DOG CALENDAR ENTRY

MACK, Labrador

Randall & Angela Wilson, Owner

In early 2007 we lost our nine year old Labrador, Annie to cancer. Our family (my husband, our rat terrier, Jasmine, and I) were lost and devastated. I found Labrador Friends of the South (LFS) through an internet search as we began to talk about possibly rescuing a Labrador. Last June, we decided to attend a LFS adoption day in Atlanta. I had been feverously scanning their web site, and had noticed Mack. He didn't have a foster family and had been kept in a kennel for several months.

My husband wasn't sure we were ready for another lab, so we really weren't sure that attending the adoption day would result in finding a good match. Our rat terrier, Jasmine attended the adoption day with us. She has pretty discerning taste, and she immediately let us know that some of the labs did not feel right to her - then she met Mack - a 55lb (he was a little thin) Labrador with sweet submissive energy.

Like many rescue dogs, Mack came to us with his own set of issues. He was left in a shed in Atlanta with no food or water for over a week when a landlord found him and contacted LFS. He was obviously abused and while he bonded with us from the very beginning, we soon saw signs of him not trusting people, especially if they tried to approach him.

We brought him home to our farm Hartselle, AL where he had 20 acres and a really big pond to explore, but despite the safety and comfort of a forever home, his struggles in meeting people continued. Not willing to give up on him, and with the help of LFS we took him back to Atlanta to meet with Susie Aga, the Atlanta Dog Trainer. We were complete novices in how to deal with a pooch who had not been well socialized. Since that time, we work with him constantly on being comfortable with people he doesn't know and helping him understand that WE are the alphas and its our job it is to protect the pack.

He has come such a long way. In December we took him back to Atlanta to LFS's Christmas party and fundraiser. Outside of a very rainy and cold December day, we were thrilled at how he trusted us and that he was able to be around a large group of people (we think it helped that everyone smelled like wet dogs)

As you can see from the photo, Mack loves the outdoors and would stay in the pond through all seasons, if we would let him. We chose this photo to reflect the calm silent strength and beauty of the Labrador retriever.

He has come such a long way and we would love to have him as part of your 2009 calendar.