Ella & Merlin Blessing

MERLIN JOINED ELLA’S FAMILY AND HELPED BRING OUT A NEW SIDE OF ELLA

Why did you decide to adopt?

At our core, we are pro-adoption. We will not buy from a breeder. Our two cats, who were foster fails, were also adopted from a cat rescuer. Having pets is not like buying a toy; we want to help the animals. We wanted to bring dogs out of the shelter, to open up space for the shelter to rescue other dogs.

We had reached out to a couple different shelters in with the key information being that we already had two cats at home. One of the shelters we wrote to replied us saying that they only had dogs with problems and that we were not suitable adopters. On the other hand, Mercylight responded to us with a list of questions, which were very detailed and made us think quite hard. We were very impressed with how thorough Mercylight’s questionnaire was, which made us consider things that we had not even thought through.

Mercylight made it very clear to us throughout the whole process that it was okay for us to change our minds, if we decided that we were not up for it. They also informed us that if they felt that we were not suitable at any point, they would also let us know. We also appreciated the comprehensive adoption process, which we felt was there for a reason.

Why a second dog? And why Merlin?

Ella was still deep in her shell, one year in. She would hide by herself in the corner, and would not even come downstairs by herself. It got to the point where she was not really doing much, and it was not good for her in the long run. Kelly suggested that we could consider getting a second dog to help Ella come out of her shell by being more open and friendly. The objective was very clear for us - we could not confuse our objective and pay more attention to Merlin and ignore Ella.

At first, we explored other dogs from Mercylight, such as Choco and Miyoo, but they weren’t the right fit for Ella. Mercylight suggested for us to consider Merlin, so we did. We brought him home, and he adjusted so easily. Merlin has helped Ella come out of her shell so much, and we saw a strong improvement in her fairly quickly. Now, she behaves more like a regular dog. She feels safe at home, would come downstairs by herself, and is happy to come back to the house. Ella also behaves like a different dog when we bring her out to the dog run, galloping and jumping, and has been showing her more playful side more often recently.

How do the dogs get on with your cats?

The first two weeks, the cats were afraid, but they have gotten over it. We implemented a gate system at home, so that the cats would have a safe space. Merlin even tried to initiate play with one of the cats, but he is not aggressive. It was important for us to have a dog that did not display any sort of aggression. Merlin is smarter and knows the cats’ boundaries now.

What are the dynamics like between the two dogs?

Merlin is definitely the leader, and Ella is the follower.

What has been the most rewarding part of being a dog owner?

Adopting dogs was always something I wanted since I was young - to take care of dogs, walk them and to be responsible for them. The dogs have also given me extra incentive to get out of bed early to walk them, which I wouldn’t do in the past.

It has also been nice to get familiar with our neighbourhood, which is a very nice neighbourhood with grassy sidewalks. We also greatly appreciate Mercylight’s supportive community of like-minded people who champion adoption over buying. We also have seen the volunteers who got very attached to Ella, who know that she is in a decent home now.

Any advice for others who are considering adoption?

For those adopting for the first time, it is very tempting to give up halfway through the adoption process and to just go to a shop and get a puppy, but our main advice is to persist through the extra steps. Those due diligence steps are in place to help you, and help you figure out the things you need to consider and prepare.

For those facing a similar issue with getting their dogs to open up, be patient and trust the process. Seek help, and don’t get discouraged. Consider getting a second dog if you have the means! Lastly, if you are an experienced dog owner, consider adopting the more difficult dogs that are not suitable for first time owners, so that they too can get a chance.

Q4 2024