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Max's New Life After Rescue

Dear Pack Members,

I don’t really know where to begin, but here it goes. Now, you all know how I ended up at ARSF, but I guess you didn’t hear what happened after that. Well, last May, these people, Rob, Toni, Ariel, and Snow, came to visit me. I can remember that Dorie was really happy to see them, especially Snow. Next, Dorie took all of us for a short walk. I never saw any of them before, and I didn’t know what to think them. I was really nervous. After that walk, I had to go for a ride in a truck with Dorie and Rob. I was so scared, but Dorie kept talking to me and petting me, and that made me feel a little better. She even gave me a hamburger for being so brave.


A couple of days later, Toni and Ariel came back to see me. They put me in a different car and took me for a real big ride. I had no clue what was going on. I was so scared I clawed at the door to try to get out. After hours of riding in the car, they took me into a motel. The motel thing was such a strange place. Not only did it smell weird, but the water dish was way too high for me to drink from. I really don’t recall much from that night, but I will always remember that Toni kept talking to me in such a pleasant voice it made me feel calm. Finally, I went to sleep. The next day, we went for another real long ride. This time, I was able to fall asleep. After that second day of riding in the car, I made it to my new home in a place they call Pennsylvania.

I remember jumping out of the car and seeing two pens. Toni brought Snow out and put her in the one pen. Next, she put me in the second pen. Snow didn’t like being in her pen. I didn’t know what she was so upset about. We each had a blanket, water, and some food. What more could a dog want, right? Later that evening, Rob and Toni came back. They greeted Snow and then me and then we went for a walk. I could tell that this was Snow’s territory, and I figured that was why she seemed to be ignoring me.

After walking around what was later to become my yard, we went back to the pens and played with tennis balls. I was having fun, but Snow got upset because my ball was newer than her ball. I was just happy to have one, so I didn’t mind trading with her. Then, we ate. I don’t know what it was, but it sure was good! One thing about this place- the food is great! All of this new stuff made me tired and my belly was full, so I decided to lie down. I was content sleeping in my new pen, but Snow didn’t like sleeping in her pen. She actually cried a little.

Most of my third day was spent in the pen next to Snow. When evening came, however, all four of us went for a walk…a real walk. Snow walked Rob and Toni walked me. I really can’t explain why, but there was something about Toni that just made me feel safe. Rob was OK, and Snow really didn’t say much; she just kept walking Rob.

Toni made me feel like nothing bad was ever going to happen to me. That night, I got to sleep in a “bedroom” with her. I guess that’s what you call a pen for people. To get to the “bedroom,” I had to walk up stairs. At first, I didn’t really know how to do this, but with practice, I learned how to run up and down them. Anyway, that first night inside was a little warm, and I was still settling in, so I didn’t sleep that well. I kept wondering where Snow and Rob were sleeping. I figured that they were in their pens, and that was why I was inside Toni’s pen.

Now, about my name…. That first week was a bit rough getting used to this new routine. In other words, I pooped a few times. I know we’re not supposed to poop in our territory, but I just had to go. It was one of those midnight things. Each time Rob would find an accident (and they were big ones), I kept thinking that he would get upset. One day, he didn’t look too happy. That’s when he asked Toni if my name was Myles or Max. I guess she couldn’t remember either because they kept talking about it. Toni said I should be called Max-a-million Myles, I wasn’t sure why but it stuck. Later, they told me how I really got my name. They wanted to keep the name Myles out of respect for the person who fed me when I was alone outside in the woods, and that I traveled a million miles to get to my forever home. The Max part came from another Akita who was almost killed for pooping in his house. So that’s why I’m now called Max-a-million Myles, or just Max for short.

The days soon began to blur together, and the daily routine became more familiar. I was still a little nervous, but life in the pen was pretty good, and I actually began to feel safe around Toni and Rob. Snow still didn’t seem to bother with me too much, though. She was great on walks, but when we got back home, she just wanted to be left alone to sleep in front of her fan. Sometimes she’s a little weird, and I mean that in the best possible way.

Each day throughout the summer, Rob woke me up real early in the morning. He would put me in my pen next to Snow’s. Next, we would all go for a big walk. I really liked these walks. Snow and Rob did, too. I walked side-by-side with Snow the whole way. We would bump into each other and sniff all kinds of stuff. We even had pee competitions. There were cold springs we would drink from, and there was a river to wade in. Down by this river, there was even a spot for us to check our pee-mail. Then after our morning walk, we’d eat. During the day, Rob and Toni weren’t around much, so we spent most of the time after our walks sleeping in our pens. That’s when Snow seemed the saddest. At night, all four of us would go for another big walk and then eat some more. That’s when Rob and Toni would play with us, rub our bellies, and massage our ears. I learned that Toni and Rob actually had their own pen, and that’s where I now slept.

Rob and Toni started keeping Snow and me together in the house more often. That’s when life got really good. Although we were occasionally placed in our pens, most of our time was now spent in the house. Now I know why Snow didn’t like being in her pen. This house thing was great! There were so many different cool spots in which to snooze. Still, when Toni is home, I never want to leave her side. I always feel most comfortable around her. I guess that’s why she started calling me “her shadow.” Around this time, Snow even began to accept me. One day, she licked my ears. She likes to show affection by licking, but I like to rub my muzzle on you. In her own special way she welcomed me into the pack.

I still like to sleep in Toni and Rob’s pen, but sometimes I sleep with Snow. I had my own bed; I even made it nice and comfy. But then Toni told me it wasn’t safe anymore so she got rid of it. I wish I knew what the problem was, it sure was perfect. Now Snow gives me her bed, and she sleeps next to me on this thing called a “love seat.” Sometimes Snow even comes upstairs and we all sleep in Toni and Rob’s pen.

I still have flashbacks to the time when I was all alone. Occasionally, I jump when someone walks past me or touches me unexpectedly, especially if I’m half asleep, but then I realize where I am and who I’m with. Rob keeps telling me that nobody is ever going to hurt me again, and that I should hold my head up high. “You’re an Akita.” he tells me. This I am learning. I now have a home where everyone loves me, and I’m getting accustomed to the things that would scare me before.

Snow is always here to keep me company and protect me when I’m sleeping, and both of us look forward to our walks to California. That’s where Toni tells us we always want to walk to. Although she doesn’t like walking to California, we can usually get Rob to come; he’s easy to train. Now, I can’t tell you exactly where California is, but we must pass it when we go for our long walk. We used to walk in the morning, but now, with the new schedule, we walk in the evening. Snow and I sleep most of the day, but as soon as Rob and Toni come home, we get excited and want to play. This play thing is pretty neat, although I’m so serious it’s hard for me to be silly! Then we get to take Toni and Rob for our walks. Sometimes, we even go for runs. Toni doesn’t run to California, but I think I can change that. Rob doesn’t like to run that much, so Snow helps me run Toni. Toni keeps telling Rob that Snow and I like to run her butt off, but every time I look, it’s still there. I wonder what she means by that.

I thought I knew what life was supposed to be like; I couldn’t have been more wrong. I remember when I was content just to be in a pen. Neither Snow nor I could have imagined a home like the one we have or that people can love us as much as Toni and Rob. Neither of us tries to think about all the bad things that happened in the past, but we never want to forget all those people who helped us to discover what it’s like to be loved. Every one of them deserves an ear massage and eight cookies. We’d give them more, but Snow and I only have four paws each to count with. We hope that all of our friends find loving homes with people to walk and love. We hope that when strangers say that they are such nice dogs, their people remind them that they’re not just dogs, THEY’RE AKITAS!!

Love,
Max