attention of our guests. She is deferential to other dogs who come to visit Sunny's Roost.