Spike - Malamute mix

I'm just back from a walk with Spike who is big and curious and full of affection and there is a couple standing in reception each with a small dog on leash. I'm about to walk past them, not wanting Spike to squish anyone with his big feet when someone says, Oh there he is, and it turns out the couple are here to do a meet and greet with Spike and their own dogs. They'd already met Spike the day before - humans only - and this time came with their dogs as is the protocol for adoptions. Usually, small dog owners tend to stick with small dogs and big dog owners tend to stick with big dogs so I was at once pleasantly surprised and curious.

Spike is not shy about introducing himself. He starts sniffing the smaller female dogs and when he can't get low enough, he drops down onto his belly for a better vantage point. Even then, given he is probably twenty times their weight, the smaller ones aren't exactly overjoyed but they aren't shivering in fright either. They make sure Spike knows when his advances are too much.

Spike takes their warnings in stride and his tail keeps wagging, happy with all the new attention regardless.

The couple take Spike out for a walk. They come back a while later and drop him off and say they'll think about it and more often than not that's a soft way of saying no. They leave.

I feel sorry for Spike.

After finishing the picture taking for the afternoon, I get into my car and pull out of the parking lot only to be confronted with a hour minimum wait just to get off the grounds. Some trade show/hockey game had just let out and cars are jammed up every direction. I spend fifteen minutes in some unmoving line and then I turn around and park and walk back to the shelter to wait out the traffic.

I'm hanging out in reception when the couple walk back in. Apparently, they'd been stuck in traffic too and being stuck in traffic gave them enough time to think about Spike as a new family member. They'd decided he'd be a good addition. I want to clap them on their backs but refrain. They walk upstairs to fill out the adoption forms.

Next time I'm stuck in traffic and cursing, which may very well be tomorrow, I'll have to remember that sometimes the best decisions are made behind the wheel of a stationary car.