Ethan

When I saw Ethan on the weekend, I understood why he wasn't getting adopted. I had just finished walking him and we were sitting around inside just hanging out when I was asked to bring Ethan into the glass-walled meet and greet room to let him spend some time with a father and son who were interested in him.

I brought Ethan into the room, made sure he was okay with the two new people and left them. When I looked back, I noticed Ethan was paying absolutely no attention to the man or boy and he was just looking at me so I figured it was because a minute earlier I'd been giving him treats so he was probably still hoping for more of the same. I stepped out of the room, grabbed a few dog cookies, brought them back in and handed them to the man and I said something like: Ethan sometimes takes a while to warm up to new people but these treats should help.

Except they didn't. Not much anyway. After feeding Ethan the treats, Ethan went back to ignoring the humans and just stared through the glass walls at me. I walked away to give the three of them some time alone but Ethan kept tracking me so I walked around a corner and stayed out of his line of sight for a while.

When I stepped back out from around the corner, Ethan was no longer looking in my direction but he was most definitely not interested in interacting with the two people beside him. Ethan was lying there beside their feet, seemingly unstressed, gazing coolly out of the glass room and ignoring the company. I sort of knew at that point, he wasn't going to be going home with these two people and that was too bad because they seemed quite nice and capable.

The father and son probably spent twenty minutes with Ethan in the room but never got much of a response from him and eventually they said their thank yous and left. Who can blame them? Few people are going to consider adopting a dog they haven't managed to make a connection with.

So Ethan isn't a gregarious dog. He's not going to be the dog who jumps into someone's lap at first glance but, still, I don't think Ethan means to be aloof. He's friendly with me. He's friendly with other volunteers and staff. It takes time for him but once his personality comes out, he's bouncy and loves to play and especially loves to run. One of the walkers takes him out on forty five minute long runs and he comes back wanting more.

Ethan reminds me of the quiet kid at school, not the shy quiet kid, but the quiet kid who isn't always looking for attention. He would be the kid who doesn't have a lot of friends but the friends he does have are close. He's the kid who's generally okay with himself but who, like anyone, has moments of doubt.

It may not seem like Ethan is stressed out in the shelter but I know he can be because sometimes he tears up his blankets and yowls when he's left alone. He's like some people in that way. He wears a brave face in public but the anxieties come out when the lights are turned down and the night comes creeping in. He knows he's not home yet.

Ethan has been at TAS since the end of December.

Update (Feb. 12): Ethan has been adopted.

The best way to check on the adoption status of this dog (and other dogs and cats and other small domestic animals) is to visit Toronto Animal Services or call 416 338 6668 for the Toronto Animal Services South shelter.